Title: Understanding the implementation of children's social care policy in Wales: a study of the new Child Sexual Exploitation guidance
Funder: Health and Care Research Wales (Welsh Government)

Abstract: Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a form of child sexual abuse which involves an element of exchange (Welsh Government 2019). A significant body of research highlights the potential problems with social care responses to CSE (Hickle and Hallett 2015, Scott et al 2019). CSE was formally introduced into Welsh social care policy with the introduction of statutory guidance in 2011. Following a review in 2017 the new CSE guidance is being implemented in Spring 2020. There is very limited research which considers how child protection policies are implemented in practice by frontline staff. This study is an in-depth investigation into the implementation of children’s social care policy in Wales, with a focus on how new guidance relating to CSE is interpreted and implemented in practice. The research design is a mixed-method realist evaluation bringing together a range of qualitative and quantitative data. We will adopt an implementation science approach to the study using a realist approach. This will allow us to consider contextual factors which impact on how the new policy is implemented in different Local Authorities (LAs) and how these hinder or assist effective implementation. Proctor (2012) highlights that the implementation of new polices is highly complex and a variety of factors will affect how a new policy influences practice in a particular setting. The research will equip stakeholders with deeper understanding of what will and will not be a facilitative context for policy implementation. This type of information meaningfully informs decision-making about implementation and supports success through articulating key aspects of a local setting that need to be present to enable implementation. This research will employ qualitative and quantitative methods to generate extensive data. Realist synthesis will be carried out of the data collected. The study consists of three strands: Strand 1 develops an initial understanding of how implementation could work well. This will be developed by talking to a range of stakeholders. Data collection will comprise a survey and a small number of phone interviews with senior managers to ascertain their plans for implementing the new CSE policy. Strand 2 tests the initial theory about how the implementation will work, for which Local Authorities, and under which circumstances. Data collection will focus on gaining practitioners’ views and understanding of the new policy guidance. Field work will be undertaken in three LAs including practice observations of key meetings such as strategy discussions. We will review policies and procedures to consider how national guidance is interpreted locally. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups will be carried out with at least 20 practitioners in each site. We are aiming to interview at least ten young people and five parents in each site. Strand 3 summarizes the learning from across the previous strands to provide an overview of best practice in relation to work with young people at risk of CSE and finalise a refined programme theory that prioritises key components that are important for the success of implementation and the contextual factors that are critical in enabling or constraining this success. This learning will be used to develop tools and training materials aimed at improving practice with young people at risk of CSE and ascertaining how practitioners can best ensure young people participate meaningfully in decision making.

Lay abstract: Research commissioned by the Welsh Government concluded that assessment quality and interventions with families impacted by CSE varies greatly across the country (Hallett 2017). This review identified the need for the 2011 CSE statutory guidance to be overhauled and made a number of recommendations about what the new guidance should cover. The new CSE policy is due for implementation in Spring 2020. A significant body of research highlights the potential problems with professional responses to CSE. However, to date only very limited research has been carried out into specifically how child protection policies in the UK are implemented by frontline staff and which factors help and hinder this process. The aim of this study is to give detailed consideration as to how the new Welsh CSE policy is implemented in practice by frontline social workers and other key professionals. It is hoped that it will assist policy makers in understanding how new child protection policies are implemented in different local areas in Wales and identify which factors hinder or assist with effective policy implementation. This research seeks to consider how the new policy will impact on practice with young people at risk of CSE and will contribute to the development of effective services and improved responses to this critical issue. The rationale behind undertaking a two-year study is that we will be able to ascertain over a length of time how this policy takes shape in the three test sites across Wales. It therefore offers a unique opportunity to explore the embedment of the new guidance as it is rolled out. As Proctor (2012) highlighted, a key issue with evidence-based practice is ensuring that policies are implemented in the way they were intended to be. A considerable strength of this study is its timing: with the new policy being introduced in Spring 2020 and research commencing in October 2020, we will be able to carry out a ‘real time’ study of how the policy is implemented in practice. A novel element to this study is that one of the lead authors of the new CSE policy is an academic, Sophie Hallett, who has carried considerable research on CSE in Wales. The policy will therefore be based on high quality research, enabling us to obtain real insight into how evidence-based policy impacts on practice ‘on the ground’ by social workers and other key professionals. By carrying out interviews with young people and their families we will also ascertain how this new policy impacts on their experiences of services. In undertaking this study, we hope to discover how new child protection policies are implemented in practice in a number of local authorities and understand the impact of different contexts and organisational cultures on policy implementation. This will be valuable learning for child protection policy makers, senior managers and practitioners and will help the Welsh Government consider which factors assist and impede effective policy implementation.

Research activity codes: 8.3 POLICY, ETHICS AND RESEARCH GOVERNANCE
Health categories: DISPUTED AETIOLOGY AND OTHER