New data resource supports research into vulnerable children in Northern Ireland
A new data resource profile published in the International Journal of Population Data Science (IJPDS) has mapped out the most comprehensive source of information on vulnerable children in Northern Ireland, offering a vital resource to inform and encourage greater use of administrative data for children’s social care research.
The data resource profile introduces the Social Services Client Administration and Retrieval Environment (SOSCARE) dataset, which contains detailed case-level information for all children in contact with children’s social care in Northern Ireland.
Lead author Dr Sarah McKenna, Queen’s University Belfast, said “Research using this data could guide strategies to address poor outcomes and improve children’s lives. Right now, though, too few researchers are making use of it, and the most urgent priorities for policymakers, practitioners and families are not being consistently addressed.”
The research highlights both the richness and challenges of using SOSCARE data. While the data requires careful preparation, it offers unparalleled opportunities to track children’s pathways through the system, and link with health, education, housing and justice records to build a fuller picture of life outcomes.
This dataset is already shaping new projects, including research into homelessness among care experienced young people. The potential for future studies is significant, helping to uncover the long-term impacts of childhood adversity and inform policy development and evaluation.
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Dr. Sarah McKenna, Research Fellow, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland
McKenna, S., Murphy, S., O’Reilly, D., Bunting, L. and Maguire, A. (2023) “Data Resource Profile: The Social Services Client Administration and Retrieval Environment (SOSCARE) administrative dataset for children’s social care in Northern Ireland”, International Journal of Population Data Science, 8(6). doi: 10.23889/ijpds.v8i6.3138