Goldsmiths - University of London

Image bar

Social Work: electronic resources

Online indexes and abstracts

Goldsmiths IT username and password required unless otherwise stated.

Staff and students who join Senate House library have remote access to their wide range of web resources. 

Evidence based practice database

  • Community Care Inform - A full text resource for professionals working with children and young people designed to help improve the quality of decisions and assessments, and help them keep up to date with research, guidance, legislation and case law.  Password from the enquiry desk.

Tutorials

  • Internet Social Worker - a "teach yourself" tutorial on Internet information skills for social workers.
  • Internet Detective - a free online tutorial helping develop Internet research skills. It looks at the critical thinking required when using the Internet for research and offers practical advice on evaluating the quality of websites.
  • Virtual Training Suite - more online tutorials with subjects including: social policy, social research methods, social statistics.

Research

  • Research Ethics Guidebook - guide for researchers which includes:  advice on writing research proposals, ethics committee approval and issues arising during fieldwork.
  • Third Sector Knowledge Portal - a new free to use site for research and information on the third sector (voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors) across the UK and beyond.

Social work resources on the Internet

General/multidisciplinary

  • British Association of Social Workers
  • Carers UK - "the voice of carers". Working for recognition for carers of their value to society and their needs for practical, financial and emotional support.
  • Centre for Ethnicity and Health - founded in 1998 and based at University of Central Lancashire. Aims to address inequity in health and social care for Black and minority ethnic communities. Particular interest in drugs, alcohol and mental and sexual health.
  • Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations - based at University of Warwick. Involved in research and teaching of aspects of race, migration and ethnic relations.
  • Commission for Equality and Human Rights - new organisation bringing together the Disability Rights Commission, Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission
  • DrugScope -  the UK's leading independent centre of expertise on drugs and drug use.
  • Equality and Diversity Forum network of national organisations concerning age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and broader equality and human rights issues.
  • ESRC - Economic and Social Research Council 
  • General Social Care Council
  • Joseph Rowntree Foundation an independent non political body which supports research in housing, social care and social policy. Contains several hundred research summaries.
  • King's Fund - The King's Fund is an independent charitable foundation whose goal is to improve health, especially in London.
  • National Autistic Society - including Autism Data  - database of published material on all aspects of autism, open for everyone to access on the web.  It lists over 24000 published research papers, books, articles and other materials.  There is also a library in Central London open to professionals by appointment only.
  • Personal Social Service Research Unit - based at University of Kent, LSE and Manchester University. Carries out independent research aimed at improving the equity and efficiency of social and health care.
  • Race Equality Foundation - works to promote race equality in social care and social support.
  • ROTA - a BAME-led social policy think tank that focuses on race equality and issues affecting Britain's BAME communities.
  • Research in Practice for Adults, Dartington Hall Trust
  • Rights of Women - organisation working towards achieving justice and equality by informing, educating and empowering women on their legal rights. 
  • The Runnymede Trust - established in 1968 working against social injustice and racial discrimination.
  • SCIE Social Care Institute for Excellence - major resource centre for Social Care information. Hosts Social Care Online.
  • Social Care TV - from SCIE.  Nearly 100 online videos on various topics.  Can be used in presentations and training.  With suggested support materials.
  • Think Local Act Personal Partnership   - formerly Putting People First.  Now a new sector-wide partnership for transforming adult social care consisting of over 30 national and umbrella organisations representing interest in personalisation and community-based support.
  • Welfare Reform on the Web - British Library listing of social science books, government publications, research reports, policy papers etc
  • Women's Aid

Children and families

  • A National Voice - an organisation run by and for care experienced young people. Aim to create positive changes to the Care System in England and provide a national platform to hear the voices of approx 60,000 children and young people who are Looked After.
  • CAFCASS - Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.
  • Childhoods Today - peer reviewed, multidisciplinary e-journal produced by the Centre for the Study of Childhood and Youth at the University of Sheffield includes: sociology, anthropology, education, geography, psychology, social policy and social welfare.
  • National Children's Bureau - the NCB promotes the interests and well-being of all children and young people across every aspect of their lives.
  • NSPCC - National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, including NSPCC Inform - free, online child protection resource and CASPAR News - Current Awareness Service for Practice, Policy and Research.
  • Research in Practice, Dartington Hall Trust - children and families.
  • What Works for Children - a project between Barnados, City University, University of York and ESRC on finding and using research evidence.
  • Young Carers Research Group - based at Loughborough University.

Ageing

Disability

Mental health 

Travellers 

  • Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) - a charity established in response to the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. One of the leading organisations seeking to address the problems facing the Traveller and Gypsy community.

Asylum/refugees 

Learning disability

  • People First - an organisation run by and for people with learning difficulties to raise awareness of and campaign for the rights of people with learning difficulties and to support self advocacy groups across the country. 

Palliative and end of life care

  • St Christopher's Hospice - in Sydenham, London SE26 which, as part of its mission to promote and provide hospice care of the highest standard for all, has an Education Centre with an extensive library accessible to researchers by appointment.