Inequalities in child welfare intervention rates
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identifying and understanding inequalities in child welfare intervention rates: comparative studies in four UK countries
IRAS ID
186483
Contact name
Lisa Bunting
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
The aim of this study is to examine the role of deprivation in explaining differences in key children’s services outcomes between and within local authorities in four UK countries – England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. A recent pilot study (the Coventry study) funded by the Nuffield Foundation examined child welfare intervention rates within the midlands region in England. This study found new evidence that very large differences in a child’s chance of being on a child protection plan (or register) or being ‘looked after’ in state care between and within local authorities, and between ethnic groups, are strongly associated with social disadvantage. It proposed that these differences in intervention rates are examples of child welfare inequalities with close parallels to those found in health and education. This new study seeks to test this hypothesis by accessing national data sets to extend the English study and replicate the investigation in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
By analysing statistics on children on Child Protection Plans or Looked After, we will investigate the existence and extent of differences between and within Trust areas and how deprivation at a neighbourhood level impacts on service outcomes. Comparative analysis between four nations will also be conducted.
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
15/NI/0220
Date of REC Opinion
13 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion