At a glance
At Research in Practice we support organisations and individuals to access, understand and apply evidence in their work with children, young people, adults, families and carers. Our annual review looks back at our delivery from April 2021 to March 2022, highlighting our work to support evidence-informed practice with our Partner network and colleagues across the wider social care sector.
Supporting evidence-informed practice with children & families, young people and adults
Our work is grounded in the concept of evidence-informed practice. This means we bring research evidence, together with practice wisdom and the expertise of those with lived experience to develop and deliver accessible learning opportunities for people working in social care, health and education.
Watch our short animation to learn more.
Our Partner network
Our Partner network steers our work, comprising of over 220 local, national and voluntary organisations, as well as universities across England.
'There has been a huge improvement in our social work practice since joining Research in Practice and we are actively promoting the use within our organisation.’
Research in Practice Partners
In the past year we were delighted to welcome seven new Partners, including one children & family member, five adults and one Partner with joint membership to both of our offers.
Children and families
Adults
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust | Family Action | North Lincolnshire Council | Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust | Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council
Joint
How we support our Partner organisations
Our Partner organisations have full access to all our publications, webinars, workshops, conferences, research projects, online resources and more. They are also kept informed with monthly updates on the latest research, policy and case law. We strive to support our Partners in working together – exchanging knowledge, learning and innovation across geographical or service boundaries.
Our Link Officers are the linchpins of our network. They act as the key contact within Partner organisations and promote the use of evidence-informed practice within them. They do this by facilitating the sharing of ideas and mobilisation of knowledge to their own Research in Practice members, and by connecting with colleagues across the network.
In 2021 we were delighted to build on our regular catch-up calls with account managers and virtual resource launches and introduce new online engagement sessions to raise awareness of what Research in Practice offers and how we can help colleagues. The sessions demonstrate how to set up a Research in Practice account to access learning and record continuing professional development (CPD), plus encourage reflection on how to use resources to support evidence-informed practice with children and families, young people and adults.
New for 2022 has also been our Signpost sessions: these well-attended events regularly provide an overview of a specific topic with key messages and information about further resources that might be useful.
‘Research in Practice has become a fundamental element of practice development in Lancashire. It begins with our Social Work Academy, where every new member of staff creates their own account and where they are given a guided tour of the website and everything Research in Practice has to offer. All of our learning and development workshops, live learning events and focused practice support sessions include elements of resources, from webinars through to practice tools, with many being in regular and common use among the work force.’
Research in Practice Partner
How we tailor our support to Partner needs
Tailored Support is a cost-effective way to bring learning directly into organisations. We use it to support our members' professional development, and/or to meet a particular organisational challenge.
Delivery moved online during the pandemic which involved the creation of a range of online learning packages designed to support evidence-informed practice in an effective and engaging way. Each online learning package provides at least three hours of continuing professional development (CPD) and we have been delighted to deliver 605 online learning packages to Partners in the past year.
In particular our ‘Introduction to cultural competence’ package focused on inclusive workspaces, direct work with children and adults, and intersectionality – all supporting the various ways in which we can use cultural identity positively and effectively.
Following the very successful move to online delivery we are seeking to expand our offer of online learning packages through to 2023.
'Really inspiring. It left me needing and wanting to do more and to challenge myself and others. Supported reflecting on how the organisation in which I work needs to learn and be more active in addressing cultural competence through learning, recruitment and team events.’
Online learning package participant
How we support our members with Continuing Professional Development
As a health and social care practitioner, it is important to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) to enhance your professional attributes, knowledge, understanding and skills. Partner organisation members can use any Research in Practice resource to record their CPD and we continue to provide regular guidance on the recording, registration and regulation of CPD.
Listen
Read
- A guide to continuing professional development (CPD) for social workers: Practice Guide
- Creating spaces for learning and CPD in Camden: Views
- Reflecting on CPD recording, regulation and renewal: Views
- Using case law to support practice, decision making and CPD: Views
Watch
- CPD - It's more than just training (open access)
- How you can use Research in Practice resources for your CPD (open access)
- The Social Work England CPD Standard (open access)
Our learning resources and events
We continue to produce a diverse programme of learning resources and events to support professionals working with children and families, and adults. View the topics chosen by our Partner network this year.