Delivery Programme

April

The impact of housing on health and wellbeing: Research and Policy Update 123 April 2017

Research and Policy Update: Learning Resource

16 Apr

Deadline for Partners’ Tailored Support requests for delivery between April – June 2017*.

Tailored Support

May

Working with people who use drugs and alcohol: Research and Policy Update 124 May 2017

Research and Policy Update: Learning Resource

18 May

Supporting social work practice with people living with dementia: Webinar (open access)

Sign up for this open access webinar to hear more about the new resources to support social work practice with people living with dementia. Commissioned by the Department of Health and developed by RiPfA, the online resources build on the manual for good social work practice: supporting adults with dementia, broadening the application of knowledge into practice with case studies, practical guidance and tools that draw from the experience of people living with dementia and those who care for them.

This webinar is open access and free to RiPfA Partners and non-partners alike.

Aimed at: Frontline practitioners, team managers and trainers.

Webinar: Learning Event

June

Asylum and immigration: Research and Policy Update 125 June 2017

Research and Policy Update: Learning Resource

6 June

London

Family group conferencing with adults

An adult family group conference is a facilitated decision-making meeting, which aims to help the individual and/or family find solutions to problems. This one-day Knowledge Exchange Workshop brings together agencies who either run or are looking to set up an adult family group conference service to share knowledge and expertise. There will be a number of short follow-up video conferences, to help progress actions and provide continuing peer support following the workshop.

Aimed at: All those involved in adult family group conferences, including senior leaders, managers and coordinators already running or looking to set up a family group conference service for adults.

Knowledge Exchange Workshop: Learning Event

16 June

Deadline for Partners’ Tailored Support requests for delivery between July – September 2017*.

Tailored Support

20 June

Online

Recording outcomes-focused conversations

This webinar is designed to support outcomes-based working. It can sometimes be a challenge for practitioners to accurately capture the outcomes-focused nature of a conversation so that the written record reads as a reflection of a conversation which is focused on outcomes rather than a task and process account.

The webinar provides an overview of some of the practice challenges and solutions to support practitioners in recording outcomes conversations.

Aimed at: Practitioners and managers across social care and wider services for adults.

Expert Webinar: Learning Event

What helps make a Safeguarding Adults Review effective?

Around 155 Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs) have been commissioned or conducted in the two years following the implementation of the Care Act 2014. The Act states that SARs should promote ‘effective learning and improvement action to prevent future deaths or serious harm occurring again’ (14.164). But is there a consensus about what makes an effective SAR?

In this webinar, Professor Jill Manthorpe discusses what we know as a result of her extensive work in this area.

Aimed at: Safeguarding leads, Safeguarding Adults Board Chairs, Safeguarding Adults Board managers, Safeguarding Adults Reviews lead reviewers, multi-agency members of Safeguarding Adults Boards.

June

Making an outcomes approach work in practice: Frontline Briefing

This Frontline Briefing explores how we can support people using social care services to define the outcomes they want for themselves. It asks which approaches will work for everyone — people using services, staff and commissioners? Updating and revising the original Key Issue published in 2014, it also includes policy context, definitions of outcomes and practical examples of outcomes-based practice.

Aimed at: Practitioners, managers and commissioners.

Frontline Briefing: Publication

June

What is a family group conference for adults?

A family group conference is a facilitated decision-making meeting, which aims to help the individual and/or family find solutions to problems. This might be where there are concerns about an adults' safety or wellbeing, encouraging the family to find their own lasting solutions by building on their strengths and resources.

This Customer Guide explains what this service is and how it might help a service user and their family.

Aimed at: People who use services, carers and families; social care practitioners, including social workers and family group conference coordinators.

Customer Guide: Publication

June

Embedding human rights approaches in adult social care

Whilst public authorities have a legal duty to protect the rights of individuals, human rights considerations are also relevant to the ethical practice of all providers of health and social care.

This briefing examines a human rights approach in adult social care; including how organisational policy can help to embed human rights in practice.

Aimed at: Strategic leaders, Directors, Councillors, Trustees and senior managers.

Leaders' Briefing: Publication

June

Good recording

This Practice Tool is designed to support outcomes-based working. It can sometimes be challenging to record assessments and conversations in a way that reflects the true nature of the conversation, instead of simply listing tasks. This tool will help practitioners to capture outcomes-focused conversations and assessments. It will also include audio recordings (available to download from the website) to provide the opportunity to practice with some examples.

Aimed at: Practitioners and managers across social care and wider services for adults.

