Early Intervention Foundation in talks over merger with What Works for Children’s Social Care

The review, which published its final recommendations today (23 May), states that “as part of the review’s wider drive to simplify and align how we respond to children supported by social care, we believe there should be a single authoritative What Works Centre that looks at evidence to support this cohort of children”. 

“In the first instance, we think this would mean integrating the Early Intervention Foundation and What Works for Children’s Social Care where there are very significant overlaps,” it adds.

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Just hours after review chair Josh MacAlister, published his recommendations, a joint statement from the two organisations says they “have begun conversations about a merger that would create a new ‘go-to’ what works centre on children and families covering both early intervention and children’s social care”.

“While no formal decision to merge has yet been taken, the boards of both organisations look forward to working together with the Department for Education to explore this option further,” it adds.

The boards of the Early Intervention Foundation and What Works for Children’s Social Care have begun conversations about a merger that would create a new go-to what works centre on children & families.https://t.co/obsdvUpaEZ pic.twitter.com/u6DxkHN1vM

— Early Intervention Foundation (@TheEIFoundation) May 23, 2022

A new organisation “would reflect the often-shared ways of working across early help and children’s social care,” according to the EIF.

“A new centre with a broad and ambitious remit for early intervention and children’s social care would be well placed to generate much-needed new evidence on how best to support children and families, building on the foundation of evidence and robust research already established by EIF and WWCSC, and to work nationally and locally to ensure that services and practice are informed by the strongest evidence in order to improve outcomes for children and young people.

“EIF and WWCSC will continue to deliver their work to support evidence-informed policymaking and practice in children’s social care and across wider support for children, young people and families,” the statement says.

Sharing the news on Twitter, Dr Jo Casebourne, chief executive of the EIF, said: “Really excited that we are in discussions with WWCSC about coming together to make an even more powerful case for intervening early to support the most vulnerable children and families.”