Introduction to children's social care

This Introduction to... briefing gives a brief overview of Children’s Social Care (CSC) and the relevant legislation and policy framework. It is aimed at people who have little or no experience in this area.

Commissioning and COVID-19: Legal and policy context

Part of Commissioning and COVID-19: advice for social care

A summary of law and areas of policy (in England) relevant to social care commissioning. This includes specific changes or considerations during COVID-19.

Preparing for adulthood: The role of social workers

We have developed a practice framework for social workers and their employers to use, when supporting people to prepare for adulthood.

Social work and homelessness

Part of Northern Ireland social work and social care

A practice framework to support social workers in Northern Ireland to develop a better understanding of housing and homelessness and the skills needed to provide effective support. Section A of the framework looks at understanding homelessness. It provides information on the different types of homelessness, the legislative and policy context, the risk factors for homelessness, and the impact it can have on people's health and wellbeing. Section B highlights how social work skills and approaches can be used to prevent and tackle homelessness more effectively. These include using relationship-based, strengths-based, and values-based practice, being alert to the possibility of discrimination against people who experience homelessness, and working with other agencies. Two individual case studies are included.

Transforming care and support

Part of Transforming care and support

This paper draws together the emerging evidence and insights from much of SCIE’s recent work about transforming health, social care and support.

Self-neglect policy and practice: research messages for managers

Part of Self-neglect

This briefing highlights key findings for managers from research which looked policies and practices that have produced positive outcomes in self-neglect work. The original research drew on a survey 53 local authorities and a series of in-depth interviews with 20 managers, 42 practitioners in adult social care and in safeguarding, and 29 people who use services. It begins by defining self-neglect and then looks at specific aspects of strategy and governance, including the location of self-neglect within adult safeguarding, the commissioning of reviews, and the development of policies for self neglect. It then looks at operational aspects, focusing on building multi-agency cooperation, configuring effective referral pathways and supporting frontline practice through training and guidance. Four questions for managers to consider when reviewing their organisation's self-neglect policy and practice are also included. Self-neglect practice was found to be more successful where practitioners built good relationships; worked at the individuals pace; were honest about risks and options; made use of creative and flexible interventions; and engaged in effective multi-agency working. Organisational arrangements that best supported self-neglect work included: a clear location for strategic responsibility for self-neglect; a shared understanding between agencies; clear referral routes; training and development for staff working with adults who self-neglect.

Self-neglect policy and practice: key research messages

Part of Self-neglect

This briefing highlights key findings from research which looked at learning from policies and practices that have produced positive outcomes in self-neglect work. The original research drew on a survey 53 local authorities and a series of in-depth interviews with 20 managers, 42 practitioners in adult social care and in safeguarding, and 29 people who use services. The findings identify factors that make self-neglect services more effective and organisational arrangements that could best help self-neglect work. Interviews of people who use services, practitioners and managers looked at: causes of self-neglect, accepting help, the experience and impact of self-neglect. Five areas which were most frequently identified as making a positive difference to self-neglect in practice were: the importance of relationships, 'finding' the person, legal literacy, creative interventions and effective multi-agency working. It concludes that the heart of self-neglect practice is a balance of knowing the person; being, in showing personal and professional qualities of respect; and doing, in the sense of balancing hands-on and hands-off approaches. The briefing is intended for people who use services, carers, non-specialist workers and the general public.

Self-neglect policy and practice: building an evidence base for adult social care

Part of Self-neglect

This research, commissioned by the Department of Health (DH), set out to identify what could be learned about current policy and practice in self-neglect, experienced as a highly challenging aspect of contemporary adult social care.

Social care and health inequalities

This resource introduces the concepts of health inequalities and provide practical examples of the ways in which all of social work practice contributes to tackling health inequalities.

Budgets and beyond: interim report

A review by SCIE and NEF of current policy and practice of personalisation and an analysis of the potential of co-production to improve outcomes for individuals;