Practice Tool: Publication

July

Assets-based work with communities: Research and Policy Update 126 July 2017

Research and Policy Update: Learning Resource

12 July

Online

Family group conferencing with adults

Adult family group conferences (FGCs) are family-led meetings that encourage and empower an adult with care and support needs and their family/wider support circle to think about their collective strengths and resources and make personalised plans for the future. This webinar will give a brief introduction to the FGC process, and discuss how they can support strengths-based practice and the underlying principle of wellbeing enshrined in the Care Act 2014. It will generate practice ideas for setting up an FGC service and begin a discussion for evaluating the impact and effectiveness of FGCs.

To book your place go to Family group conferencing with adults webinar

Aimed at: All those involved in adult family group conferences, including senior leaders, managers and coordinators who already run or are looking to set up a family group conference service for adults.

Webinar: Learning Event

September

Older people and discrimination: Research and Policy Update 127 September 2017

Research and Policy Update: Learning Resource

16 Sep

Deadline for Partners: Tailored Support requests for delivery between October – December 2017*.

Tailored Support

19 Sep

Bristol

Working with parents who have a learning disability

This joint RiP/RiPfA workshop looks in detail at the practice issues in working with parents who have a learning disability. It aims to explore and challenge some of the attitudinal issues that may arise, and draws on both Adults’ and Children’s Services perspectives to examine ways of working together to ensure best practice.

Aimed at: Practitioners and managers in Children’s and Adults’ Services.

Joint Research Messages Workshop: Learning Event

28-29 Sep

Birmingham

Values-based system and service redesign: Leaders' Forum

As organisations across the health and social care sector strive to tackle complex challenges, leaders are seeking to redesign systems and services.

Increasingly, evidence suggests that effective systems and services are contingent on culture and values; factors which are subjective, intangible and difficult to measure or inspect.

Leaders’ Forum 2017 explores the role of values in leadership decision-making regarding service and system redesign.

Aimed at: Directors, Assistant Directors and strategic managers from across the Research in Practice/Research in Practice for Adults networks.

Leaders' Forum: Network Event

October

Mental Capacity Act: Research and Policy Update 128 October 2017

Research and Policy Update: Learning Resource

3 October

Online

What does evidence-informed telecare look like?

Much has been written about telecare, and the evidence regarding its use is the subject of debate.

As well as looking at the existing evidence on telecare, this webinar will look at the findings from a new study looking at the use of telecare and put forward ideas for developing practice.

Aimed at: Commissioners and practitioners in adult social care.

Expert Webinar: Learning Event

5 October

Birmingham

Link Officers' Annual Meeting (LOAM)

LOAM is our core network event. A dedicated day for Link Officers across the RiPfA network, LOAM provides valuable learning opportunities, collaborative sessions to inform the development of the Delivery Programme for 2018-19 and the chance to network with other Link Officers from across the country.

Aimed at: All Link Officers from across the Research in Practice for Adults network.

Link Officers' Annual Meeting: Network Event

11 October

Manchester

Working with people who hoard

This workshop will investigate why people hoard, how to determine when hoarding becomes a safeguarding issue, and the different interventions (including legal options) that can be used to support people in a way that is helpful for them in the long-term.

It will consider the role of social care practitioners in referring for appropriate support and coordinating multi-agency responses to situations where people are engaging in hoarding behaviours. Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss the tensions that may arise between an individual's freedom of choice and professional duty of care.

Aimed at: Social care practitioners and managers, and their multi-agency partners.

Research Messages Workshop: Learning Event

18 October

Online

Family group conferencing with adults

This webinar will launch the RiPfA publication Family Group Conferencing with Adults.

Aimed at: All those involved in adult family group conferences, including senior leaders, managers and coordinators already running or looking to set up a family group conference service for adults.

Knowledge Exchange Webinar: Learning Event

19 October

London

Innovations in safeguarding – the transition from adolescence to adulthood

At this event, chaired by Dez Holmes, both the Chief Social Workers will share their perspectives on this critical intersection between their respective areas of leadership.An opportunity to:

• Explore effective local safeguarding practice at the transition between adolescence and adult life.
• Hear examples of innovative approaches in supporting young adults to be safe.
• Consider the implications for system design and leadership in a changing policy landscape.

Aimed at: Locality safeguarding leads; heads of service; Principal Social Workers.

Knowledge Exchange Workshop: Learning Event

October

Reducing hospital admissions for older people

This briefing explores how services can adopt strengths-based approaches when working with older people, to reduce the need for hospital admissions. It also builds an understanding of how preventable factors, such as loneliness, contribute to hospital admissions.

Case studies are used throughout, to demonstrate how local areas have used these approaches successfully in practice.

Aimed at: Senior managers, service leads and commissioners.

