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Foundations and Research in Practice have launched a joint initiative to help children's social care professionals apply research evidence as the sector implements a wide-ranging programme of reforms across England.
The partnership forms part of Foundations' Evidence into Practice initiative and aims to support local leaders, commissioners and practitioners in translating research into practical improvements for children and families.
The organisations said children's social care and partner agencies, including health, policing and education, are currently navigating multiple reforms and transformation programmes. These include changes to children's social care, adult social care, education, housing, policing, justice, SEND, regional care cooperatives and the implementation of Working Together 2026.
The initiative seeks to help practitioners understand how these reforms relate to one another by providing access to research evidence, practical recommendations and opportunities to share learning.
According to the organisations, the Department for Education has embedded the use of Practice Guides commissioned from Foundations within its children's social care reforms. The guides are referenced in a number of key policy documents, including the Children's Social Care National Framework, Families First guidance, Working Together 2026 and the Lead Child Protection Practitioner Standards.
The partnership will focus on encouraging the use of evidence that has been shown to improve outcomes for children and families through regional activity, communities of practice and shared learning events.
This autumn, Foundations and Research in Practice will deliver a series of open-access national webinars focusing on reunification and foster care. The webinars will present the key findings from recently published Practice Guides alongside developments in policy and practice.
Regional workshops for leaders and commissioners will also explore how Practice Guides and Guidebook interventions can inform service planning, commissioning and system development.
The organisations emphasised that research evidence should be considered alongside local data, professional expertise and the experiences of children, families and communities to support informed decision-making.
They said that, during a period of significant system change, continuous learning and adaptation are essential, with evidence helping practitioners connect new frameworks, statutory guidance and reforms to improve outcomes for children and families.
Foundations and Research in Practice said the partnership aims to create opportunities for professionals across the sector to learn from one another, strengthen confidence in using evidence and support the effective implementation of children's social care reforms.
To read Foundation's Evidence into Practice in full, click here.
