Social work and related services

Tender description

The new What Works Centre (WWC) for Children's Social Care will focus on improving outcomes for children who are at risk of, or suffering from, abuse and/or neglect. It will identify the most effective interventions and practice systems and support their implementation by practitioners and decision makers. Its goal will be to improve outcomes for children and their families by developing a powerful evidence base, and supporting its translation into better practice on the ground. The WWC will support the new agenda to transform children's social work, alongside the creation of a new social work body to improve standards in the profession and the centralisation of Serious Case Reviews (SCRs). It is intended to bring a fresh and innovative approach to the delivery of children's services to improve outcomes for vulnerable children. See Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b0995223-bf7e-4a76-9652-e213527ca67a for a full description. The WWC will be independent from government and will have 4 core functions: 1. Synthesis of existing evidence, including learning from the Innovation Programme and SCRs, and other research; 2. Identification of evidence gaps and commissioning of new research and evaluations to fill gaps; 3. Translation of evidence into practical guidance for practitioners, including development of an online ‘tool-kit’ to compare the cost-effectiveness of different practices; 4. Dissemination of best practice and supporting practitioners in the implementation of findings into practice. It will work closely to support and share learning with other programmes in children's social care, including the Innovation Programme, Partners in Practice, the new centralised approach to SCRs, the Child Sexual Exploitation Response Unit and the Centre of Expertise for Child Sexual Abuse.