Childrens service research Current activity in Wales

1
Childrens service research Current activity in
Wales

• Nigel Thomas
• Swansea University

2
Research capacity

• University departments
• Independent research units
• Local authority staff
• Networks

3
Research fields

• Health service and clinical research
• Social work / social care research
• Education research

4
Research fields in childrens services
5
Cardiff University

• School of Social Sciences
• (includes social work, criminology and education)

6
Cardiff University

• Enquiry into processes of error in child care
  decision making (joint England/Wales study with
  Lancaster University)
• Piloting Common Assessment Framework in Wales
  (joint project with NEWI)
• (Extra)ordinary lives children's everyday
  relationship cultures in public care

7
Cardiff University

• Evaluation of Newport family support services
• Evaluation of outcomes in Family Group
  Conferences
• Cultural context of youth suicide (joint study
  with Lancaster University)
• Small scoping study on racist bullying

8
Cardiff University

• Also 5 PhDs researching child welfare topics
• Childhood Research Group
• Also CIHSE (centre for society, health and
  ethics) doing general childhood research
  school-based research, peer education, breakfast
  clubs, etc.

9
Swansea University

• School of Human Sciences
• (includes applied social sciences, childhood
  studies, psychology)

10
Swansea University

• Department of Applied Social Sciences
• Evaluation of Extending Entitlement
• Young people's perceived levels of access to
  the 10 entitlements
• Effectiveness of anger management programmes
  with young offenders
• Alternative approaches to juvenile anti-social
  behaviour

11
Swansea University

• Department of Applied Social Sciences
• Research on child sexual abusers
• Impact of adversity on sibling relationships
  (cross-cultural study)
• Effectiveness of family support services
• Also work by research students and others
• Seminars and conferences

12
Swansea University

• Department of Childhood Studies
• Research activity mainly in education, play,
  outdoor learning also includes
• Study of implementation of Assessment Framework
  
• Study of needs of young carers
• Evaluation of work of Childrens Commissioner
• Young researchers project

13
Swansea University

• Department of Childhood Studies
• Planned study of role of independent reviewing
  officer (joint with Bristol University)
• Research network for children and young
  peoples health and social care
• Research students working on violence against
  children, traveller families
• Seminars and conferences

14
Other institutions

• University of Glamorgan
• Social policy research
• University of Bangor
• No current information
• Main focus in adult / elderly services

15
Opportunities for collaboration

• Direct work for agencies or consortia
• Joint proposals
• Support for in-house research
• Dissemination
• Agenda setting
• Research strategy