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Foundations – What Works Centre for Children & Families
@foundationsww.bsky.social
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Generating and championing actionable evidence that improves services to support family relationships - foundations.org.uk.
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foundationsww.bsky.social
NEW BLOG by Dep Chief Exec Donna Molloy📝Ahead of the publication of the latest parenting Practice Guide next week, we're at #NCASC25 spotlighting evidence-based #ParentingSupport & how to translate this into practice on the ground: foundations.org.uk/supporting-l...
A Foundations branded quote card featuring an image of Deputy Chief Executive Donna Molloy. The image of Donna shows her with shoulder length golden-brown hair worn in a side parting. She has green eyes and light skin and is wearing a coral lipstick, and a black blazer. Her quote reads: "As the national What Works Centre for Children & Families, we're committed to supporting local authorities to access and deliver effective parenting support. Next week we will be publishing a new Practice Guide on parenting, with a focus on support for parents facing adversities with children and young people aged 11 to 18 years old – filling a critical evidence gap for this cohort."
November 27, 2025 at 10:42 AM
foundationsww.bsky.social
Giving every child the best start in life must begin with ensuring they have the basics to thrive. That's why we welcome the Government's announcement that it will remove the two-child limit.

Our Chief Executive responds to today's Budget: foundations.org.uk/press-releas...
This image features a picture of Dr Jo Casebourne, the chief executive of Foundations, with a quote attributed to her which reads: "Giving all children the best start in life must begin with ensuring they have the basics to thrive. Growing up in poverty inflicts lasting harm on children’s life chances, has been linked to more children entering the care system, and can contribute to poorer mental health for both parents and children. Parents facing adversity often lack the resources and help to provide the supportive and consistent family environment that children need to thrive, despite their best efforts."
November 26, 2025 at 5:08 PM
foundationsww.bsky.social
It's day 1 here at #ncasc25! ✨ Come find us at Stand A24 to hear more about Practice Guides, the Foundations Guidebook, and Evidence Into Practice - our new national programme to strengthen evidence-based decision making in local areas 🤝
Two individuals stand in front of a display for Foundations, which reads "Evidence-driven change making" and "Supporting vulnerable children to have the foundational relationships they need to thrive. The display also features images of families. The two people are surrounded by materials such as notebooks and informational leaflets.
November 26, 2025 at 10:48 AM
foundationsww.bsky.social
🗣️👇 Hear from our #REACHplan delivery partners @PACTFamily & @VictimSupport on our recently published pilot RCTs, and how these can help fill the evidence gap on support for children affected by #DomesticAbuse.

BB4K ➡️ foundations.org.uk/our-work/pub...

WeMatter ➡️ foundations.org.uk/our-work/pub...
November 25, 2025 at 12:28 PM
foundationsww.bsky.social
CALL FOR PROPOSALS 📄 Systematic review synthesising evidence on interventions to improve #EducationalOutcomes for children & young people with a #SocialWorker.

CLOSES: 12pm (noon) Friday 16 Jan 2026

Find out more: foundations.org.uk/opportunity/...
A Foundations branded static graphic. The copy says: Call for Proposals: Systematic review of interventions aimed at improving educational outcomes for children & young people with a social worker. Closes: Midday, Friday 16 January 2026. Find out more: foundations.org.uk/opportunities/funding
November 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM
foundationsww.bsky.social
Our new REACH report reviews the latest evidence about how to prevent #DomesticAbuse and support child victims 🗣️⬇️

#REACHplan #VAWG

Find out more: foundations.org.uk/our-work/pub...
A Foundations quote card featuring an image of Foundations' Chief Executive Dr Jo Casebourne. In the image on the grahic Jo has long chocolate-brown hair. She wears red lipstick in a shade that matches her blouse, which is worn under a dark blue blazer. She is smiling. The quote reads: “We’ve taken a big step forward for our five-year REACH plan to prevent domestic abuse and support child victims. Ahead of the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy, we commit to continuing to work with domestic abuse services to demonstrate their impact, helping to ensure that children and young people get evidence-based support at every stage, from early intervention to recovery."
November 21, 2025 at 12:33 PM
foundationsww.bsky.social
WATCH ▶️👇 Our new REACH report highlights 3 key lessons for domestic abuse evaluations to ensure they're ethical & work for services and victim-survivors #REACHplan #DomesticAbuse

