An evaluation of Level Up - Safe Steps to Secondary School
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An evaluation of the Level Up – Safe Steps to Secondary School intervention to help young people and families to prepare for transition, manage behaviour and build resilience.
IRAS ID
276392
Contact name
Emily Stapley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2020/01/113, UCL Data Protection
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Evidence identifies behavioural problems, such as conduct disorder, oppositional disorders and impulsive behaviour disorders, as potential precursors for offending behaviour and contact with youth justice. The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust have developed a new psychoeducational and therapy-based intervention for young people aged 10 to 12 (and their parents), which aims to reduce such risk factors associated with crime. This targeted intervention will be delivered online by the clinical team.
An evaluation of the feasibility and efficacy of this intervention is needed. Ultimately a full-scale evaluation should look to test the long-term effects of the intervention on involvement in youth crime, but it should also explore changes in behavioural problems as the potential mechanisms through which engagement in criminal activity is prevented. However, given that this intervention is as yet untested, the first step in the evaluation needs to focus on feasibility and piloting.
Consequently, the aim of this research project is to conduct a feasibility and pilot study evaluating the intervention. Both aspects are informed by qualitative and quantitative research activity and will run in parallel over an 18-month period. Feasibility questions relate to gaining a full understanding of the nature and implementation of the intervention. Predominantly, these questions will draw on qualitative interviews with all stakeholder groups (young people, parents, school staff, and clinical staff). However, the feasibility study will also rely on quantitative data sources, such as implementation data, as well as service satisfaction surveys. The pilot strand will focus more on building evidence that would inform the future scale-up to large-scale delivery and evaluation. Pilot questions will draw on outcome and mechanism measures collected at baseline and post-intervention, as well as process measures and qualitative focus group feedback regarding participants’ (young people's) experiences of taking part in the evaluation.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0988
Date of REC Opinion
28 Aug 2020
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion