Looked After Children (LAC) are the canonical example of vulnerable young people needing support and there is evidence linking children in care to increased risks of criminal justice involvement, diagnosable mental health disorders, and having special educational needs. LAC constitute a major drain on the Local Authority budget in common with many other Authorities where service provision is at breaking point. Bradford Children’s Trust in partnership with the Bradford Local authority have approached the research team to request help in analysing the data associated with LAC. This project extends initial insights derived in a previous CB project ‘Using data analytics to support Looked After Children – exploring wider determinants of need’ (Conducted Apr24 – Sep24). This initial phase of the project quantified marked changes in the volume and demographic makeup of children receiving child protection plans across the region; identified considerable spatial variation in need across the Bradford region; and highlighted fundamental shortcomings associated with data collection regarding LAC service provision. Building on research priorities coproduced with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and the Children’s Trust, this project aims to deepen these analyses and help our public service providers to better understand these changing trajectories of LAC in Bradford. Insights drawn from analyses will be fed back to these services to ensure evidence-based support for LAC where it is most needed.
01/03/2023
3 years