Find out more: foundations.org.uk/our-work/pub...
November 21, 2025 at 10:18 AM
foundationsww.bsky.social
Ahead of the Violence Against Women and Girls (#VAWG) strategy, Children & Families Minister Josh MacAlister has welcomed the latest evidence from our #REACHplan on what works to support child victims of #DomesticAbuse. Read the new report: foundations.org.uk/our-work/pub...
A Foundations-branded quote card, with a honey background and large darker orange quotation marks. It features an image of the Minister for Children and Families Josh MacAlister MP. Josh is a light-skinned man with a wide smile, short medium-brown hair, brown eyes, and a short stubbly beard. He is wearing a white collared button-up shirt without a tie, and a blue suit jacket. Josh's quote reads: "Today marks a turning point for children affected by domestic abuse. For too long, we haven't had the evidence we need about what actually works to help these children recover and thrive. Domestic abuse can have a terrible impact on children, which is why what Foundations is announcing today matters so much. This is an important part of our ongoing evaluation of support services for child victims of domestic abuse, with early indications that these programmes are making a real difference"
November 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM
foundationsww.bsky.social
New‼️Findings of our pilot trial of WeMatter, a digital, group-based support service for children 8–17 yrs affected by #DomesticAbuse, developed by @victimsupport.bsky.social. Findings indicate meaningful benefits for children. Next: a full-scale trial: foundations.org.uk/our-work/pub...
A pilot randomised controlled trial of WeMatter What is WeMatter? WeMatter is an online group recovery programme, run by Victim Support, for children and young people aged 8 to 17 years old who have experienced domestic abuse. It is designed for children who are no longer at immediate risk and are not living with the perpetrator. What did we find? The pilot found encouraging preliminary evidence of positive impact for those that took part in WeMatter, particularly on children’s mental wellbeing. Participants, parents, and facilitators reported positive changes, including better understanding of healthy relationships, improved ability to manage emotions, and stronger feelings of support. About the study: We commissioned Verian to conduct a pilot randomised controlled trial. The study aimed to look at the effectiveness and suitability of the intervention, as well as whether it is possible to run a large scale trial that could tell us more about the programme’s impact.
November 20, 2025 at 11:45 AM
foundationsww.bsky.social
New report 📃 our pioneering pilot of Bounce Back 4 Kids, a trauma-informed recovery programme for children & parents affected by #DomesticAbuse, delivered by @pactcharity.bsky.social. Findings indicate meaningful benefits for children. Next: full-scale trial: foundations.org.uk/our-work/pub...
A pilot randomised controlled trial of Bounce Back for Kids What is Bounce Back 4 kids? Bounce Back 4 Kids (BB4K) is a trauma- and therapeutically-informed programme developed by PACT that supports children aged 3 to 11 years old and their non-abusive parent in their recovery from the impact of domestic abuse. What did we find? The pilot found encouraging preliminary evidence of positive impact for those that took part in BB4K, particularly on parents’ confidence and children’s behaviour at home. Parents described the programme as a safe space, and peer support emerged as one of the most powerful aspects of the programme. About the study: We commissioned IFF Research to conduct a pilot randomised controlled trial of BB4K. The study aimed to test the effectiveness and suitability of the intervention, andwhether it is possible to run a large-scale trial that could tell us more about the programme’s impact.
November 20, 2025 at 11:30 AM
foundationsww.bsky.social
Today we’ve published new reports on what works to support children affected by #DomesticAbuse:

✔ Update on our 5-year #REACHplan to prevent domestic abuse
✔ Pilot RCT results for Bounce Back 4 Kids & WeMatter recovery programmes

Early findings: foundations.org.uk/our-work/pub...

#VAWG
November 20, 2025 at 10:25 AM
foundationsww.bsky.social
Last week we announced the 9 local authority Partner Places we're working with to combine high quality evidence with local expertise & knowledge to ensure services meet the needs of children & families 🗣️⬇️ #EvidenceIntoPractice

foundations.org.uk/nine-local-c...
A Foundations branded quote card (teal with large oatmeal quotation marks) featuring a head and shoulders image of Emma Cockerell, Corporate Director of Children’s Services at Wokingham Borough Council. Emma is light-skinned with blue eyes. Emma has straight red hair tied back with a fringe. Emma's quote reads: "We hope that as a Partner Place we can help to grow best practice and an evidence base in working with seldom-heard communities, and in so doing support more inclusive practices and interventions. Our partnership with Foundations will allow us to focus much more on the interventions that will make the difference for children and families to ensure everyone has a chance to thrive." A Foundations branded quote card (light blue with large darker blue quotation marks) featuring a head and shoulders image of Charlotte Ramsden, Chief Executive at Bradford Children and Families Trust Charlotte has light-skinned and blue eyes. her shoulder-length curly golden-blonde hair is styed in a middle parting. Charlotte's quote reads: "Becoming a Partner Place offers us a unique opportunity to accelerate our journey toward innovation and excellence in children’s social care and early help, enabling us to co-design and test approaches that make a tangible difference. By grounding our transformation in robust evidence and lived experience, we aim to build a more responsive, strengths-based system that empowers families and practitioners alike." A Foundations branded quote card (honey with large darker orangee quotation marks) featuring a head and shoulders image of Cllr Jon Hubbard, Cabinet Member for Children's Services at Wiltshire Council. Jon is light-skinned with smiling blue eyes and silver-grey short straight hair, styled in a side parting. Jon's quote reads: "Wiltshire is proud to be selected as the southwest Partner Place for Evidence into Practice. Embedded within our wider response to the Department for Education’s social care reform agenda, Evidence into Practice offers the chance to implement and test the impact of specific interventions. This is a powerful opportunity to lead the way in embedding approaches based on sound evidence that make a real difference to children and families."
November 18, 2025 at 4:28 PM
foundationsww.bsky.social
We're going to #ncasc25! 📢 Visit our stand to find out more about how we can work with you to put #EvidenceIntoPractice in your local area, and check out the Foundations Toolkit 🌟

📍Stand A24
November 17, 2025 at 1:11 PM
foundationsww.bsky.social
Finding what works is vital to improve outcomes for children. 💬 Martin Birch, Director of Children & Family Wellbeing at Cumberland Council & Foundations Trustee, on the 9 local authority Partner Places working with us to put #EvidenceIntoPractice 👇

Find out more: foundations.org.uk/nine-local-c...
A Foundations branded quote card featuring an image of Director of Children & Family Wellbeing at Cumberland Council and Foundations Trustee Martin Birch. There is a head and shoulders image of Martin which shows him smiling widely. He has medium brown neat short hair, dark eyes, light skin and a short brown-grey beard. Martin is wearing a dark blue tie, white shirt and a brown-grey blazer. His quote reads: "It is very exciting to see this Foundations partnering with local authorities to ensure robust evidence is embedded at the heart of children's services. As a DCS myself, I know how challenging it is to find what works and put it into action in delivery. Evidence into Practice gives each Partner Place the support they need to put evidence at the forefront of their decision-making.”
November 14, 2025 at 10:08 AM
foundationsww.bsky.social
Evidence-based decision making is shaped by knowledge of local populations, workforce & systems. As part of our Evidence into Practice offer we're working with 9 Partner Place local authorities of different sizes, geographies & Ofsted ratings 🗣️👇
A Foundations branded quote card (sky blue background with darker blue large quote marks) featuring a head and shoulders image of Laurence Mackie-Jones, Strategic Director, Social Care & Education at Leicester City Council. Laurence is light-skinned with a clean-shaven head, large square glasses and light stubble. Their quote reads: "Being part of Evidence into Practice gives us the structure, tools, and partnerships to accelerate our children’s services transformation, strengthening early help, improving consistency, and ensuring every decision is rooted in what works. Through this partnership, we will strengthen workforce capability, reinforce shared accountability across agencies, and deepen our culture of reflective, data-informed practice." A Foundations branded quote card (orange background with lighter honey-coloured large quote marks) featuring a head and shoulders image of Audrey Kingham, Executive Director of Children, Young People & Education at Northumberland County Council. Audrey is light-skinned with a shoulder-length white hair, they wear colourful glasses, pearl earrings and a pink and grey scarf. Their quote reads: "We are thrilled to become a Partner Place, working alongside Foundations to improve outcomes for children, young people and families through evidence-based practice and shared learning. This partnership will help us embed what works into our Children’s Social Care transformation journey, strengthening family support, and building a culture of continuous learning and collaboration across our local area and regionally." A Foundations branded quote card (darker blue background with lighter blue large quote marks) featuring a head and shoulders image of Jo Britton, Executive Director, Children’s Services & Public Health Service at Telford & Wrekin Council. Jo is light-skinned with a long thick wavy light-brown hair, they are wearing a khaki green blouse. Their quote reads: "Evidence-based decision-making is central to our approach. Being a Partner Place will help us integrate research into everyday practice, improve outcomes for children and families, and support our transformation journey. We’ve already seen the impact of using the Kinship Practice Guide to shape our local offer, and we’re excited to replicate this approach across other areas of service design."
November 13, 2025 at 1:59 PM
foundationsww.bsky.social
BIG NEWS 📢 We've announced the 9 local authorities we're working with across England to drive transformation of children’s services through evidence use.

foundations.org.uk/press-releas...

Find out more 👇▶️
November 12, 2025 at 10:30 AM
foundationsww.bsky.social
Join the team 🙌 We're looking for someone to lead Foundations’ grant-making & programme delivery functions.

Closes: 11:59pm, 23 Nov 2025

Apply now: foundations.org.uk/about-us/joi...
A Foundations branded graphic with the copy: Join the Team Head fo Programmes (maternity cover) £69,700, plus generous benefits Closes: 11:59pm, 23 November 2025 foundations.org.uk/join-our-team It features an image of a smiling light-skinned person wearing round glasses. They have short grey/brown stubble on their face. They are reaching forward and sjaking someone's hand who is not featured in the image.
November 10, 2025 at 2:36 PM
foundationsww.bsky.social
Our feasibility study found that Restart shows promise in providing early support to families experiencing #DomesticAbuse.

