Connecting social work research with policy and practice: issues of people, power and politics

This article builds on a scoping review of the international literature of community–academy partnerships in social work and is illustrated with a narrative case study reflecting on experiences of managing transitions between research, practice and policy in the context of partnership work with care leavers in Italy. Arising from the literature and case material, we conclude by identifying four areas for further consideration: the constituents of ‘meaningful’ outcomes; the personal and political nature of power; the temporal characteristics of partnership practice; and the complex challenges of inclusivity.