Research

Research Image

SIRCC believes that research has a major role to play in improving the residential services provided for children and young people. Residential child care workers should be critical and reflective practitioners enabled to use their learning effectively in the workplace. Likewise research should be informed by practitioners and practice experience.

Research will be disseminated through the publication of research reports, articles in professional and academic journals (including the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care), books and book chapters, and presentations at seminars and conferences. Our programme of research is coordinated by Andrew Kendrick, Professor of Residential Child Care and Head of School of the Glasgow School of Social Work, Ian Milligan, Assistant Director (Education) and Irene Stevens, Research & Publications Manager.

Aims

SIRCC aims to undertake and disseminate a wide range of research, ensuring that activities in Scotland are underpinned by a sound research and evidence base and informed by experience from the rest of the UK and internationally.

Our Research will focus on:

Evaluation Of Practice Developments
Outcomes For Children And Young People
Patterns And Trends In The Use Of Residential Care
Policy Developments
Experiences of residential staff and children and young people

In This Section

Evaluation of the SIRCC HNC in Social Care

This evaluation of SIRCC's HNC in Social Care was undertaken in order to explore to what extent graduates are able to transfer new learning into practice in the workplace.

The results are varied. It is encouraging that the majority of respondents reported that they had enjoyed their experience on the HNC and had developed a deeper understanding of their task.

Of some concern, however, is the fact that over 50% of those who responded reported that they encountered obstacles in the workplace when attempting to apply their learning in practice.

The report should be of value to 1) students interested in undertaking the HNC, and 2) supervisors and managers who are supporting their workers on the HNC, in order to read about best ways to ensure maximum transfer of knowledge to the workplace.

Download the report

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