Strategic Briefing: Publication

October

What is…the role of social care services in supporting adults who have experienced sexual exploitation?

This Customer Guide provides a clear and concise overview of the roles and responsibilities of social care services around the sexual exploitation of adults. Written for use by individuals accessing adult social care and their carers, it outlines what to expect of services and professionals in this area of work.

Aimed at: People accessing services, families and carers.

Customer Guide: Publication

October

Working with complexity

When working with people who have complex lives, and doing so in a complex policy context, practitioners would be well supported by understanding theory, relevant research and by applying evidence-informed tools and frameworks to their practice. The existing literature is disparate, or held in text books. This volume seeks to provide a useful, succinct resource to support good practice in working with people.

Aimed at: Those providing services, managers, learning and development teams, HEI and senior leaders.

Evidence Review: Publication

October

Working with complexity

This publication summarises key messages from the Evidence Review on this topic, which seeks to provide a useful, succinct resource to support good practice in working with people.

Aimed at: Those providing services, managers, learning and development teams, HEI and senior leaders.

Evidence Review Executive Summary: Publication

October

Family group conferencing with adults

An adult family group conference is a facilitated decision-making meeting, which aims to help the individual and/or family find solutions to problems.

This briefing provides a guide to approaches in family group conferencing with adults.

Aimed at: All those involved in adult family group conferences, including senior leaders, managers and coordinators already running or looking to set up a family group conference service for adults.

November

Transition between hospital and home in different settings (hospital admission/discharge): Research and Policy Update 129 November 2017

Research and Policy Update: Learning Resource

14 November

Birmingham

Working with parents who have a learning disability

This joint RiP/RiPfA workshop looks in detail at the practice issues in working with parents who have a learning disability. It aims to explore and challenge some of the attitudinal issues that may arise, and draws on both Adults' and Children's Services perspectives to examine ways of working together to ensure best practice.

Aimed at: Practitioners and managers in Children’s and Adults’ Services

Joint Research Messages Workshop: Learning Event

29 November

Birmingham

Working with people who hoard

This workshop investigates why people hoard, how to determine when hoarding becomes a safeguarding issue, and the different interventions (including legal options) that can be used to support people in a way that is helpful for them in the long-term.

It will consider the role of social care practitioners in referring for appropriate support and coordinating multi-agency responses to situations where people are engaging in hoarding behaviours. Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss the tensions that may arise between an individual’s freedom of choice and professional duty of care.

Aimed at: Social care practitioners and managers, and their multi-agency partners.

Research Messages Workshop: Learning Event

12 December

Swindon

Working with people who may lack mental capacity

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 was implemented ten years ago this year – but there is evidence that its ‘empowering ethos’ is still not being consistently carried through into social care practice. This workshop will examine some of the pinch points of complexity, including how we can approach ‘unwise decisions’ where capacity is in doubt, what best interests really means, and how to promote the spirit of the Act in a multi-agency context. Drawing on case law and legal judgments, we’ll provide an interactive day full of debate and discussion.

Aimed at: Social workers, social care practitioners and managers with a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. This course is not intended for BIAs or AMHPs.

Research Messages Workshop: Learning Event

15 December

Deadline for Partners’ Tailored Support requests for delivery between January – March 2018*.

Tailored Support

9 January

London

Working with parents who have a learning disability

This joint RiP/RiPfA workshop looks in detail at the practice issues in working with parents who have a learning disability. It aims to explore and challenge some of the attitudinal issues that may arise, and draws on both Adults' and Children's Services perspectives to examine ways of working together to ensure best practice.

Aimed at: Practitioners and managers in Children’s and Adults’ Services.

Joint Research Messages Workshop: Learning Event

17 January

London

Working with people who hoard

This workshop investigates why people hoard, how to determine when hoarding becomes a safeguarding issue, and the different interventions (including legal options) that can be used to support people in a way that is helpful for them in the long-term.

It will consider the role of social care practitioners in referring for appropriate support and coordinating multi-agency responses to situations where people are engaging in hoarding behaviours. Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss the tensions that may arise between an individual’s freedom of choice and professional duty of care.

Aimed at: Social care practitioners and managers, and their multi-agency partners.

Research Messages Workshop: Learning Event

18 January

London

Sexual exploitation and mental health of adults 

Local authorities have a responsibility to safeguard people from sexual exploitation.

This workshop explores the evidence relating to sexual exploitation and mental health and covers:

• Signs of sexual exploitation.
• How to effectively engage with people who are at risk of sexual exploitation.
• The legislative and policy framework around sexual exploitation.
• How to personalise approaches to balance best practice with the situation, capacity, needs and wishes of the individual.

