Missing what matters for practice

Bernie Brown, Chris McLoughlin and Wilson Litchmore

Chapter 9 in Experimental Methods and Children's Social Care, 2025, pp 98-106 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Abstract: This chapter explores the significant investment in research-driven practice in children's social care in recent years, focusing on two major interventions: Social Workers in Schools and Designated Safeguarding Leads’ supervision. Both interventions were trialled using randomised controlled trials (RCTs), a novel approach in children's social care. While large-scale trials showed no significant quantitative impact, qualitative insights from frontline experiences suggest meaningful benefits to practice and multi-agency collaboration. The chapter critiques the limitations of RCTs in capturing complex, systemic changes and emphasises the importance of context, qualitative data, and practical insights in shaping future innovations in social care. Lessons on scaling, funding challenges, and short-termism in government policy are also discussed.

Keywords: Children's social care; Randomised controlled trials; Social Workers in Schools; Designated Safeguarding Leads; Government funding; Qualitative insights (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035327140
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