Action competence—a new trial aimed at social innovation in residential homes?

This article reflects upon a project on Action Competence in Pedagogical Practice (ACP). The project developed and tested an intervention strategy in residential homes aimed at enhancing socially endangered children's life opportunities through learning and social inclusion. The ACP intervention was built upon a principle of ‘soft’ evidence-based practice and upon the premise that innovation based on research-generated knowledge and success with implementation strategies presupposed a linkage between professionals and researchers. The study of 200 children and young people in six residential homes was further based on an experimental design, prompting the participating institutions to change parts of their practice. Those changes were understood as social innovation which was at a later stage tested by the practitioners who worked with evidence-based knowledge about (1) socially endangered children (2) international research findings on intervention effects and (3) legislation plus a focus on three import...