How We Support Practice with Children & Families

Learning & development is an integral part of Barnardos’ Children’s Services - learning from practitioners and contributing knowledge to the field of social services.

Positive outcomes for children and families

Barnardos is committed to ongoing learning and development to support the enhancement of knowledge and skills and quality services to achieve positive outcomes for children and families. We do this by providing support and research informed resources, training, information and practice support to parents, voluntary, statutory, and community organisations, students, primary and secondary schools, and further education institutions, and Barnardos’ staff.

Key practice supports

• Research: We research what works with children and families to ensure our programmes and training are evidence-based.
• Ongoing learning: We incorporate learning from practitioners on their experience of working with children and families to strengthen our services and the content of our training.
• Policy development: We facilitate development of policies that are informed by best practice and legislation, are tailored to the context of different organisations and which provide clear guidance for organisations and staff on procedures to follow.
• Professional training: We provide training to enhance reflective supervision of staff to ensure they are led by the child's need and their work remains outcomes - focused and to develop the skills needed in their roles.
• Library and Information Service: Barnardos supports the information and resource needs of anyone with an interest in children’s well-being. 
• Publications: We produce publications to support the development of knowledge for professionals working with children.
• Early years mentoring: We provide mentorship for the implementation of Síolta and Aistear in early years settings.

Barnardos’ Best Practice Team is supported by the SSNO grant, which is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Rural and Community Development.