‘Buckinghamshire hold a monthly ‘Practice Forum’ for all managers and Senior Practitioners at which getting research into practice is a standing agenda item. This forum is used to disseminate new materials and to share information about upcoming learning events, conferences and training.

In addition, there are monthly lunchtime seminars that anyone can attend. Staff who have been to research in practice events make presentations about what they have learnt and share the exercises or resources used on the day. It is noted in training records when staff have delivered a seminar.

Once a month, the Link Officer sends out an email to staff which includes the research in practice Research & Policy Update, What’s New newsletter, and any requests for help that have come through the Link Officer’s email group.

Buckinghamshire were also actively involved in the NIFTY 3 Evaluation Change Project, and have disseminated the Leading EIP Handbook widely to all Group Managers (it has been well-received and will be used as part of team-building following service reconfigurations).’

‘In 2007 Hertfordshire’s Deputy Director for Social care approved a countywide evidence-informed practice strategy that aimed to:

• achieve a culture in which professional knowledge is informed by research evidence and is applied in everyday social care practice
• ensure there are clear mechanisms for keeping staff up to date with practice developments and research findings
• support staff in developing skills to find and critically assess research evidence and help staff and teams engage in reflective practice and share knowledge and expertise
• create a culture of continuous improvement.

To achieve this, a joint working arrangement was forged with the Learning & Development Team to take forward the EIP strategy via an annual Action Plan.

Some of our achievements to date:

• Quality monitoring and evaluation processes set up
• EIP Strategy & Action Plan an agenda item in all Team Meetings
• Senior Practitioner monthly workshops available
• Research Lunchtime sessions for all staff
• MSc in Research available
• New Quarterly Practice Briefing produced every 3 months. These briefings are prepared by the Customer Focus Team, who pull out some main learning points from:
• Complaints and compliments
• Feedback from users
• Management reviews to improve our practice.’

‘Wolverhampton has launched an intranet site which features a section about sources of research and efforts to promote evidence-informed practice.

Wolverhampton has also been focusing on the effective dissemination of research in practice materials, which is coordinated by the Executive Group (comprising the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and senior managers). For example, there is a swift and systematic cascade by email of the monthly Research and Policy Updates, and materials and learning points are routinely collected from attendees at learning events using a template and shared.

Wolverhampton are also a research in practice for adults partner and have been trying to make effective connections between the Link Officers and work programs of both networks.’

‘Stockport has developed a network of integrated ‘champions’ of evidence-informed practice within the workplace. These champions are enthusiastic practitioners or managers from different disciplines who disseminate research materials within their teams and promote the facilities available locally (eg Care Knowledge).

The champions’ role is to aid development to reflect the changing nature of the delivery of integrated front-line services for children and young people. Champions are involved in engaging their colleagues in discussions about how to promote greater research awareness and use. Practitioners and champions come together every couple of months in ‘Open Events’ where they give presentations about research (eg from recent research in practice events) and there is a discussion about the implications for practice in Stockport.

Stockport has agreed and will implement their evidence-informed policy in the business planning process with strategic and operational managers.’

‘Sheffield has developed an evidence-informed strategy and project group to take the agenda forward. A recent review of the strategy has taken place, and there are significant messages for us in terms of updating and modifying the strategy. Key elements of the strategy include an annual half day conference to promote evidence-informed practice. External and internal speakers talk about a range of topics related to research, user participation and the professional knowledge base. All staff are invited and have an opportunity to reflect on the implications for their practice and services.

Sheffield have also introduced an allowance of three days reading and reflection time for all practitioners, along with guidance and ideas on how this might be used and recorded. Senior Practitioners and the new Social Work Consultant posts have evidence-informed practice explicitly mentioned in their job descriptions.