Our Work

We work with children’s services - social care, youth justice, education and health - in England and Wales, with central government departments, and with a wide range of voluntary organisations.

Although our current work reflects the changing themes and concerns in children’s services, our approach and our aims stay the same – to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of vulnerable children.

Action learning sets - for middle and senior managers

These facilitate an analytical approach as the basis for assessment, planning and review; in supporting leadership skills and team working; and as the basis for implementing change, including recommendations from the Munro Review.

Commissioned by various local authorities

Case Reviews and independent assessments

When we carry out these independent overviews of cases causing concern to local authorities we ensure they can act as a learning opportunity for practitioners across the organisation.

Commissioned by various local authorities

Health and Well-being Strategy - for children and young people involved in the youth justice system

Preparation of commissioning guidance to improve access to relevant health services for children and young people in contact with Youth Offending Teams in the community and those held in secure settings. This was development work arising from the cross-Government strategy, Healthy Children, Safer Communities, launched in December 2009.

Commissioned by Department of Health

Children in secure accommodation

An analysis of the needs of a group of children admitted to secure accommodation in one local area, to understand how such admissions might be reduced in future.

Commissioned by Cumbria County Council

Assessment skills and analysis

Delivery of workshops for team managers, using case material to develop analytical skills in assessment.

Commissioned by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Coaching programme for practitioners to improve assessment skills

A series of workshops for teams and individual practitioners to introduce a needs-based outcome-focused approach to analysing practitioners’ cases.

Commissioned by various local authorities

Assessment skills and analysis

Delivery of workshops for all front line social work staff and their managers using case material to develop analytical skills in assessment.

Commissioned by: Monmouthshire County Council with the Social Service Improvement Agency

Independent social work assessments

Undertaking independent social work assessments using the concepts need, seriousness of need, outcome and plan.

Commissioned by NCH

Developing needs-led, outcome-focused services

A project to achieve organisational and cultural change at all levels to support the development of services which are needs-led and outcome focused rather than service-led and process focused.

Commissioned by Cumbria County Council

Research briefings for local authority councillors

A series of research briefings with the aim of providing information about key research findings, good practice, and policy developments that will help councillors improve outcomes for children and families in need by ensuring that adequate and effective services are provided for them.

Protecting children from significant harm.

Commissioned by research in practice and I&DEA;