Research in Practice is a proud member of the @ncb.org.uk family. Together, we are united for better childhoods and brighter futures. Explore NCB's Annual Impact Report, reflecting on a year of both significant challenge and meaningful progress for NCB.

National Children's Bureau@ncb.org.uk · 17h ago

Our latest Annual Impact Report, reflects a year of challenge, progress and partnership at NCB. From amplifying the voices of children and families to strengthening local systems and shaping policy, our work remains focused on better childhoods & brighter futures. www.ncb.org.uk/about/who-we...

Research in Practice aims to support their learning to enable people – children, young people, families, adults, carers and communities – to live good lives. Explore our annual review that showcases and demonstrates our work to support evidence-informed practice. https://ow.ly/q0Jb50ZvMNj

Government reforms have placed renewed emphasis on strengthening support for foster carers. Join an open access webinar on 7 September exploring key messages from the Foster Care Practice Guide developed by Foundations – What Works Centre for Children & Families. https://ow.ly/EvBc50ZuXv3

At Research in Practice we support professional learning and development to enable people to live good lives. Explore our work, resources and collaborations from the past year in our annual review. https://ow.ly/ZOBe50ZuHXR

2026 marks 30 years of Research in Practice support for those working with children and families, and 21 years with adults and carers. In a new blog, we look back at our journey as an organisation and reflect on 30 years of evidence-informed practice. https://ow.ly/VcV250ZuEw0

We are working with @researchip.bsky.social to share available evidence and actionable recommendations on children’s social care & how to put them into practice, enabling uptake and use of evidence about what has been shown to improve outcomes for children. Read 👉 foundations.org.uk/foundations-...

Join an open access conference on 23 September marking the conclusion of the Children's Information Project. The session will bring together strategic, operational and performance and data leads to share project findings and how these can be used in practice. https://ow.ly/QzkK50ZoRSq

Parents with learning difficulties often face significant challenges that contribute to their overall disadvantage. Join an open access webinar on 23 July that will explore findings on parenting capacity and attachment in the context of parents with a learning disability. https://ow.ly/wzeS50ZoRMc

Violence affects too many children across England and Wales. Explore new Youth Endowment Fund guidance for senior leaders in Children’s Services on how to protect children from involvement in violence. https://ow.ly/2aP750ZofY7

Children’s services and violence prevention | Youth Endowment Fund

Evidence‑based guidance for children’s services on preventing violence, strengthening responses to extra‑familial harm and safeguarding children in care.

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For the last five years, the Children’s Information Project has undertaken research into local authorities’ use of information about children, young people and families. Join an open access conference on 23 September in London that marks the conclusion of the project. https://ow.ly/OXha50ZnQ45

The NHS Race and Health Observatory has published new anti-racism principles to support professionals across health and social care to tackle race inequity. Le'Siran Edwards explores how these principles might impact everyday practice in safeguarding organisations. https://ow.ly/6cjN50ZnFSu

New anti-racism principles and safeguarding practice: what does this mean for health and social care?

The NHS Race and Health Observatory has published new anti-racism principles to support professionals across health and social care to tackle race inequity. Le'Siran Edwards explores how these principles might impact everyday practice in safeguarding organisations.

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Alcohol can have a profound impact on a person's life, affecting relationships, physical and mental health, and overall wellbeing. Explore Research in Practice resources to support #AlcoholAwarenessWeek. https://ow.ly/BpKk50Zkzch

How can we improve support for families affected by domestic violence? Explore a suite of new resources to support practitioners and leaders to rethink how they respond to domestic violence and abuse in child protection. https://ow.ly/cOBf50Zi8jp

Co-production is a key for supporting outcomes focused, person-centred approaches to social care. This approach can lead to better, more inclusive social care. Explore a new open access resource that provides guidance and support to develop practice for #CoProWeek2026. https://ow.ly/fvpH50Zi9W1

How can we better respond to domestic violence and abuse in child protection? Explore new open access resources to support practitioners and leaders, developed as part of the Rethinking Domestic Abuse in Child Protection: responding differently project. ow.ly/qw6650Zgi2q

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are developing rapidly, and their use across social care and beyond is becoming increasingly common. Join a workshop on 17 September that is designed to build practitioner confidence in the safe and ethical use of AI across social care. https://ow.ly/X3hz50ZezI8

