ECSWR 2023 – Milan trip

Even though summer is approaching, the memories of Easter are still fresh in my mind. In April, I attended the ECSWR (European Conference for Social Work Research) 2023 in Milan with a group of researchers from CASCADE, including Donald, Jonathan, Alyson, Clive, Sophie, Melissa, and myself. We all actively participated in the conference, with Donald… Read More

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 recommends investing in advocacy services to empower young people and address power imbalances. However, more research is needed to understand the impact of advocacy services on care-experienced youth. Read More

Child Well-being Study

Understanding the Subjective Well-Being of Younger Children Looked After in Wales: A Qualitative Study Designed with Children in Care using Creative Methodologies Read More

Making sense of increasing young carer prevalence – cause for concern or finding the hidden population? 

Wednesday March 15th is Young Carers Action Day 2023, an annual event that draws attention to the lives of children who care for a family member due to an illness or disability. Research has a key role in investigating the impacts of caring and informing what support could look like, but the issue of increasing prevalence estimates is challenging our understanding. Read More

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 advocacy (PA) services to help achieve this aim is increasingly being recognised, and the Welsh Government is funding several PA services across Wales. Read More