How the latest research on safeguarding disabled children should inform social work

How the latest research on violence in teenage relationships should inform social work practice
The latest research has found worryingly high levels of violence in young people's relationships, writes Christine Barter, NSPCC senior research fellow at the University of Bristol

How eligibility criteria should inform social work practice with adults
The Fair Access to Care Services eligibility framework, introduced in 2003 and revised in 2010, lies at the heart of adult social care, yet has consistently been shown to be flawed and unfit for purpose.

Behind the latest critical research on personalisation
That the way personal budgets are being implemented has bred additional bureaucracy for social care professionals has become a commonplace, but new research on this issue is significant.

Personal budgets process 'cuts social work productivity', finds research
Massive divergence between indicative personal budgets and final allocations shows self-directed support is adding bureacuracy to social work practice, finds paper.

Why hearing loss in care homes should not be tolerated
Hearing loss among care home residents is often accepted as a natural part of the ageing process, but recent research shows that failure to tackle it can profoundly affect quality of life, says Melanie Henwood.

Preparation for adopters should place more emphasis on parenting skills, says research
Preparation for adopters should place more emphasis on the parenting skills and strategies needed for hard-to-manage behaviour, writes Alan Rushton, visiting professor at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London

How the latest research on the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards should inform social work practice
Social workers should ensure that local providers, and their colleagues, understand the importance of applying the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards where suitable, as failure to do so can end up costing more in the long run at human, financial and reputational levels.

Making decisions in dementia care: has the Mental Capacity Act helped social work practice in England and Wales?
Social workers have welcomed the Mental Capacity Act’s clarity and acceptable value base, but not all social care practitioners are well informed about the legislation and their responsibilities.

How research on unaccompanied asylum-seeking children should inform practice and placement type
Many young asylum-seekers from Afghanistan display symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder but this could be combated by more ongoing support, including through foster care placements, says Stephanie Dobrowolski, a PhD research student at the University of Oxford.

How research on age discrimination in health and social care should inform social work practice
Research suggests older people continue to receive poor care but the introduction of a ban on age discrimination in October 2012 represents a good opportunity for social work to demonstrate practice that challenges the status quo.

Social work support for people who self-neglect: wise up on the latest research to help your practice
Self-neglect cases can be the most alarming and challenging on a social workers’ caseload, writes Elaine Aspinwall-Roberts

What research says about domestic violence risk assessments
It is important social workers focus less on the victim’s behavior and more on that of the perpetrator, says Thangam Debbonaire

How the latest research into child trafficking in the UK should inform social work practice
Child trafficking involves moving children (up to the age of 18) across or within national borders for purposes including sexual exploitation, forced labour and domestic servitude.

How the latest Mental Health Act research should inform social work practice
Mental health social workers can help to challenge the prevalent discourse of risk in mental health services, argues social work lecturer Martin Webber

How research on pre-birth assessments should affect practice
One challenge for social workers completing a pre-birth assessment is that the legal power to intervene is not applicable until birth, says social work lecturer Ann Hodson

AMHP survey analysis: 'A depressingly familiar picture of an undervalued workforce'
AMHPs are charged with the most demanding role in community mental health care in the UK. They deserve better support for their own mental health, writes Martin Webber.