Improving the analysis of socio-economic context and intersectionality in Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews
Context Counts is a mixed-methods NIHR funded project seeking to improve the quality of Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (LCSPRs) by developing an evidence informed understanding of the contribution that the social, economic, and cultural contexts of children’s lives make to incidents in which abuse and neglect result in serious harm or death.
This project aims to improve the quality of LCSPRs by addressing the following objectives:
∙ To identify whether socio-economic factors and intersectionality are addressed in LCSPRs
∙ To identify how the connections between socio-economic factors, intersectionality and other factors are understood and addressed in LCSPRs
∙ To develop and disseminate, in discussion with key stakeholders, recommendations for improving the quality of LCSPRs based on this analysis.
This project consists of four distinct stages; In stage 1, A quantitative content analysis of all LSCPRs placed in the NSPCC’s open access repository will be undertaken to identify and categorise all occasions when socio-economic circumstances and intersectional issues are included in Reviews. Following this, relevant sub-samples of LCSPRs will be analysed using a qualitative reflexive thematic analysis to examine how socioeconomic factors and intersectionality are discussed, and in cases where socio-economic factors and intersectionality are not discussed, identify factors that should, at least, trigger discussion in a Review. In stage 3, the project team will further analyse the meaning of the findings in consultation with parents with experience of services and relevant professionals. This will generate ideas about how Reviews should change. Finally, the project team, working with key stakeholders, will develop and publish guidance and training materials for future reviewing practice.
As part of the project, a family engagement group will be established and will be involved in all stages of the project. An advisory group of professional and academic experts will also be formed.
Research Team:
- Professor Anna Gupta (Royal Holloway, University of London)
- James Blewit
- Dr Rafiyah Khan (Royal Holloway, University of London)
- Professor Paul Bywaters
- Dr Guy Skinner (University of Cambridge)
- Kar-Man Au (Cardiff University)
- Tim Fisher
