Westlake, David  ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7507-3413, Pallmann, Philip ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8274-9696, Lugg-Widger, Fiona ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0029-9703, Schroeder, Elizabeth-Ann, Adara, Linda ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0015-3942, Munnery, Kim, Ayayo, Sharon, Bennett, Verity ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9311-4124, Meindl, Melissa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1231-0175, Smith, Philip ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3491-4519, Condie, Jennifer, Daher, Shahd, Roberts, Louisa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5596-0280, Rawlinson, Sarah, Forrester, Donald ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2293-5718, Petrou, Stavros and White, James ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8371-8453
2025.
A Cluster randomised controlled trial of social workers in schools in England.
Research on Social Work Practice
10.1177/10497315251338227
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Abstract
Purpose: ‘Social Workers in Schools’ (SWIS) is a school-based intervention aiming to reduce the need for children to receive child protection services in England. This paper reports findings of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) designed to evaluate SWIS. Method: The study was a two-arm pragmatic cluster RCT with an embedded process and economic evaluation. The intervention physically located social workers within schools. The primary outcome was the rate of child protection enquiries and secondary outcomes included care entry and educational outcomes. Results: 278,858 students in 268 schools were randomised to the intervention (136 schools) or control arm (132 schools). We found no statistically significant effects on primary or secondary outcomes. SWIS was implemented well and positively perceived. Discussion: SWIS appears ineffective in reducing the need for statutory services. The study demonstrates it is possible to conduct a large-scale school-based social work RCT.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Published Online |
| Status: | In Press |
| Schools: | Research Institutes & Centres > Centre for Trials Research (CNTRR) Schools > Medicine Schools > Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) |
| Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
| ISSN: | 1049-7315 |
| Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 1 May 2025 |
| Date of Acceptance: | 14 April 2025 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Aug 2025 11:06 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/178006 |
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