Contextual factors influencing the implementation of an innovation in child protection services in England: A qualitative analysis using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research

New ways of working in children’s social care have the potential to improve outcomes for children and families but we know little about how best to implement such innovations, particularly in complex contexts such as child protection. We present the findings of a qualitative study exploring social care professionals’ perceptions of the contextual factors influencing the introduction of Safeguarding Family Group Conferences (SFGCs) in England. Our data came from semi-structured interviews with fourteen senior- and middle-management social-care professionals in seven local authorities in which SFGCs were being piloted, observations of implementation meetings and workshops, and documentary analysis. Our study design and thematic analysis were informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Important elements of our findings related to leadership and stakeholder engagement, resource availability, timing of inspections, understanding the advantage of the innovation, protected time, and having an allocated implementation lead to coordinate the effort. There were multiple interactions between these elements. Our findings suggest that implementation of new ways of working in areas such as child protection should involve a multi-level and systemic approach that ensures high levels of engagement and collaboration both internally and externally.