This project or publication was produced before or during the merger of What Works for Children’s Social Care (WWCSC) and the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF).
Social Workers in Schools (SWIS) is a school-based intervention in which social workers are embedded within schools to undertake statutory social work with children and families, with the aim of safely reducing the need for children to receive children’s social care (CSC) services.
From 2020-2022, nearly 300 secondary schools – across 21 local authorities in England – were involved in the trial of SWIS. We undertook research to understand how SWIS was implemented and perceived by those involved, as well as the impact of SWIS, by comparing CSC and educational outcomes. In 2023, we found that, although well received, the intervention did not have any impact on CSC outcomes, such as reducing the number of children who enter care. You can read the initial report here.
This report contributes to the final part of the impact analysis that assesses the educational and care outcomes over a longer period of time. Although the results reinforce the overall conclusions of a null finding described in the earlier report, a final recommendation from this study is that we should continue attempts to identify, develop, and robustly evaluate interventions that may be effective in helping children and reducing the need for social care services.
This report contributes to the final part of an impact analysis and aims to answer the following questions:
This trial was set up to evaluate the effectiveness of the SWIS intervention on the need for CSC services. It was a pragmatic cluster RCT with two arms – a social worker assigned to and present in a school (intervention) versus usual CSC services alone (control), with mainstream secondary schools as the unit of randomisation.
The results presented in this report reinforce the overall conclusions of a null finding we drew in the previous report, when we presented evidence in relation to the primary outcome and some secondary social care outcomes.
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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