Knowledge on the net

Supporting evidence informed practice

We all need to make sure that any assistance we give to others is based on the best possible information and research findings. Here's a guide to some of the different types of information available.

Factual information is available on many government, national and special interest sites, such as Department for Children Schools and Families and National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Databases are lists of published material, such as books, articles and research, on particular topics. Some charge but there are also free databases. You may need to buy the articles you require, but databases are useful for specialist questions and finding out the most recent information that's been published on a topic.

E-bulletins can be subscribed to and give you regular headlines on topics of interest in your chosen field (eg NCB and Every Child Matters). Many of the sites on this page enable you to register for e-bulletins and updates.

Discussion rooms and specialist services enable you to get in touch with colleagues across the country in order to share experience. Some services will do a database search for you.

Social Care Online

Social Care Online is a new resource from the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). It offers the UK's most complete range of information and research on social care. As well as a database, it provides a single point of access to an extensive range of material including online guides and an online tutorial on how to find information on the web.

The Centre for Excellence and Outcomes (C4EO)

The Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services is a DCFS sponsored consortium which identifies and collates what works in children's services.

• Every Child Matters is the area of the DCSF dedicated to safeguarding and current developments in integrated services for children
• The Social Care Institute for Excellence is a government funded organisation that aims to promote knowledge about good practice in social care
• Research in Practice is an organisation that supports evidence-informed practice with children and families
• The NSPCC has information on safeguarding children and parenting for parents, young people and professionals
• Teachernet is a website with information for teachers including safeguarding children in education
• OFSTED publishes inspection reports on children's services
• The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is a good source of child health information and has useful links
• The King's Fund is a library aimed at health workers in London
• The Royal College of Psychiatrists has a series of information leaflets on child and adult mental health issues
• The Joseph Rowntree Foundation regularly publishes articles and research into poverty and childcare matters
• The Thomas Coram Research Unit is a good source of research relevant to children's services

Databases

• Social Care Online search engine is a virtual warehouse of social care information; offers free access to major social care databases
• ChildData is the database of the National Children's Bureau. Southwark Health and Social Care have taken out a subscription for workers in Southwark offering a service to children; contact the Southwark safeguarding children board with details of where you work to obtain a username and password

E-bulletins

• Register to get email updates on what is new on Social Care Online
• Research in Practice produces a regular research and policy update
• CASPAR News (Current Awareness Service for Practice Policy and Research) is the bulletin for NSPCC Inform

We subscribe to a number of services on behalf of all workers in statutory and voluntary services working with children in Southwark. Making Research Count organises regular seminars on recent research findings. Contact the Southwark safeguarding children board to give details of the type of work you do and the name of your organisation to obtain a password to access the following two services:

1. National Children's Bureau Library provides access to a large collection of articles and other services
2. Thinking it Out is a service that carries out individual database searches to answer your specific question

Page last updated: 23 January 2024