Strategic briefings
A series of publications aimed at senior decision-makers working within children's services.
Published: May 2019
At a time of limited resources, and increasing demands, local areas are tasked with addressing multiple forms of exploitation and attending to the causes (rather than solely the consequences) of abuse.
This briefing can be used to inform the development of holistic, complex and contextual safeguarding systems that are equipped to address and prevent exploitation in all its forms.
Designed for: Local authority strategic leaders and decision-makers. It will also be of interest to frontline managers and their staff.
Number of pages: 32
Product code: CH SBR 017
Published: May 2019
This report is the result of two telephone focus groups held with local authority commissioners of children’s services. The 18 participants worked in local authorities of a range of sizes, locations and levels of deprivation and came from a variety of backgrounds, including health and academia as well as operational and management roles within children’s social care. Commissioners were responsible for, or involved in, the commissioning of a range of services for children.
This range of experience provided rich perspectives and learning about what evidence is used in commissioning and how it is used in practice in local authorities in England.
Designed for: Commissioning teams
Number of pages: 17
Published: May 2019
Strategic partnerships with the voluntary sector: Messages from research and practice (2019)
This briefing sets out the key messages from research and practice in commissioning strategic partnerships with the voluntary sector.
Reflections from practice are drawn from a Research in Practice Change Project which brought together five local authorities and their voluntary sector partners engaged in delivering innovative services for children and families. Together, these partnerships considered how voluntary sector organisations and local authorities can work together better and how these partnerships can be sustained to achieve the best outcomes for children, young people and their families.
Designed for: Commissioning teams
Number of pages: 67
Published: May 2019
This publication provides key messages for commissioners of services for children and families on two important aspects of the commissioning role: using evidence and developing effective relationships with providers. The report combines the output of two research projects with local authority commissioners and the voluntary sector.
Designed for: Commissioning teams
Number of pages: 6
Published: Dec 2018
Social media, digital professionalism and CPD: Strategic Briefing (2018)
Understanding social work professional identity in the context of digital and online social engagement is a developing field that is emerging alongside technologies that are becoming increasingly embedded in our lives. This briefing offers ideas and suggestions to help:
- Social work managers think about organisational approaches to digital professionalism in their workforce.
- Practitioners when creating or maintaining social media accounts and an online identity and presence.
Aimed at: Strategic and practice leads, service managers, heads of service, team managers in children’s and youth services.
Number of pages: 28
Product code: CH SBR 014
Published: Dec 2018
Leading strengths-based practice frameworks: Strategic Briefing (2018)
The purpose of this briefing is to explore how leadership activity and organisational cultures and structures affect the ability of practitioners to adopt and use strengths-based approaches. It provides an introduction to the theoretical underpinning and practical application of strengths-based approaches, explores messages from research and highlights issues leaders need to consider in relation to:
- How organisational culture and climate affect practice.
- Implementing changes and the adoption of new approaches.
- Sustaining change through ongoing learning and development.
Aimed at: Strategic and practice leads, service managers, heads of service, team managers in children’s and youth services.
Number of pages: 28
Product code: CH SBR 015
Published: Dec 2018
This briefing, developed in partnership with NHS Clinical Commissioners, is aimed at those involved in the commissioning of mental health services and support for children and young people.
At a time of renewed government focus on children’s mental health and wellbeing, the new commissioning landscape offers opportunities to move towards sustainable change. By utilising new service models such as integrated care systems and engaging local partners in collaborative place-based commissioning, commissioners can take a strategic approach to driving change across the children and young people’s mental health system.
Aimed at: Strategic and practice leads, service managers, heads of service, team managers in children’s and youth services.
Number of pages: 24
Product code: CH SBR 016
Published: Aug 2018
Transitional safeguarding - adolescence to adulthood: Strategic Briefing (2018)
Diverse approaches are taken in safeguarding practice across Adults’ and Children’s Services. These differences present challenges for those seeking to effectively safeguard adolescents into adulthood and young people can feel ill-equipped for the change in practice culture they experience as they become adults.
This briefing, jointly produced by Research in Practice and Research in Practice for Adults, explores how a transitional approach to safeguarding could be developed. It looks at approaches to safeguarding adolescents and young adults fluidly across developmental stages that builds on the best available evidence, learns from both children’s and adults’ safeguarding practice and which prepares young people for their adult lives.
Aimed at: Senior leaders and managers involved in safeguarding children and/or adults, in particular those with responsibility for designing and developing services and leading practice.
Number of pages: 28
Preview available
Product code: JT-SBT-002
If you require a hard-copy of this publication, please contact us.
Published: Apr 2018
Building a quality culture in child and family services: Strategic Briefing (2018)
Drawing on sector knowledge gathered through quality assurance (QA) workshops, this briefing offers a strategic overview and practical guidance on how an effective quality assurance framework can support achieving the right outcomes for children and young people, and improve the quality of practice.
It sets QA in the wider context of the drivers and enablers, including strengths and relationship-based practice with children and young people.
Aimed at: Local authority strategic leaders and decision-makers. It will also be of interest to frontline managers and their staff.
Number of pages: 20
Product code: CH SBR 013
Published: Apr 2018
Supporting parents who have learning disabilities: Strategic Briefing (2018)
Estimates are that between 40 to 60 percent of parents with a learning disability do not live with their children. This publication provides an overview of the available evidence in relation to ‘what works’ in working with parents who have a learning disability, including case study examples of good practice.
The briefing aims to enable strategic leaders to:
- understand the practice tensions in this area
- become familiar with the key research
- gain a greater understanding as to what will best support parents who have a learning disability.
Aimed at: Local authority strategic leaders and decision-makers. It will also be of interest to frontline managers and their staff.
Number of pages: 32
Product code: JT-SBT-001