The Centre for Social Policy was established in 1995 to complement the work of the Social Research Unit which has been at Dartington since 1968. The aim was to establish an organisation for researchers, managers and professionals to maintain their interests and facilitate their work during or immediately before their retirement from their principal career. There are presently over 50 Centre Fellows who share dedicated office space with other activities in Warren House Group.

The Centre provides practical support and consultancy to the other activities of the Warren House Group. It maintains a Research Ethics Committee and assists with the publication of the journal Children's Services, a collaboration between SRU and Pier Professional Publishing. There are regular seminars on social policy issues and some Fellows use the administrative and collegiate opportunities offered to undertake their own work. Fellows respond to consultative documents and publish their considerations and conclusions in various forms.

At the 2009 AGM, the Centre had over 50 fellows from several countries (United Kingdom, Israel, USA and Norway). Their disciplines are: social policy research; social work/social services; education; psychiatry/medicine; psychology; youth justice; law ; psychotherapy and publishing.

The Centre for Social Policy seminars for 2009 included a seminar on March 30th and 31st, that discussed the implementation of research into policy and practice using the type II translation model. Speakers included Daniel Perkins from Penn State University, US and Majella Murphy-Brennan, implementation officer for the Triple P parenting programme.

The seminar on June 17th and 18th was on Predicting Risk and the Role of Serious Case Reviews. The speakers were Wendy Rose (Open University) who has undertaken a study of case reviews of children and Gillian Downham (fellow) who has published an article on mental health homicide inquiries. Nick Axford from The Social Research Unit led a discussion on the concept of a 'service'. These papers and the seminar conclusions are posted on the papers section of the website.

The seminar on December 1st and 2nd discussed Symbols and Structures in Social Welfare, Family Justice and Mental Health. The speakers were Cannon Melvyn Matthews from Wells Cathedral, Mervyn Murch, Douglas Hooper and Bill Jordan, CSP fellows. The papers from this seminar are posted in the papers section.

The seminar held on March 22nd and 23rd 2010 discussed evaluation the work of the Robert Owen Communities for learning disabled people and the opportunities for developing a nurturing culture offered by 'urban village secondary schools'. The first discussions was led by visitors from the Robert Owen Communities and Rix Foundation, and the second by CSP fellow James Wetz.

At the seminar held on June 21st and 22nd, Ilan Pappe from Exeter University discussed his publications on understanding the political and social problems in the Middle East, and Eric Emerson from Lancaster University presented findings from his research into disability, inequalities and health. 

Future seminars will be held on November 29th and 30th at Dartington Hall. The presenters will be Bob Jezzard on developments in mental health services and Michael Wadsworth on longitudinal follow-up studies of children and families.