Evidence Based Practice in Wales

The Children & Families (Wales) Measure 2010 "requires each local authority in Wales to appoint a family social work standards officer, to champion evidence-based social work practice."


The legislation states:

A local authority must designate an officer of the authority (to be known as the “family social work standards officer”) as having responsibility for the following matters in relation to social work conducted by or on behalf of the authority in connection with children and persons who care for children—

(a) raising standards in social work practice;
(b) raising awareness of relevant research evidence amongst persons engaged in social work;
(c) promoting adaptation of social work practice in the light of relevant research evidence


That seems like a definite step in the right direction.  It's nice to see legislation specifying that social workers need to change their practice "in the light of relevant research evidence".  However, with funding cuts and the already stretched workload of social workers, will there be any time or money for local authorities to do anything but pay lip-service to this role?


http://www.ccinform.co.uk/blogs/whats-new-on-inform/2010/05/legislation-update-8.html


http://www.legislation.gov.uk/mwa/2010/1/part/4/crossheading/family-social-work-standards-officers