What Works for Children’s Social Care and EIF merger launches

Under the new name Foundations – What Works Centre for Children and Families, the organisation has set out how the evidence it generates through the analysis of early intervention programmes will have an impact on “improving the foundational relationships that children need”.

“Foundations will generate and champion actionable evidence to improve services and interventions that support family relationships, so that more vulnerable children can go on to flourish,” its report Building the Foundations states.

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The report lays out plans to identify new approaches to early intervention and children’s social care while developing interventions that can be evaluated for impact.

Foundations will also influence government policy to fund or promote approaches which are proven to work, according to the report.

Plans have also been revealed to increase demand for evidence about what works to improve family relationships through the implementation and assessment of early intervention programmes at both local and national levels.

Foundations will measure the impact of its work through a series of indicators including:

• An increase in the use of evidence-based interventions and approaches available for children and families.

• An increase in the number of government programmes that promote evidence-based interventions and approaches.

• A decrease the use of interventions and approaches proven to be ineffective or that have no impact on child outcomes.

• Visible improvements in the proportion of local leaders using evidence-based interventions and approaches.

Dr Jo Casebourne, chief executive of Foundations, said: “Foundations will be focused on five areas: supporting parenting, strengthening family networks, domestic abuse, relationships for care experienced people and the service and practice models that underpin support.

“We know that there are substantial racial inequalities in outcomes and experiences in early intervention and children’s social care that cannot be explained by deprivation alone, so we will use evidence about what works to call for change for children and families experiencing racial discrimination.”

What Works for Children’s Social Care and the EIF merged following a recommendation in the final report from the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care.

Josh MacAlister, who chaired the review, is now executive chair of Foundations.

The launch comes before CYP Now's 10th annual Early Help conference, which will take place at the Hallam Conference Centre in central London on 27 September. The conference will see experts and leading practitioners share key insights and guidance for those working with children, young people and families.