The Living Assessments project is a five-year research programme funded by the Wellcome Trust and based jointly at the University of Kent, Cambridge, and the National Children’s Bureau. The project aims to understand the experiences and impact of health and social care assessments on children, young people, and families, particularly those who are affected by disability or are in need of social care support. The research draws on four key sources: analysis of health, social care, benefits, and educational records from over 350,000 participants; three “experts by experience” groups, comprising disabled children and adolescents, care leavers, and parents of those who have undergone assessments; interviews with people who were instrumental in developing the Children Act 1989 legislation, professionals who have conducted social care assessments, and children and young people who have themselves experienced these assessments; and archival research of key documents relating to the 1989 Children Act.
The project looks at the decision-making process for providing social care support to children and families, the impact of offering particular support or not offering that support, and the lived experiences of assessments. The research aims to ensure engagement with civil servants, parliamentarians, policy makers, and senior practitioners, in collaboration with MPs and Peers from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Children (APPGC) and influence evidence-based changes.