On this page
- Introduction
- Our News
- Research and Evidence Partnership Stakeholders Event
- The 12th Annual Social Work and Social Care Conference date announced
- New PhD support network-group launches
- Social workers get artistic at the PiP Awards
- Care in Practice Framework goes live
- A tribute to my friend, colleague and fellow social worker Anna Lo
- Other News
- When there are few words
- Call for Participants – International Survey on Social Work and Poverty
- Post Qualifying Research Methods at Ulster University
- The Power of Conversations – Exciting New Developments in Social Work Education
- All-Ireland-Social-Work-Research-Conference
- Coproduction with Service Users in Adult Social Work
- International Federation of social Workers
- Events
- Further Reading
Welcome to the Northern Ireland Social Care Council’s (Social Care Council’s) autumn edition of the Knowledge Exchange and Evidence Newsletter.
We are delighted to bring you up to date with some recent developments and news in relation to Research and Evidence, both locally and further afield.
We continue to bring readers a diverse range of information, news and updates on activity relevant to the wider research and evidence agenda.
Thank you to everyone who has provided us with updates and information on new initiatives,
Yours sincerely,
Anne McGlade
Research Lead
Social Care Council
“Science is a process of continuous learning and improvement, where mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow.”
– Barbara McClintock
The Research and Evidence Partnership meets for the first time
The inaugural meeting of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council’s (the Social Care Council) newly established Research and Evidence Partnership took place on the 26 September 2024.
The Partnership is a committee of the Social Care Council’s board and has been established to create new links with the wider social work and social care research infrastructure both locally and nationally.
It will seek out research funding streams, identify the types of research and evidence that will inform policy and practice, explore gaps in evidence and support the identification of strategic research and evidence priorities.
“The quest for knowledge is a never-ending adventure, and every discovery opens up new horizons of possibility.”
– Rita Levi-Montalcini
Building a Research Community
The Research Community has now grown to include well over 70 members.
You too could be part of a thriving network for engagement, sharing good practice and generating new ideas for research, evidence and innovation in social work and social care.
If you would like to find out more about community just email swresearchsistrategy@hscni.net
Developing a web presence for research and evidence
The Social Care Council is currently working on a website that will reflect the range of work and activities related to research and evidence.
The 12th Annual Social Work and Social Care Conference date announced
The Northern Ireland Social Care Council (the Social Care Council) is delighted to host the 12th Annual Social Work and Social Care Research in Practice Conference.
The event will take place on 5 March 2025 at Riddell Hall in Belfast, registration will open in the new year.
The theme will be ‘Making the connections in research and evidence – Collective leadership, workforce planning, change and service user involvement.’
Applications are now open for those interested in submitting an abstract and have an opportunity to present at the conference.
Deadline for abstracts is 13 December.
Click here for more details and guidance on how to submit an abstract
New PhD support network group launches
Following from just a conversation about how, notwithstanding the invaluable support that the universities offer, undertaking study can be a relatively lonely place, the PhD network group has had its first meeting in Social Care Council Offices.
The network has evolved over the past couple of months from a conversation about how, not withstanding the invaluable support that the universities offer, undertaking PhD study can be a relatively lonely place. With an acknowledgement of this, it was agreed that a network of all social work and social care PhD students past, present and future in Northern Ireland would be a beneficial venture to explore.
Initial preparatory engagement work and discussions with the Social Care Research Lead, academic colleagues and call outs for prospective members identified 19 members who immediately expressed an interest in being part of this exciting new network.
In welcoming members to the Social Care Council offices, Anne McGlade, Social Care Research Lead expressed her delight to see such interest and enthusiasm present at the meeting and amongst the wider group of whom not all could be present.
Further to the inaugural meeting it was agreed that the purpose of the PhD network group would be to provide a safe,supportive place where peers can build relationships and share information,knowledge and hints and tips. As the first meeting evidenced, the benefits of including PhD students at all different stages of their PhD journey will be fundamental to this group as the candidates explored the challenges and joys of their experiences.
If you are interested in joining this innovative, exciting venture, please forward your details to either Liz Tanner or Laura Doyle.
Liz.tanner@southerntrust.hscni.co.uk
Social workers get artistic at the PiP Awards
The Northern Ireland Social Care Council hosted the biggest ever Professional in Practice Awards in September, with over 200 recipients. To add to the celebration the organisation Arts Care conducted a workshop with attendees to create watercolour representations of the social work leadership journey those present had been on.
Also, on the day graphic artist Molly McFadden helped record the event with artistic notes, bringing a real hint of colour and life to the proceedings.
See below for a unique recap on the events of the day – you might even spot a familiar face or two among the cartoons!
