We want to hear from people working in care, social services and safeguarding about what the work is actually like.

Frontline staff see problems long before anyone else does: what is going wrong, where the pressure falls, and what would make a difference. That knowledge rarely makes it into policy discussions. This project is an attempt to change that.

Who we want to hear from

We are looking for a wide range of experience across the sector. That includes social workers, safeguarding leads, care home and supported living staff, residential children's home workers, family support and early help workers, youth workers, foster carers, health visitors, school safeguarding and pastoral staff, and anyone else working in or alongside these services.

Current and former staff are equally welcome. You do not need to prepare anything or have a particular case to make.

How it works

Interviews last up to an hour and can be held online. If you would prefer to meet in person, we can usually arrange that.

What you tell us will inform a piece of published research, but you will not be identifiable in it. Contributors are given a pseudonym first name, and we refer to locations and areas of work only in broad terms. Nothing that identifies you, your employer or the people you work with will be published or shared.

This research is intended to inform policy. Very little of what shapes the sector is written by people who have worked in it, and we would like to change that.

Once your interview is complete, we will send you a £50 voucher for a shop/cafe of your choosing as a thank you for your time.