Ethnic and religious inequalities in children’s social services in Wales: Patterns and outcomes

This study aims to investigate patterns and trends of ethnic and religious inequalities in children’s social services in Wales. Using linked administrative data in social care, education and health, this study will for the first time, produce much needed quantitative evidence on the little-known experience of ethnic and religious minority families receiving social services support. While existing research has found a strong overall link between social deprivation and social services intervention, this relationship does not hold for some ethnic minorities, with sometimes more social services involvement in areas of low deprivation. Why some ethnic minority families living in areas of high deprivation have lower social services involvement remains a puzzle. To date, there is only a very small amount of research in the UK examining the educational outcomes and health service use of ethnic and religious minority children receiving social care support.

Our study will shed important light on future policy and practice in child welfare, not just in Wales and the UK but also internationally. The research team will work with the Ethnic Youth Support Team (EYST) to involve existing and potential ethnic minority social services users throughout the life span of the project.

An initial consultation session with seven individuals was held in early February to hear about the kind of issues they consider important and of interest. To keep service providers and users informed, a digestable summary of findings will be shared using short videos at month 12 and at the end of the project. We also intend to publish research papers in academic journals to disseminate our findings to a broader field of scholars in social work, and children and youth services nationally and internationally.