Safeguarding young people: exploring access to protective services and agency responses to young people (aged 11 to 17) who are maltreated

Navigation menu list for sections above the current page: NSPCC Home; NSPCC inform; Research

NSPCC Research Department: Ethical issues in research with children; Research in progress; Completed NSPCC research; Child protection research briefings; Child sexual abuse research at Fresh Start; Conference papers; Centre for Learning in Child Protection (CLiCP); CORE-INFO; Research staff; FAQs and information for students; Contact us

Safeguarding young people

Exploring access to protective services and agency responses to young people (aged 11 to 17) who are maltreated

NSPCC research in progress

Gwyther Rees (Children's Society), Sarah Gorin (NSPCC) and Mike Stein (University of York)

This research study focuses on the under-researched issue of the maltreatment (including neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse) of young people aged 11 to 17 in the UK. The purpose of the research is to explore access to, and initial responses of, services for young people with potential maltreatment issues. The aim is to promote improved protective responses for this target group.

The research consists of four linked components:

a comprehensive international literature review
This component will explore different approaches to defining child maltreatment issues for young people, and seek to identify models of practice which may be relevant to the UK.
a study of UK policy and guidance
This component will include analysis of policy and guidance literature and telephone and face-to-face interviews with a small number of key informants in statutory and voluntary sector agencies.
a comparative study of attitudes to, and definitions, of maltreatment amongst professionals working with young people
The preparatory element of this component will include up to 6 focus groups with professionals. The main element will be a vignettes-based survey with a representative sample of 1,000 professionals in social services and potential referring agencies (statutory and voluntary sectors) in 12 areas of England.
a study of practice within social services and referring agencies
This component will involve an analysis of child protection referral data and interviews with up to 60 professionals and 30 young people in four geographical areas.

The project started in January 2007 and will continue until December 2009.

For further information about this project, please download our Safeguarding young people information sheet (PDF, 148KB) or contact Sarah Gorin .

The research is funded by the Big Lottery Research Grants Programme.