Care in Practice Framework goes live
The Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice, as the entrance level qualification for the Care in Practice Framework, has been accredited by CCEA, is now ‘live’ on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications, has been added to the Level 2 Apprenticeship NI Framework and is ready for delivery by Awarding Organisations (see list below) and Vocational Qualification Assessment Centres to the social care workforce, both adults and children’s services, in Northern Ireland.
- OCN NI
- Proqual
- Skills Education Group
You can view full details here.
A tribute to my friend, colleague and fellow social worker Anna Lo
by Anne McGlade
Over the last couple of weeks, the local media has covered many tributes to Anna Lo. She touched the lives of so many people personally, in social work, in politics, and in the local community – she will be much missed by so many.
Anna’s name will always be associated with being the first minority ethnic elected politician in Northern Ireland. She was an innovator and a trail blazer in many other aspects of her career. Her loss is deeply felt by her family, colleagues and friends, of which I was both privileged and honoured to be counted.
I have known Anna for many years first as a work colleague and latterly as a very close friend.
Anna’s value base as a social worker, her respect for others and her real commitment to making a change was evident in how she behaved, no matter what the circumstances.
My first contact with Anna goes back many years when she was Chief Executive of the Chinese Welfare Organisation.
She and I worked together with colleagues in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board on identifying and responding to the communication needs of the Chinese population in Northern Ireland. The introduction and ongoing monitoring of the Chinese Interpreting Service funder by the Eastern Board sowed the seeds for the current HSC Interpreting Service for Minority Ethnic People. A response to communication barriers amongst new and emerging populations necessitating a wider response, was also supported by Anna.
I have many memories of Eastern Board colleagues joining in – and I kid you not – winning the prestigious Dragon Boat Race on River Lagan even beating champions from Hong Kong. Our winning was only the once but it was all in the taking part.
The Chinese New Year was always a celebration within the Eastern Board I helped to carry the Lion’s Head from Anna’s Office on University Street to Linenhall Street turning a few heads on the process. But it was worth it – the diversity and fun of the Lion Dance was enjoyed by all. Diversity is always fun and rewarding.
Anna’s commitment to diversity was evident right through to the last few weeks of her life when she was still responding to Nisha Tandon, Chief Executive, ArtsEkta, an organisation of which Anna was Chair of the Board. ArtsEkta is well known for many cultural activities, of which the Belfast Mela is widely enjoyed.
Our annual Christmas get together this year will not be the same without you, Anna. You will not be forgotten by your colleague, friends and family, and Anna I will not forget you.
Your friend, Anne McGlade
When There are Few Words
by Deidre McKenna
When we come to the end of our lives, we can find ourselves faced with some very important questions about living and dying.
Written by Deirdre this book offers some guidance and support in responding to these as well as we are able. It is written for all of us; ourselves, our family members, our neighbours, our friends.
Deirdre has a long-standing interest and commitment to research and evidence in palliative care. She undertook the Post Qualifying Research Methods Programme at Ulster University which resulted in 2018 in the publication of a detailed systematic review entitled Family /Carer experiences of advance care planning.
In 2019 she undertook a further research study entitled: How does the “Heart of conversation enable people to talk about death and dying and support them to plan ahead?
“Congratulations to Deirdre on this wonderful achievement. This accessible booklet should prove very helpful to families, their friends and to staff.
Curiosity and an ability to look at things from different perspectives is what makes a good researcher better and Deirdre you always carried that air of curiosity and used the research to develop your thinking. Well Done”.
(Anne McGlade Social Care Research Lead)
Call for Participants: International Survey on Social Work and Poverty
Registered social workers in Northern Ireland who work with children and families living in poverty are invited to take part in a unique international survey.
This study, led in the UK by Professors June Thoburn and Marian Brandon (University of East Anglia), is part of a larger project involving 11 countries, and the three other UK nations, aiming to explore how social workers approach their work with families in poverty.
Your participation will help them to understand how different approaches and values shape practice, with the goal of improving support for vulnerable families. The survey is anonymous, takes around 15-20 minutes, and is hosted by the Zancan Foundation.
Take part and contribute to important international research aimed at bettering social work practice in these challenging times. To take part, simply follow this link and complete the survey.
Post Qualifying Research Methods Programme
at Ulster University
Congratulations to all our students who achieved success in the recent exam board meetings at Ulster University for 2023-2024
Evidence Module undertaken in year one
- Kitty Downey
- Rachael Graham
- Catherine Weatherup
- Susie Morrow
- Steph Craig
- Ryan McNeill
Research and Evaluation Methods in year two
- Rachel Duncan
- Maria Flanaghan
- Andrea Hegarty
- Sonya McCabe
- Diane McGarvey
- Katherine Greer
- Lisa Morrison
Research Dissemination, Influencing and Publication in year three
- Emily Wilson
- Noel Wilson
We are delighted at your success. Well done on all the hard work and commitment that you put into your studies. You are the future of researcher and evidence in social work in Northern Ireland. We will celebrate at the Research Conference on 5th March 2025. Keep up the good work.
