The research project, which will run for 15 months between 2020-2021, was awarded £360,000 by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

The ESRC is the largest funder of research in the UK and works in collaboration with various researching bodies, like universities and businesses.

Whilst The Department of Education has said that ‘there should be no blanket changes to social work practice’, it is undeniable that social distancing measures will have an impact upon child protection services, which relies upon a close proximity to children.

The aim of the project is to ‘fill the gap’ between guidance created by social care organisations and social distancing measures, as well as provide insight into how social care measures will be implemented during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Digital aspects to social care, such as ‘virtual home visits’ will also be analysed for its effectiveness in a social-distant society and its ability to respond to the needs and rights of parents.

Amidst the issues surrounding the availability of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), the project will also investigate the accessibility of PPE to social care practitioners, in addition to the  emotional support being provided to care workers.

This new research will provide services with insights and evidence that can improve their capacity to keep children safe

The research team involved will include two members of staff from the University of Birmingham, Professor Harry Ferguson and Dr Laura Smith, alongside Professor Sarah Pink from Monash University in Australia.

Professor Ferguson noted that: ‘the COVID-19 crisis is presenting governments, social work leaders, managers and child protection practitioners with unique challenges and our hope is that this new research will provide services with insights and evidence that can improve their capacity to keep children safe and help families at this enormously difficult time.’