Costs and Outcomes - children in need research

This resource brings together messages and implementation support from a programme of research on the costs and outcomes of services for children in need.

The 14 studies (most of which have been published) look at how children's social care services are delivered, the costs of providing those services and the extent to which they improve outcomes for children. It is part of a long-standing Department of Health, and now Department for Education and Skills, series of Messages from Research.

Studies in this programme are among the first to estimate unit costs for children's social care services and social work processes. The study findings should help inform commissioners of services in their decisions about how to spend their limited resources.

Click here to access summaries of the 14 studies.

The main report provides an overview and summary of the main findings. It is being distributed, free, to children's services agencies in the voluntary and statutory sectors. It is also provided here, along with an executive summary.

You can also purchase a hard copy of the publication from Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

The implementation programme for this overview was led by Research in Practice. In early 2007 a series of workshops will be held with invited audiences in the government regions. A flyer and booking form can be downloaded above.

A series of leaflets aimed at different target groups will be added to this page soon. These leaflets will mine the research overview for messages that can assist those who commission and manage services, and those who commission and carry out research. Information will also be provided about the way in which key stakeholders - young people, and parents and carers, were involved in the development of the overview.

Downloads to follow soon:

• Shifting to Earlier Intervention - a leaflet for commissioners and planners of services
  
  
• Looking After Children - a leaflet for service managers, planners and commissioners
  
  
• Everybody's Business - a leaflet for those who have responsibility for managing and delivering services for children and young people
  
  
• Using Local Evidence - a leaflet for service managers, planners and commissioners
  
  
• Actions for Councillors - a leaflet for lead members and others with responsibilities for services that affect children and families
  
  
• New Research: Making Good Choices - a leaflet for those who fund, carry out and host research studies
  
  
• Involving young people, parents and carers - messages from the stakeholder consultation

Click to go to the Research in Practice website or read more about costs and outcomes on this website.