CASCADE’s Current research projects:
A mixed-methods evaluation of parental advocacy in Wales
Wales currently has the highest proportion of children in care among UK nations, and it is a policy priority of the Welsh government to reduce the number of children in care. The potential for parental…
ASPIRE
This is a project to look at the educational needs of children in Wales with a parent in prison, with the aim being to create a model of good practice.
Enhancing Understandings of Risky Behaviours
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Ethnic and religious inequalities in children’s social services in Wales: Patterns and outcomes
This study aims to investigate patterns and trends of ethnic and religious inequalities in children’s social services in Wales.
Evaluation of National Youth Advocacy Service Cymru parental advocacy project
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Evaluation of People Offering Parents Support (POPS)
People Offering parents Support (POPS). This project is an evaluation of a peer mentoring project, supporting parents with drug and alcohol difficulties, who are accessing social work services.
Exploring the role of personal advisors in Wales: A co-produced study with care-experienced young people
Overview Each year a substantial number of young people leave the care system in Wales. These young people face significant challenges during this transition related to housing, education, employment, health and wellbeing. Additionally, they frequently…
Falling Between the Gaps PhD studentship
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Family VOICE: Family Group Conferencing for Children and Families
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For young people from young people
Co-developing a hub of mental health resources tried, tested and recommended by care-experienced young people for care-experienced young people.
How can we improve the experiences and outcomes of autistic children in care? A mixed methods study of needs, services, and good practice
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How do young people, parents and social workers assess the quality of social work practice?
A comparative judgement analysis of direct work with families
Leaving a pupil referral unit: Exploring the transitions and post-16 destinations of care experienced young people
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Looked after children in the youth justice system A mixed methods feasibility study
Children looked after who have come into contact with the law are some of the most vulnerable members of society…
Music for Social Change
Overview PRUs offer alternative educational provision for students unable to attend mainstream schools. Students in PRUs typically have a range of risk factors, including high levels of poverty, experiences of social care, and other social,…
Parental Advocacy in England: a realist evaluation of implementation
Overview In their relationships with social workers, many parents report feeling marginalised and disempowered. The recent Care Review in England recommended the implementation of Parental Advocacy services. In the USA, these have helped reduce the…
Police in Schools
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Post-18 support for young people leaving care
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Returning Home from Care
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Selfies, Snapchat and Keeping Safe: How do looked after children engage online?
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Snakes and Ladders: Developing a training tool for use in the youth justice system
The aim of this 15-month project is to develop a prototype of a training tool which represents a young person’s journey through the youth justice system including the various challenges that they may face. Overview Understanding…
Special guardianship families in Wales: Experiences and support needs (Nuffield Foundation)
Overview The use of kinship care within child welfare has increased over the last decade, including using Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs) for children leaving care. In Wales, in 2022, 285 children left care for adoption,…
Step Up Step Down
Step UP Step Down is an initiative run by The Fostering Network to support families on the edge of care.
The impact of regulation and registration on the residential childcare workforce: comparing England and Wales.
Overview The registration and regulation of such staff has the potential to have an impact not only on registrants, but also on the lives of those who use their services. However, there is a lack…
The impact of Sure Start on health and social care
Sure Start (Northern Ireland) is a flagship policy that aims to reduce health and educational inequalities in the early years and beyond. For more than two decades, Sure Start has supported families with children aged…
The SWIS Trial: An evaluation of school based social work
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The Welsh Basic Income Evaluation
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Understanding how advocacy services support care-experienced young people to participate in decision-making.
Research suggests that involving young people in decision-making can boost their confidence and self-worth. But despite legal provisions, they often lack meaningful opportunities to participate in care-planning meetings. The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care…
Understanding the implementation of children’s social care policy in Wales
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Wellbeing in Schools and Colleges – the WiSC Study
This study explores mental health and wellbeing support for care-experienced children and young people at secondary schools and further education colleges in Wales, and will make recommendations for how support can be improved.
What are the service outcomes for criminally exploited children?
This project will examine the referral routes, service approaches, interventions and education, health, social care and offending outcomes for criminally exploited children in two local authorities.