The Centre for Excellence and Outcomes (C4EO) has employed consultancyMat-rix Knowledge Group to examine the cost-effectiveness of programmessuch as family intervention projects and therapeutic care.
The project could provide an important tool for local authorities underincreasing pressure to save costs. C4EO chief executive Christine Daviessaid: "If Matrix comes up with intelligent findings that the sector canmake good use of, I hope to say to government that this is worth someinvestment."
She stressed the results, expected in "late autumn", would seek not toproduce a definitive pecking order of cost-effectiveness, but to showservice commissioners the likelihood that certain interventions willprovide good value given different circumstances of children andfamilies.
It comes as C4EO makes safeguarding the eighth key theme of its work toidentify and disseminate best practice across children's and youngpeople's services.
In its response to the Laming report on child protection in England, thegovernment this month tasked C4EO with producing three researchbriefings on how best to intervene when there are concerns a child isbeing harmed. These are expected to be available at the end of June'said Davies.
