SOSCARE_2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A comprehensive investigation into predictors of positive life-course trajectories, self-harm, ideation and interaction with prison services for children in contact with social services in Northern Ireland: a quantitative data linkage approach
IRAS ID
345166
Contact name
Aideen Maguire
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Blefast
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
Children known to social services have high levels of mental ill-health and children leaving care have poorer educational, employment, health, and social outcomes in adulthood. However, research focusing on the predictors of positive outcomes within this cohort is rare. To understand how to improve outcomes for this population we need to understand risk factors for “poor” outcomes but also predictors of “positive” outcomes. The Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland (ADRC NI) has established a body of research exploring the mental health and mortality of children known to social services using the SOSCARE dataset, which holds information electronically on all children known to social services in Northern Ireland from 1985-2015. This is the only dataset of its kind in the UK and as Northern Ireland has an integrated health and social care system, social care records include an individual health and care (HCN) number allowing for exact one-to-one linkage to a range of health care related datasets. The proposed project will link SOSCARE data to primary care registration data, prescription medication data, self-harm registry data, prison healthcare data, geographical data and death data to better understand the antecedents to and outcomes of interaction with social services in childhood. Findings from this project will help identify trends in both poor and positive outcomes and aims to highlight positive care trajectories and identify risk factors that may help to target effective interventions. This work will support current Steering Committee representatives who have stated the need for research related to longer term outcomes and evidence relating to care at the intersection of service provision.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0310
Date of REC Opinion
3 Oct 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion