ENTRAC study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Examining the normalisation of trauma-informed care in children's social care: the ENTRAC study
IRAS ID
336599
Contact name
Ruth McGovern
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Background
A large number of children in England are removed from their families and taken into care. Many of these children have experienced trauma. This trauma can cause children in care (CIC) to experience a range of problems including with their behaviour, emotions and in how they experience the care they receive. In response, many children’s social care services are introducing a new approach to supporting CIC who have experienced trauma. This is called a trauma-informed approach. Little is known however about how best to make social care practice with children trauma-informed, and whether this approach improves social care services.
Aim
This project aims to find out what factors help and hinder children’s social care to become trauma-informed. The project will also find out whether CIC who receive trauma-informed care have less problems with their behaviour, emotions and in their care placements, and whether the approach results in cost savings.
Method
A model of trauma-informed care has recently been introduced in children’s social care in three local authorities in the North East of England. Our project will examine trauma-informed care in these areas. Specifically, we will:
1. Hold group discussions with the trauma-clinicians and social care leaders responsible for introducing and embedding the approach to find out what things have helped when introducing trauma-informed care and what things have hindered this.
2. We will talk to social workers, residential workers and foster carers supporting children in care in 1:1 interviews to ask about their experiences of providing trauma-informed care and how they think this impacts upon children.
3. We will test whether CIC who receive trauma-informed care have better outcomes than CIC who receive no/minimal trauma-informed care.
4. We will estimate the cost of providing trauma-informed care and estimate the savings resulting from the care provided.REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/PR/1176
Date of REC Opinion
15 Oct 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion