Queen's University Belfast

Academic Institute

Economic and Social Research Council (30308-1)

Yes

E103

Children known to social services (i.e. subject to a referral, child in need plan, child protection measures or in care) have poorer health and social outcomes compared to those never known to social services. Research shows children leaving care have poorer education levels, higher rates of unemployment, higher rates of interactions with the justice system and poorer physical and mental health. However, research focusing on positive outcomes within this group is rare. In order to understand how to improve outcomes for this population we not only need to understand risk factors for “poor” outcomes but also predictors of “positive” outcomes. ADRC-NI has established a body of research exploring the mental health and mortality of children known to social services using the social services dataset SOSCARE, which holds information electronically on all children known to social services in Northern Ireland from 1985-2015. This is the only dataset of its kind in the UK. The proposed project will link these data to primary care registration data, prescription medication data, registry of self-harm data, prison health care data, geographical and death data to better understand what factors are associated

The ability to link and analyse administrative datasets relating to children known to social services offers great potential for understanding the population dynamics underlying variation in mental health, mortality and social outcomes in adulthood. The range of disciplines reflected in this research and likely to benefit from the outputs include social sciences, geography, demography, psychiatry and population health sciences. Improving outcomes for children from adverse backgrounds, including those in the care of social services, is a key priority of the Department of Health (DoH) and is core to their "Early Intervention Transformation Programme" (EITP). With a paucity of research in this area, this project will provide unique population-wide information on the effect ofbeing known to social services in childhood on a range of adult outcomes, providing insights into resilience, critical periods and care pathway effects. The research will indicate potential predictors of both poor and good adult outcomes which could be used to target resources and interventions toward those most in need. The DoH is responsible also for “Leaving and After Care” services which currently are offered up to age 21 years. The results of this study, and the timelines associated with outcomes for care-leavers, could help inform services on offer. The 2021 “A Life Deserved: “Caring” For Children & Young People In Northern Ireland” DoH strategy aims to improve the wellbeing of looked after children and young people and children and young people on the edge of being looked after. In other words, to ensure the same outcomes for looked after children as for any other child – to give them the best chance of the life they deserve. The findings of this study will provide policy makers and service providers with the tools to identify, highlight and target populations who would benefit most from interventions.

08/01/2025

TRE