Scaling and deepening reclaiming social work model: longitudinal follow up evaluation report

Scaling and Deepening the Reclaiming Social Work model aimed to embed ‘Reclaiming Social Work’ (RSW) in 5 local authorities (Buckinghamshire, Derbyshire, Harrow, Hull and Southwark). RSW was a whole-system reform that aimed to deliver systemic practice in children’s services. Key elements included: (1) in-depth training; (2) small units; (3) group systemic case discussions; (4) clinician support; and (5) enhanced administrative support. To assess the longer-term impact of RSW, 4 out of the 5 local authorities (Derbyshire, Harrow, Hull and Southwark) agreed to participate in the longitudinal follow-up study. Data were collected 3 years after the original project was completed. To protect anonymity, local authorities are numbered. Key messages include: * Key elements of RSW remained in place to some degree in all local authorities. However, only one (LA5) retained all 5 key elements. LA5 had also strengthened its clinician input, creating a clinical service with clear governance structures that enabled access to clinical consultation and direct work with family members * Commitment to retaining RSW’s key elements was dependent on local context, including strong leadership and responses to findings from Ofsted inspections. Wider developments in approaches to social work practice, such as Signs of Safety have also shaped local practice models * Staff consistently identified the following conditions as being associated with practice improvement: training in systemic practice; the quality of systemically-informed supervision; and contribution of a clinician in supervision * Families valued practice that was relational, goal focused and non-judgemental. They also emphasised the hopefulness associated with systemic social work practice