Upcoming publications
Published: Feb 2020
County lines and criminal exploitation: A lifespan perspective
‘County lines’ refers to the practice of exploiting children, young people and adults to traffic drugs across county boundaries using dedicated mobile phone lines or other forms of ‘deal line’. It is estimated that in 2018 there were more than 1000 branded county lines across the UK (National Crime Agency, 2019).
This Frontline Briefing examines existing research, knowledge and learning on county lines from child and adult sectors across rural and urban settings. It explores how and why people may be exploited at different times of their lives and offers a practical tool to support practitioners in identification and effective intervention.
Designed for: All those working in children’s, youth and adult services.
Published: Dec 2019
Pre-birth assessment, planning and support
Drawing on learning from the 2019 Knowledge Exchange Workshops and the ongoing work of the Family Justice Observatory, this briefing will support strategic planning for developing evidence-informed pre-birth assessment practice.
Designed for: Strategic leads with responsibility for this area of practice.
Published: Jul 2019
Siblings in public law proceedings: Assessment, placement, contact, permanence
Drawing on their Nuffield Foundation funded research on Siblings, contact and the law, Daniel Monk and Jan Macvarish co-author an accessible summary of their findings, designed to support evidence-informed social work practice in the family court.
Designed for: Frontline practitioners and team managers working in the family justice system.
Published: Jul 2019
Self-harm: Children and young people’s experiences and how practitioners can help
Confident practice with children and young people who self-harm can be hampered by misunderstandings and misconceptions, which may lead to barriers in providing timely support. This tool aims to build practitioners’ knowledge, building on children and young people’s relationships, their community and local practice systems. It summarises evidence on recognition, effective practical strategies and interventions.
Designed for: Social workers, family support workers and team managers in direct practice with children, young people and families.
Published: Jul 2019
Forced marriage: Recognition and response
Forced marriage is recognised in England as a form of domestic or child abuse, an abuse of human rights and criminal offence. Survivor, campaigner and founder of Karma Nirvana, Jasvinder Sanghera CBE, authors this briefing, which aims to build confident social work and family support practice to recognise, prevent and intervene to protect children and young people from forced marriage.
Designed for: Social workers, family support workers and team managers in direct practice with children, young people and families.
Published: Jul 2019
Fabricated or induced illness: Supporting multi-agency working
Cases of fabricated or induced illness where a child is or is likely to be at risk of harm require a multi-agency, well-coordinated response. This briefing reviews evidence from research and practice to support professionals to gather and critically analyse relevant information from all professionals involved, conduct a sound assessment of need and make safeguarding decisions.
Designed for: Social workers, family support workers and team managers in direct practice with children, young people and families.
Published: Jul 2019
This briefing explores the nature of leadership in the context of 'alternative delivery vehicles' such as independent trusts. There may be distinctive leadership demands involved in establishing alternative models, inviting leaders to pay particular attention to personal values and purpose.
Designed for: Leaders of child and family services including Lead Members, Chief Executives, Directors and Safeguarding Board Leads.