What research has been done on the topic of social worker attitudes and practice when working with looked after teenagers with mental illnesses?

Which search terms should I use?

Is there a current research review directly related to this topic?

Are there any key texts on this topic?

Is there any information on organisational websites?

How can I find specialist information on this topic?

Who can provide further information on this topic?

Which search terms should I use?

In this example, the key search terms would be:

• 'Social worker', 'carer', 'practitioner'
• 'looked after', 'adopt', 'foster',
• 'mental illness', 'mental health', 'psychiatry'
• 'teenagers', 'adolescents', 'young people', 'youth'

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Is there a current research review directly related to this topic?

• There are four relevant research briefings in the our publications area on the research in practice website:
• Champions For Children No. 6: Transition of Adolescents to Adult Mental Health Services (PDF version: new window)
• Every Child Matters briefing No. 9 on the more general topic of Promoting the Mental Health of Children In Need (PDF version: new window)
• Research Review on Conduct disorder in older children and Young People: Research Messages for Practice Problems (2007) by Carol Joughin and Dinah Morley (PDF version: new window)
• Audio Series No. 6: Child and Adolescent Mental Health (2001)

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Are there any key texts on this topic?

There are a variety of databases that will guide you towards relevant books and articles, including:

Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) Online: a free database aimed at social workers, listing books, articles, reviews and useful websites

Current Educational Research in the UK (CERUK): sponsored by National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) and the DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families). It includes all information regarding current and ongoing research in the field of education  

Try browsing relevant journals, such as:

Adoption and Fostering (journal of the BAAF)

Joseph Rowntree Findings (journal of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation)

Wider social science databases may also be of some use, but you will need to use more concise search terms:

International Bibliography of the Social Sciences

ZETOC database of the British Library

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Is there any information on organisational websites?

Young Minds specialises in mental health issues, and provides a number of resources and information on this topic in its searchable publications sections

Trust for the Study of Adolescence: an organisation focussing on the development of teenagers

NCB: focussing on the needs of children, this website provides policy information and resources for those working with children

BAAF: provides information on the organisation and links to resources, publications and the BAAF journal

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How can I find specialist information on this topic?

Take a look at some specialist institution websites, as they often have useful articles:

The Institute of Psychiatry has a range of papers called Maudsley Publications which include Robert Goodman's Child and Mental Health Services: Reasoned Advice to Commissioners and Poviders

Royal College of Psychiatrists

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Who can provide further information on this topic?

The research in practice website includes a Register of Researchers. In this case, it provides contact details and publication lists for 15 researchers in the field of adolescent mental health

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