We conducted a qualitative research project to better understand how the practice tools taught on Frontline programmes support social work practitioners to work effectively and impactfully with children and families.
Research and evaluation
Our evaluation approach
Our guiding principle is that evaluation at Frontline should drive our mission and vision.
To do this, our evaluation activities are:
- Inclusive and accessible so that findings represent a diverse set of voices
- Streamlined, with consistent measures of success within and across programmes
- Integrated into programmes and useful and engaging for programme participants
- Transparent, sharing methods and results openly with all appropriate stakeholders
- Timely and inform decision-making around programme development
To meet our principles, we balance best practice with innovation and creativity. We draw on established best practice when designing our data collection tools and methods, as well as data analysis. We also take a flexible and creative approach to evaluation and how we think about impact measurement. We place value on the use of qualitative data to demonstrate contribution and impact and we use mixed methods for data collection.
Reports
Internal evaluations and research
Using practice tools
Research commissioned by Frontline
Frontline social work training: an evaluation
Conducted by Dartington Social Research Unit (now Dartington Service Design Lab) in 2017
Data use in local authorities
A project to better understand how local authorities are using data to track outcomes for children and families, delivered by Renaisi in 2023
Independent evaluations and research
Approach Social Work evaluations
Until 2024, Approach Social Work was known as the Frontline programme. The Department for Education has previously commisioned the following evaluations of the programme:
Evaluation of the Frontline programme pilot delivered by Cardiff University in 2016.
Longitudinal study of child and family social workers – wave 4 exploring recruitment, retention and career progression in local authority child and family social work, with evidence from 2021-22.
Firstline evaluation
Firstline was a leadership programme for social work managers. It was suceeded by the Pathways programme.
Evaluation of the Firstline leadership programme
Get in touch
Got a question about our evaluation work? We’d love to hear from you.