(Course Tutors, Professor Paula McFadden, Dr Campbell Killick and Anne McGlade)
The Power of Conversations – Exciting New Developments in Social Work Education
The social work team at Ulster University continuously work to improve teaching and learning methods on the social work degree. One such innovation, that will be of particular interest to social workers and colleagues across disciplines, has been piloted and implemented this year.
After consultation with students and agreement on the introduction of assessed conversations to replace traditional formal presentations.
For students, this model fostered authentic collaboration with peers; while assuring that they would receive formative feedback on their performance before being formally assessed. Sixty students took part in nine focus groups offering feedback on their experience of assessed conversations. Students described a depth of knowledge achieved and greater confidence in evidence-based practice then they had envisaged possible.
You can read the full article here.
If you would like any further information, please contact the lead researcher, Tony McGinn, Social Work at Ulster University, t.mcginn@ulster.ac.uk;
Coproduction with Service Users in Adult Social Work: A Study of Service Users’ and Social Workers’ Experiences in Northern Ireland
Involving service users in the delivery of health and social care is a focal point in social policy discourse.
Coproduction has become synonymous with anti-oppressive practice and service user empowerment.
This article reports on a qualitative study carried out in Northern Ireland which explored service user involvement in adult social care practice and policy development.
Findings suggest that service users are motivated to participate in coproduction and can feel valued in these roles, but meaningful coproduction is a challenge in the current practice environment.
Read the full article here.
If you would like any further information, please contact the lead researcher, Patricia Burns, Social Work at Ulster University, p.burns1@ulster.ac.uk
In partnership with Nursing and Midwifery, through quality improvement science we aim to increase the innovation capability and capacity of Social Work and Social Care across the region, regardless of an organisations size or remit.
Why Attend?
- Learn from the successes of practitioners who have implemented improvements in their service.
- Gain insights into how QI methodologies can drive sustainable and impactful change.
- Network with a learning community passionate about quality improvement methodologies and innovation.
- Discover practical ways to deliver measurable improvements in your own work.
Contact niall.ferguson@setrust.hscni.net for more information
Sign up today to celebrate the achievements of the programme’s participants and learn how QI tools can empower you to make a difference.
POSTPONED – All-Ireland Social Work Research Conference
From the organisers:
We have been advised that the proposed venue for the conference is very likely to be unavailable as it serves as a polling station.
Due to this, we have made the difficult discussion to postpone the conference, with a new date planned for May 2025.
We understand this is disappointing news to receive and we thank you for your understanding and continued involvement in this journey.
There will be no requirement to re-book, re-register, re-submit etc.
The event listing is available here.
European Social Services Conference 2025
Registration now open – visit the website here for full details.
“The best scientists are open to the possibility that they may be wrong, and they are willing to change their minds in the face of new evidence.”
– Pearl Buck
Building Research Partnerships (NI) training
Researchers who want to learn more about how to implement Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) through-out the research cycle, and build more effective PPI partnerships.
View full details here.
Practice Links
Practice Links is a free publication of the School of Applied Social Studies (social work)at University College Cork. Practice Links supports practitioners to keep up-to-date with new publications, online resources, conferences and continuing professional development opportunities.
View the latest magazine here.
HSC Research and Development Division Bulletin
Click here for the latest bulletin to find detailed information, activity updates and various grant opportunities.
European Social Services Conference
You can view the report from the 2024 conference here.
Registration is now open for the 2025 conference – you can find more information here.
The Healthcare Library
Why not check out the Health Care Library, a great resource for health and social care professionals across Northern Ireland.
This month’s topic is on Support Planning and features some Northern Ireland authors.
Click here to visit the Library.
IMPACT – Improving Adult Social Care Together
IMPACT is a £15 million UK centre for implementing evidence in adult social care. It is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Health Foundation. Our Leadership Team is made up of 13 individuals, led by Professor Jon Glasby at the University of Birmingham. This team includes academics, people who draw on care and support, and policy and practice partners. We have also involved a broader consortium of key stakeholders from across both, the sector, and the four nations of the UK. On this page, you will learn about the mission, beliefs, and values that guide our work.
Produced by the Social Care Council Research Team.
For any queries, questions or contributions please email: andriana.alkiviadou@niscc.hscni.net.