Social Care

This project looks at which health visiting models in England are most promising for mitigating the harms of maternal related Adverse Child Experiences.

This research focuses on the hidden impact of parental imprisonment on children and families. Children with a parent in prison are more likely to face poor mental health, stigma, disrupted education, and long-term social and emotional difficulties. Yet there has never been a formal system in the UK to identify and support them. In 2021, Thames Valley Police and the Thames Valley Violence Prevention Partnership launched Operation Paramount, the first data-led initiative in the UK to identify children affected by parental imprisonment. By securely cross-checking prison reception data with other official records, the programme identifies affected children in the Thames Valley and offers support through the charity Children Heard and Seen. This research explores how effective Operation Paramount is in identifying and supporting families. It also gathers the views of non-incarcerated parents and carers to understand the real-life impact of imprisonment. 

Reducing youth violence is an increasing priority — and mentoring is proving to be a powerful tool. The Focused Diversion project, in partnership with the Thames Valley Violence Prevention Partnership, is embedding mentors within local councils. These mentors support young people who have recently come into contact with the police, meeting with them regularly to build trust and connect them with the right services. The aim is to steer young people away from further offending by offering early, tailored support — helping them stay in school, avoid exclusions, and make positive choices.

This project aims to understand and improve the rollout of digital technologies in social care. Social care has fallen behind other sectors in using digital technology to improve outcomes for adults. We are seeking partners, both academic and non-academic, to collaborate on studies that address the challenges of using these technologies in social care. Our goal is to contribute to the discussion and provide recommendations for how digital services can be implemented effectively and inclusively to improve outcomes for everyone who needs them. This is a critical step for the future of integrated care models, which seek to improve outcomes across the entire care pathway.

Collaboration with the Brightwater Care Group in Perth, Australia to explore the impact of characteristics of the social care workforce on delivery of care in England and Australia. Our research priorities include care for individuals living with disability and care for the elderly.

Stopping Child Maltreatment through Pan-European Multiprofessional Training Programme: Early Child Protection Work with Families at Risk.

Reducing youth violence is a growing priority, with mentoring showing strong potential. The Thames Valley Hospital Navigator Scheme, in partnership with the Thames Valley Violence Prevention Partnership, placed trained mentors in emergency departments to support young people arriving due to violence or risky behaviour. Running in five hospitals, it engaged over 70% of referrals, with most receiving ongoing support. After six months, 77% had not returned to the hospital, and many saw improvements in housing, school, employment, and emotional well-being.  Read the summary and full report.

A UK-wide study surveyed school nurses about their roles and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 60% reported reduced contact with children and families, while 86% faced barriers to identifying safeguarding or child protection needs. More than 79% said their work with vulnerable children was negatively affected. The study also highlighted the limitations of technology and stressed the need for in-person access.

The average English school nurse now cares for over 4,000 pupils. The findings urge policymakers and professional bodies to support school nurses in leading public health efforts, calling for sufficient staffing to meet the evolving needs of children and young people. The research informed the 'School Nurse in Every School' campaign and ‘The Forgotten Frontline’ report of which was presented to Parliament in October 2024.