Cardiff University was commissioned in February 2021 to evaluate the pan Wales roll out of The Fostering Network’s Fostering Wellbeing programme. An initial pilot programme running in a South Wales Local Authority was evaluated by Cardiff University in 2017-2019. The Fostering Wellbeing programme aims to improve outcomes for children looked after and includes a series… Read More

CASCADE is committed to involving those with lived experience in its research. Over the past year, we have been significantly expanding our public involvement work, a key aim of the recent Health and Care Research Wales infrastructure funding.  In addition to our award winning care experienced young people’s research advisory group (CASCADE Voices), we are now also working… Read More

5 new research projects have been awarded to researchers within CASCADE, covering a range of topics.  Action for Children’s Serious Organised Crime Early Intervention Service (SOCEIS) Evaluation A pioneering programme aimed at diverting young people away from a life of serious organised crime has been awarded to Dr Nina Maxwell at CASCADE, Cardiff University by… Read More

Researchers at CASCADE are currently conducting two research studies related to social worker decision-making and are seeking social workers to take part.  Registered social workers in England are eligible to take part in Study 1 and registered social workers in Wales or anywhere else in the UK are eligible to take part in Study 2.… Read More

We are delighted to have received £2.9 million funding from Health and Care Research Wales to help us build an ambitious and exciting programme of work over the next five years. This funding will allow CASCADE and our partners in the School of Psychology, the Centre for Trials Research and SAIL (Secure Anonymised Information Linkage)… Read More

The study was commissioned by Social Care Wales. A CASCADE led report, ‘The experiences and outcomes of young people from Wales receiving Secure Accommodation Orders’, published its findings and recommendations today. The aim of the study was to get a full and true picture of the experiences of children and young people from Wales placed… Read More

Two new pilot ‘What Works for Children’s Social Care‘ projects have released their interim reports. The first project has placed social workers in schools in three local authorities in England and is showing early signs of improving inter-agency working and building more collaborative relationships with children, young people and families. Social workers have been embedded… Read More

Today, the ‘Keeping Safe’ project findings, led by Dr Sophie Hallett, were released. The project analysed of the outcomes of work with sexually exploitedyoung people in Wales. 205 children and teenager case files, aged 9 to 18, were analysed and tracked over 10 a year period. The findings revealed one in three children had been… Read More