Paper reviewing all research on children placed in non-parental care of DSW. Emphasises research that measures the effectiveness of the programmes providing this type of care. Demonstrates a paucity of information on Family Homes and Institutional Care, both regional and national, and almost no information on the way children progress through the types of DSW childcare programmes. With the exception of foster care, there is no description available of the roles and view of DSW social workers and residential staff, or any profiles of the children/parents themselves. The availability of information on DSW childcare programmes was greatest for conventional foster care and the Intensive Foster Care Scheme. The paper suggests research to rectify the lack of available information, proposing reports on children’s lives following discharge from care, children’s living situations while in care, perceptions of children in care and their parents, family home studies, and regional and national institution studies. Appendix 1 includes a detailed bibliography of reports (1960 onwards) containing information on the non-parental care provided by DSW. Appendix 2 identifies the subjects these reports do and do not cover.