Making Research Count

Lead university staff
Professor Nicky Stanley
nstanley@uclan.ac.uk

Coordinator: Frances Young
fyoung@uclan.ac.uk

Members
Lancashire County Council.

Regional approach
UCLan is the most recent university partner to join the Making Research Count network, and is currently developing links with local authorities, and devising its programme for the year.

Much of the department’s research involves collaboration with local agencies including a practice audit of children’s services that has involved high levels of engagement in research from practitioners and managers. Membership of MRC offers local agencies the opportunity to draw on the expertise of the department to develop practitioner research skills and experience.

The university department in which the regional programme has been developed:
Research with children and young people and into children’s services is well developed at UCLan. Much of the work addresses interagency issues such as the mental health needs of looked after children, parental mental health and child welfare or the service response to children experiencing domestic violence. Evaluations of new initiatives in children’s services include exploring the role of new technology in information sharing and assessment, early support services for families and young children with disabilities and the first evaluations of Children’s Commissioners in Wales and Northern Ireland. Professor Nicky Stanley has recently been appointed as the independent researcher on CWDC’s Remodelling Social Work Project.

Professors Nigel Thomas and Andy Bilson are currently establishing a Centre for Children’s Participation and, together with Professor Bogusia Temple and other social work staff, they are developing a programme of research on young refugees in partnership with local agencies.

Website
The website for Making Research Count at the University of Central Lancashire is under construction.

Information about the Department of Social Work at UCLan can be found at:
http://www.uclan.ac.uk/health/schools/school_of_social_work/index.php