Terms of Reference
Core Group
Building a Research Community
The joint aims of the Core Group are:
• To develop a sustainable research community and associated
infrastructure in Northern Ireland that connects the needs of the
wider social work profession at policy, practice and managerial
levels, academia, service users and carers.
• To develop and launch a revised Social Work Research and
Continuous Improvement Strategy for 2020 and onwards
*Includes social work practice within statutory, not for profit and private
organizations
The overall the purpose is: (The list below is not in any order of priority
all are equally important).
• To embed and implement a culture of research, evidence and
continuous improvement that supports and improves decision
making and outcomes in social work and social care services and
outcomes for service users and carers.
Specifically, group members will
Maintain a forum for engagement, collaboration, collation and exchange
of ideas and good practice.
Support accessible communications in relation to the emerging research
agenda and its implications for organizations, service users and carers.
Play a lead role connecting the work of the regional strategic agenda
and the local research agenda including offering advice in relation to
infrastructure and capacity.
Link with employer organisations (practice and academia) and the wider
community groups to ensure two-way flow of ideas.
Set social work and social care research priorities through a process of
collaboration and co-production between academia, policy, practice and
service users.