Improving personal budgets for older people: a research overview

This short report is an evidence overview of key pieces of UK research between 2007 and 2012, which focused on the implementation and uptake of personal budgets and direct payments for older people (including those with dementia) in England. It is not a systematic research review or an exhaustive examination of published research on the topic. Rather, it aims to give an overview of the main themes of research findings which help to identify the challenges and solutions to improving choice and control for older people (including those living with dementia) through the use of personal budgets and direct payments. Issues covered include: culture and system change; making choices and decisions; information and advice; direct payments and support services; understanding allowance and spend; budget management, monitoring and review; risk management and contingency planning; and older people living with dementia.

Reaching parents: implementing parenting programmes

SCIE guide on parent education programmes which promote parents’ confidence and improve their parenting skills. The guide also provides specific guidance on improving take up of parenting programmes. This paper highlights the findings of a follow-up study which involved talking to a wide range of frontline practitioners about their experience of providing a variety of parenting programmes.

Follow up work to support implementation of the NICE/SCIE guidance on parenting programmes

Guidance on parent-training and education programmes in the management of children with conduct disorders. Produced jointly by SCIE and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)

Doing it for themselves: participation and black and minority ethnic service users

Part of Co-production

Service user participation in social care has increased markedly in the wider service user movement over the last 20 years. However, the participation of black and minority ethnic service users has diminished over the same period. This report identifies some of the reasons for this reduction and concludes by stating that given the right opportunities, support and resources, there is a genuine commitment and interest from service users to become more actively involved in the process