GT study of multi-agency collaboration to support YP with HSW
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A grounded theory study of how professionals from different agencies work together to support young people experiencing high social withdrawal, and their parents/carers/guardians.
IRAS ID
347294
Contact name
Michael Daly
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Canterbury Christ Church University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 22 days
Research summary
This study aims to address the question “how do professionals from different agencies work together to support young people (YP) experiencing high social withdrawal (HSW) and their parents/carers/guardians?”.
Social withdrawal can be viewed as a continuum, with shyness and a reluctance to engage in social interactions on one end, and “extreme social withdrawal” (ESW) on the other. ESW describes experiences where young people (or adults) seclude themselves at home, cease engagement in education/employment, and refrain from participation in society, and has been linked to mental health difficulties, school absenteeism, reduced social connections, and family difficulties (Muris & Ollendick, 2023). In this study HSW will be used as it reflects the language currently used by clinicians working in services with YP.
In HSW, YP are often involved with representatives from their school and inclusion/attendance officers due to absenteeism, and CAMHS and/or social care due to concerns regarding social and/or emotional needs. Unexplained absences from school can also raise concerns about welfare/safeguarding.
Interagency collaboration is recognised as essential to meeting complex health and social needs, particularly in YP, however the evidence on how this is achieved is unclear (Salmon, 2004). No studies have explored multi-agency working related to supporting YP with HSW, and their families, therefore this project aims to build an explanation of how this process occurs, what factors influence it, and what outcomes occur.
Adolescents aged 16-18 who are/were open to CAMHS, parents/carers/guardians of YP who are experiencing/have experienced HSW, and professionals experienced in supporting YP with HSW, will be invited to take part in an interview lasting 1 hour to talk about their experience of multi-agency working. Interviews will take place at a location convenient to the person (NHS site, own home, public building, online) and will be analysed using qualitative methodology (building an explanation of the conditions, actions, and outcomes).
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
25/ES/0007
Date of REC Opinion
24 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion