This project has now been completed. The linked publication can be viewed here:
This protocol summaries plans for a full scale randomised controlled trial of the ISAFE training programme
There have been examples of services not routinely or systematically engaging, supporting and challenging men in families. Improving Safeguarding through Audited Father-Engagement (ISAFE) is a training and organisational development intervention which responds to this issue. Developed by the Fatherhood Institute (FI) and CASCADE, the programme aims to improve engagement with fathers by local authority children’s services.
This evaluation will assess how effective ISAFE is and will include a total of 48 teams (eight local authorities; six teams in each) made up of approximately 10 social workers in each team. The teams will be randomly allocated to the treatment or control group and the training courses are delivered online to groups of up to 15 participants per session.
The ISAFE intervention is made up of complementary training sessions, delivered in sequence to key groups of staff. The sessions include:
1. Training programme for children and family social workers covering two modules:
i) father engagement techniques
ii) motivational interviewing.
2. Quality assurance (QA) audit training focused on how to monitor social workers’ father-engagement routinely and systematically.
3. Champion training of middle-management social workers, to help them lead and support their colleagues to do the best possible job engaging with fathers.
4. A webinar delivered to local authority senior leaders, to push through changes in policies and systems that will make father engagement part of LA’s routine, everyday work.
The evaluation of the ISAFE intervention will include a randomised controlled trial (RCT) (a (non-blinded two-armed full-scale), an implementation and process evaluation (IPE) and a cost analysis.
For the RCT, Ipsos UK will explore the effectiveness of ISAFE through:
Outcome measures will be collected through an online survey at three time points: baseline (before ISAFE begins), endline (after ISAFE finishes), and a three-month follow-up.
The implementation and process evaluation will explore factors affecting implementation to understand how and why ISAFE does or does not have the desired impact.
Rated 1: Set up and delivery is low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of less than £100.
Rated 2: Set up and delivery is medium-low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £100–£499.
Rated 3: Set up and delivery is medium cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £500–£999.
Rated 4: Set up and delivery is medium-high cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £1,000–£2,000.
Rating 5: Set up and delivery is high cost. Equivalent to an estimated unit cost of more than £2,000.
Set up and delivery cost is not applicable, not available, or has not been calculated.
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Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing child maltreatment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Enhancing school achievement & employment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing crime, violence and antisocial behaviour: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing substance abuse: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing risky sexual behaviour & teen pregnancy: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing obesity and promoting healthy physical development: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Rated 2: Has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome from a quantitative impact study, but there is not yet evidence of causal impact.
Rated 2+: Meets the level 2 rating and the best available evidence is based on a study which is more rigorous than a level 2 standard but does not meet the level 3 standard.
Rated 3: Has evidence of a short-term positive impact from at least one rigorous study.
Rated 3+: Meets the level 3 rating and has evidence from other studies with a comparison group at level 2 or higher.
Rated 4: Has evidence of a long-term positive impact through at least two rigorous studies.
Rated 4+: Meets the level 4 rating and has at least a third study contributing to the Level 4 rating, with at least one of the studies conducted independently of the intervention provider.
Rating has a *: The evidence base includes mixed findings i.e., studies suggesting positive impact alongside studies, which on balance, indicate no effect or negative impact.
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