Evidence-Based Social Care: Wheels off the Runway?

British social services departments are a beleaguered species. Political ideology continues to play a major role in shaping policy and practice, despite a change of government. Sheltering beneath the ideological umbrella are more considered views of the need to rethink structures developed as a means of solving social problems and delivering services, some of which have themselves become problematic, some of which are simply too expensive. These influences have combined radically to reframe the roles and responsibilities of many who work face-to-face with service users and carers. It is in this context of change and threat to professional identity that the implementation of evidence-based approaches to policy and practice within social work has to be considered.