Aimed at: Practitioners and managers.

Research Messages Workshop: Learning Event

TBC

TBC

Working with complexity: Partnership Conference

Drawing on our Working with complexity: Evidence Review, our annual conference will provide the opportunity to consider the key themes from the review in greater detail.

Aimed at: Directors, Assistant Directors, Principal Social Workers, commissioners and senior practitioners.

Partnership Conference: Learning Event

January

Working with parents who have a learning disability

This joint RiP/RiPfA publication will provide the reader with an overview of the available evidence in relation to ‘what works’ in working with parents who have a learning disability.

It will include case study examples of practice, and will offer recommendations for strategic leaders to consider in developing and leading systems to support effective working across Children’s and Adults’ Services to support parents who have a learning disability.

Aimed at: Senior leaders, service leads and commissioners.

Strategic Briefing: Publication

January

Sexual exploitation and mental health of adults

Exploring the evidence relating to sexual exploitation and mental health, this briefing will help practitioners to understand:

• Signs of sexual exploitation.
• How to effectively engage with people who are at risk of sexual exploitation.
• The legislative and policy framework around sexual exploitation.
• How to personalise approaches to balance best practice with the situation, capacity, needs and wishes of the individual.

Aimed at:Practioners and managers.

Frontline Briefing: Publication

January

Safety Matters: Third Edition

Practice Handbook: Publication

8 February

Bristol

Sexual exploitation and mental health of adults

Local authorities have a responsibility to safeguard people from sexual exploitation.

This workshop explores the evidence relating to sexual exploitation and mental health and covers:

• Signs of sexual exploitation.
• How to effectively engage with people who are at risk of sexual exploitation.
• The legislative and policy framework around sexual exploitation.
• How to personalise approaches to balance best practice with the situation, capacity, needs and wishes of the individual.

Aimed at: Practitioners and managers.

Research Messages Workshop: Learning Event

27 February

Birmingham

Working with people who may lack mental capacity

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 was implemented ten years ago this year – but there is evidence that its ‘empowering ethos’ is still not being consistently carried through into social care practice. This workshop will examine some of the pinch points of complexity, including how we can approach ‘unwise decisions’ where capacity is in doubt, what best interests really means, and how to promote the spirit of the Act in a multi-agency context. Drawing on case law and legal judgments, we’ll provide an interactive day full of debate and discussion.

Aimed at: Social workers, social care practitioners and managers with a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. This course is not intended for BIAs or AMHPs.

Research Messages Workshop: Learning Event

8 March

Birmingham

Sexual exploitation and mental health of adults

Local authorities have a responsibility to safeguard people from sexual exploitation.

This workshop explores the evidence relating to sexual exploitation and mental health and covers:

• Signs of sexual exploitation.
• How to effectively engage with people who are at risk of sexual exploitation.
• The legislative and policy framework around sexual exploitation.
• How to personalise approaches to balance best practice with the situation, capacity, needs and wishes of the individual.

Aimed at: Practitioners and managers.

Research Messages Workshop: Learning Event

15 March

London

Working with people who may lack mental capacity

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 was implemented ten years ago this year – but there is evidence that its ‘empowering ethos’ is still not being consistently carried through into social care practice. This workshop will examine some of the pinch points of complexity, including how we can approach ‘unwise decisions’ where capacity is in doubt, what best interests really means, and how to promote the spirit of the Act in a multi-agency context. Drawing on case law and legal judgments, we’ll provide an interactive day full of debate and discussion.

Aimed at: Social workers, social care practitioners and managers with a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. This course is not intended for BIAs or AMHPs.

Research Messages Workshop: Learning Event

21 March

Manchester

Working with parents who have a learning disability

This joint RiP/RiPfA workshop looks in detail at the practice issues in working with parents who have a learning disability. It aims to explore and challenge some of the attitudinal issues that may arise, and draws on both Adults' and Children's Services perspectives to examine ways of working together to ensure best practice.

Aimed at: Practitioners and managers in Children’s and Adults’ Services.

Joint Research Messages Workshop: Learning Event

TBC

Strengths-based working

The Care Act 2014 among other drivers has renewed a focus on strengths-based approach in Adults’ Services. This aims to make sure that social care practitioners are encouraging people to draw on their assets to both improve their wellbeing, and reduce reliance on services.

This briefing will look at the evidence base for strengths-based working; what do we know about what works, in which circumstances, who for and how; are there any limitations to when strengths-based working can be used; and how these considerations should shape practice.

Aimed at: Frontline practitioners and managers who work with adults and their families.

Frontline Briefing: Publication