What does AI mean for the children, young people, and families at the heart of social care? Join an open access workshop on 10 July exploring how AI is currently used and could be used by professionals working within children’s social care. https://ow.ly/4QRB50ZeAVY

Parents with learning difficulties often face significant challenges that contribute to their overall disadvantage. Explore findings from research around attachment and caregiving in families with parental learning disabilities in a new blog for #LearningDisabilityWeek. https://ow.ly/HrVA50ZbLQU

Attachment and caregiving in families with parental learning disabilities

Parents with learning difficulties often face significant challenges that contribute to their overall disadvantage. While safeguarding concerns remain central, these figures raise important questions about how parenting capacity is assessed and how parents are supported.

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Earlier this year, we asked professionals in a range of roles about what supports them to use evidence in their practice. A new blog shares key findings from these conversations, highlighting how the use of research and evidence can have a positive impact on practice. https://ow.ly/6MRz50ZcEJ8

What supports evidence-informed practice in social care?

Earlier this year, Research in Practice conducted a small number of focus groups to hear from professionals in a range of roles about what supports them to use evidence in their practice. Lorna Trend shares key findings from these conversations in a new blog.

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Join our team! We are now looking for a passionate and experienced Research and Development Officer to join our adults’ team. Closing date for applications is 10 July. https://ow.ly/yxbI50Zb6Un

We are delighted to see that Mairi-Anne Macdonald, Deputy Director of Development and Innovation at @researchip.bsky.social has received an OBE for services to social work. Congratulations to all who have been recognised for their fantastic work across health and social care. ow.ly/a2nV50ZcaHN

Birthday Honours List 2026

The Birthday Honours 2026 Lists have been published, marking the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK.

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Following the landmark Supreme Court judgment on 2 June, the Department of Health and Social Care has published new guidance on what constitutes a deprivation of liberty. We outline the impact for practitioners across health and social care in this blog. https://ow.ly/E3y350Zc9zY

From Cheshire West to the Northern Ireland Reference – what now for social care?

On 2 June 2026, the UK Supreme Court handed down a landmark judgment in A Reference by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland [2026] UKSC 16. Melika Malone-Lee outlines the immediate and significant impact for practitioners across social care and health.

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Join our team! We are looking for a talented Research and Development Officer to join our children and families team. Closing date for applications is 8 July. https://ow.ly/sZco50Zb6Nk

Parents with learning difficulties often face significant challenges that contribute to their overall disadvantage. For #LearningDisabilityWeek we're sharing insights from research with parents with learning disabilities www.researchinpractice.org.uk/all/news-vie...

How can we better support girls and young women at risk of violence and exploitation? We are inviting professionals across London to join an online consultation on 6 July to help improve how we identify and respond to risks and harms experienced by girls and young women. https://ow.ly/YAoG50ZaoQO

Improving how girls and young women are supported in London | Research in Practice

We are inviting professionals across London to help improve how we identify and respond to risks and harms experienced by girls and young women.

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Join our team! We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Continuing Professional Development and Learning Officer to join our adult’s team. Closing date for applications is 29 June at 08:00. https://ow.ly/AUy150Z7vLC

Parents with learning disabilities are disproportionately represented in the child protection system. Join an open access webinar on 23 July exploring research findings on parenting capacity and attachment in the context of parents with a learning disability. https://ow.ly/eVhV50Z72cC

A major legal shift – effective immediately ow.ly/rRoq50Z7Uxm On Tuesday, the UK Supreme Court handed down a landmark judgment. This decision overrules Cheshire West and Chester Council v P [2014] UKSC 19 and replaces the well-known ‘acid test’ with a new approach

Social care is a diverse profession. Yet, workforce diversity does not automatically translate into equitable experience, progression or belonging. Le'Siran Edwards explores the importance of embedding systemic change and creating equitable organisations in a new blog. https://ow.ly/lXxC50Z7urH

Who safeguards the safeguarding workforce?

Social care is a diverse profession. Yet, workforce diversity does not automatically translate into equitable experience, progression or belonging. Le'Siran Edwards explores the importance of wellbeing and equity in the workforce and in practice.

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What does ‘home’ mean to people? And how do structural inequalities shape people’s experiences of housing and home? Join us on 25 June for an open access webinar that will explore a co‑produced Evidence Review from Research in Practice and Social Care Future. https://ow.ly/gRyh50Z71YB