Category: National Children's Bureau
Posted on 06.05.2025
A collaborative project between the National Children’s Bureau (NCB), the University of Cambridge and the University of Kent, has investigated the experiences of children and families during social care assessments.
Concluding recently after five years, the Living Assessments project looked at the decision-making process for providing health and social care support to children and families, the impact of offering (or not offering) support, and the lived experiences of the children and young people who undergo assessments.
The project worked with care-experienced young adults, disabled children and young people and their parents as well professionals working in the social care sector. The participants have spoken in Parliament to MPs and Peers, carried out research with NCB, shared their personal experiences, and advocated to improve the current system.
A lasting legacy
The celebration marking the conclusion of the Living Assessments project saw researchers, academics, children’s sector professionals, government representatives, and young people and parents, gather for two days of talks, discussions, as well as a theatre performance by participants.
“The project has produced a wealth of research and insights and many of the ‘experts by experience’ who have worked with us so far will continue campaigning for a fairer system for disabled and care-experienced children, so every child can thrive.” Dustin Hutchinson, Senior Policy, Public Affairs and Development Manager, who led the project at NCB.
Although Living Assessments has come to an end, the programme will have a lasting legacy in NCB’s work to influence policy and practice and a new project will continue exploring the children’s social care system.
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