Intervention research and a knowledge-based social services

In connection with the introduction of Sweden’s new Social Services Act, which mandates that the nation’s social services be grounded in scientific evidence and established professional knowledge, this commentary examines what is currently known about the effectiveness of social service interventions. The article is based on a contribution to the national biennial conference Socialtjänstforum and draws on more than two decades of experience in intervention research within social work. It begins by outlining the foundations of intervention research and its relationship to evidence-based practice, followed by a discussion of how these perspectives align with the provisions of the new Social Services Act. The commentary then provides a brief historical overview of intervention research in the Swedish social services, with particular emphasis on effectiveness evaluations of social service interventions within child and family services. The review indicates that while the number of effectiveness studies conducted within the Swedish social services has increased over the past three decades, most interventions currently used within the Swedish social services generally and child and family services specifically have yet to be evaluated. Existing research suggests limited evidence of negative effects but also highlights substantial gaps in knowledge across core service areas. The article argues that intervention research is essential for the development of a sustainable, ethical and knowledge-based social service system, emphasizing the importance of integrating evaluation, follow-up and local knowledge production into everyday practice.