What works in practice?
Barnardo’s is committed to evidence based services for children, young people and families. As well as conducting and publishing research that underpins our practice and gives a voice to children, we support practitioners and policy makers in actually using, applying and carrying out research themselves with a range of publications around evidence based practice.
Barnardo’s research reports can be found under the subject headings in the navigation bar to the right.
Evidence based practice
The Evidence Guide
Aimed at professionals involved in social care and allied fields, as well as those studying in this area, this easy to use resource is for anyone with an interest in evidence based services.
Five modules steer you through finding, assessing and applying research evidence. Designed to work individually - making the course easy and manageable. Learner's packs use activities, review questions and key message boxes to facilitate self guided study. Trainer's packs contain session plans, group activities and a CD of handouts and slides - all you need to run your own training. Alternatively, you can commission customised in-house training directly from Barnardo’s.
Find out more 
Buy individual modules or the full pack online
Ethics, social research and consulting with children and young people
From planning through choosing questions and methods to reporting and disseminating findings – this book examines the ethical considerations of consulting with children. This book updates our 1995 report “Listening to Children” and gives examples of a range of projects. A useful buy for anyone involved social research with children – whether publishing it, funding it or using the results.
Evaluating social interventions: a report of two workshops funded by the Economic and Social Research Council
People at the receiving end of social interventions are frequently vulnerable and relatively powerless. This study looks at methods of evaluation which allow effectiveness to be judged. It also considers how ethical and practical issues are considered in research. In particular, it focuses upon the use of randomised controlled trials in measuring effectiveness.
Joined-up youth research, policy and practice: a new agenda for change?
This publication explains how research can be best harnessed to create a range of effective policies that will have a positive and sustained impact on young people's lives and the issues that affect them. The study considers issues including unemployment, housing, health and crime.
What works? series
What works in strategic partnerships for children?
How can we build strong and effective partnerships that really improve outcomes for children? This title looks at the history of partnership working and the theories underpinning different partnership models as well as how to develop productive partnerships and maintain their momentum.
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What works for children and young people with harmful sexual behaviours?
This title reviews interventions and strategies for working with children and young people who display sexually harmful behaviour. It examines research and effective interventions with adolescents who have sexually abused and pre-adolescent children with sexual behaviour problems. The need for supportive and empathic interventions which are developmentally sensitive is highlighted.
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What works for young people leaving care?
Explores research in the context of practice, law and social and economic structures. This book looks at problems, service challenges and outcomes for young people leaving care.
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What works in adoption and foster care?
Written to help managers and practitioners make evidence based decision about where and how to place children for the right outcomes. Looks at what factors are associated with positive outcomes, how practice can be evaluated and what research does not tell us.
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What works in building resilience?
Why are some children and young people more successful at resisting and overcoming stressful episodes? What is resilience and how can we promote it? What works in building resilience? gives social care professionals information to enable them to identify and implement resilience promoting factors in all age groups.
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What works for parents with learning disabilities?
Despite changes in public attitudes, prejudices still exist about parents with learning disabilities. This review of their circumstances, needs and the most effective types of support is a valuable contribution to the knowledge base of health and social care workers.
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What works in community development with children?
Actively involving children with community projects, and enabling them to speak for themselves, raises practical and ethical issues. This review considers the different forms of community development involving children and young people including safety, health, promoting education and preparing for citizenship. Provides advice about conducting research and evaluation and draws conclusions about what helps and hinders community development.
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What works? Making connections: linking research and practice
At present, integration of research into social care practice and management is only partially successful. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation commissioned Barnardo's to conduct a review of the processes by which research is disseminated and subsequently implemented into policy and practice. This publication considers what research commissioners/producers can do to ensure that their research will be successfully integrated.
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What works for troubled children?
Looking at the types of problems presented to – and the solutions offered by – social work practitioners. Issues covered include bullying, family breakdown, anxiety and depression, aggressive behaviour and loss and bereavement. This revised edition considers developments in assessment, prevention projects and behavioural/cognitive interventions.
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What works in parenting education? Parenting matters
Increasingly, parenting programmes are being cited as a solution to difficulties within families. But do they really work? And what results can be expected? This report reviews and analyses research and assesses the effectiveness of programmes. It also includes an evaluation of programmes by the University of Washington for parents, children and teachers.
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