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ANNEX THREE: CASE STUDY 2: ACTION INQUIRY: COMBINING EVIDENCE FROM LITERATURE, PRACTITIONER WISDOM AND SERVICE USER PERSPECTIVES
This was an action research project underpinned by the concept of knowledge-based practice. It was facilitated by an experienced social work practitioner and researcher based within a University Department. Action research has the advantage that it is participative, qualitative and practical; it provided the participants with the reflective space to address why and how people do the things they do, as much as what they actually do.
The project sought to bring together published research findings from a literature review, practitioner wisdom through action inquiry and service user perspectives gathered through focus groups with foster carers and adopters, within a single local authority. This is model with widespread relevance to many areas of health and social care practice.
A literature review was compiled initially by a Research Assistant. This was supplemented by suggestions from an independent child care consultant. Each item on the list was photocopied and held together as a resource and a system set up to make loans available. Project participants were also able to add their own recommendations as the project progressed and as new material became available.
Staff were nominated to take part in the project from across the local authority by their managers. Originally the action inquiry group comprised twelve Family Placement Workers. The group met for a total of eight half day meetings over an eight month period. A number of people left during the period, but average attendance at inquiry groups meetings was seven or eight. The inquiry group used the time available to explore and evaluate ways of improving their practice. They explored different hypotheses, their evidence base and ways of making changes to improve their practice to make sense of their experiences and assessments of families. Group members were encouraged to use the literature available to improve the evidence base of their practice. The actual use of this resource did vary, largely due to time factors.
In addition, part way through the study a small sample of foster carers and adopters met in two focus groups to explore their experience of the family assessment process. These focus groups were co-facilitated by the researcher and a member of the inquiry group. The main findings were then fed into the inquiry group following each focus group. This aspect of the project design was particularly valued by the inquiry group members.
The overall project was managed by an Advisory Group made up of the researcher, local authority managers and a Family Placement Worker from the inquiry group.
The triangulation of different forms of evidence in an on-going iterative and reflective process generated powerful insights into practice; into assumptions and behaviours that affected how foster carers and adopters were perceived and valued. It led to self-reported changes in practice and a greater openness to the views of carers amongst professionals. Inquiry group members clearly valued the chance to come together to discuss practice issues, and the time to undertake further reading and research. They found it enjoyable and thought provoking and as a result, would like time and space to reflect routinely on their practice in this way.
For more information: Jocelyn Jones jocelyn.jones@mindfulpracticeco.uk
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