💬 @cordisbright.bsky.social's Kathryn Lord & @drivepartnership.bsky.social's Kyla Kirkpatrick's reflect on the programme's potential.

📄 foundations.org.uk/our-work/pub...
Children so often experience domestic abuse long before it becomes visible to wider family, friends, or services; with crucial opportunities to respond earlier being missed, and the long-lasting impacts throughout life overlooked. Restart has been designed to address these gaps and ensure that families experiencing domestic abuse are identified and responded to earlier, and child and adult victim-survivors can remain safe and together. - Kyla Kirkpatrick, Director of the Drive Partnership "By collaborating with practitioners, survivors, and delivery partners, we’ve been able to identify the ways in which Restart is already working, where the challenges lie, and how to design evaluations that are robust, proportionate, and useful. The next step is to translate these insights into practical improvements; strengthening data, refining delivery, and co-designing evaluation approaches that are both meaningful and grounded in lived experience." - Dr Kathryn Lord, Principal Consultant, Cordis Bright
October 23, 2025 at 4:47 PM
foundationsww.bsky.social
NEW REPORT 📢 We've published a feasibility study of the Restart programme, which aims to improve responses to perpetrators of #DomesticAbuse in families known to CSC.

✍️ Conducted by @cordisbright.bsky.social
🤝 Delivered by @drivepartnership.bsky.social

📄 foundations.org.uk/our-work/pub...
October 23, 2025 at 1:26 PM
foundationsww.bsky.social
WE'RE HIRING 💼 We're looking for people to join our Practice Development Team, working with local leaders to develop & deliver projects which increase the use of evidence in local services for children & families 🤝

Closes: 23:59, 9 November

Apply now: foundations.org.uk/about-us/joi...
A Foundations branded teal and oatmeal graphic that reads: We're hiring. Senior Practice Development Adviser (x1 FTC). Practice Development Officer (x2 FTC). Applications close: 23:59, Sunday 9 November. Find out more. foundations.org.uk/join-our-team
October 23, 2025 at 11:11 AM
foundationsww.bsky.social
Call for implementation partners 📢 We're seeking proposals from partners to lead the development, delivery & evaluation of a 'common elements' approach for parenting support.

Application deadline: 12pm (midday), Friday 5 Dec

Find out more & apply 👉 foundations.org.uk/opportunity/...
A Foundations branded orange and oatmeal graphic that reads: Call for implementation partners. Designing, delivering & evaluating a common elements approach to supporting parents in children's services. Application deadline: 12pm (midday), Friday 5 December 2025. Find out more. foundations.org.uk/opportunities/funding.
October 22, 2025 at 12:28 PM
foundationsww.bsky.social
This #KinshipCareWeek, we’re revisiting the Kinship Care Practice Guide, which translates evidence on what works into clear, actionable recommendations to improve how services for #KinshipFamilies are commissioned, designed & delivered 🌟

Read now 👉 foundations.org.uk/toolkit/prac...
October 8, 2025 at 5:28 PM
foundationsww.bsky.social
We're hiring 💼 We're looking for a Finance Business Partner to help us ensure accurate financial reporting, manage invoicing cycles, oversee treasury and insurance operations, & provide hands-on financial support.

Closes: 12am, Sunday 26 October
October 8, 2025 at 3:22 PM
foundationsww.bsky.social
This week is #KinshipCareWeek, an opportunity to shine a light on the vital role of #KinshipCarers & the difference they make to the lives of children ❤️

Throughout the week, we'll be spotlighting our evidence on support for kinship carers, as well as the gaps in what we know 🔎
An image to promote Kinship Care Week. In the Centre of the image the text reads 'Kinship Care Week. 6-12 October 2025'. At the top of the image is a purple banner with text that reads 'celebrating kinship families, love and community'. At the bottom of the image is Kinship's logo. To the right of the logo is text that reads: 'For family or friends who step up to raise a child'.
October 6, 2025 at 4:36 PM
foundationsww.bsky.social
🗣️ Our Deputy Chief Exec @donnamolloy.bsky.social is speaking now at our #Lab25 event - w/ Josh MacAlister MP, @annafeuchtwang.bsky.social, @lisaharker.bsky.social, Cllr Liz Parsons, & Jo Casebourne - setting out 3 ways to make transformation of children's services a reality 👇

1/
An image of the panel at our Labour Party Conference event. Panelists from left to right: Cllr Liz Parsons, Donna Molloy, Josh MacAlister MP, Dr Jo Casebourne, Lisa Harker & Anna Feuchtwang.
September 29, 2025 at 1:37 PM