Building better social care in Wales
Abstract This talk will discuss the needs for support with developing positive romantic/intimate relationships of people using mental health services. It will provide an overview of current evidence regarding the views of practitioners and people using mental health services, and the perceived barriers and challenges with discussing or offering support with romantic/intimate relationships. Different models… Read More
Abstract Effective children’s services need to work with parents, yet there is comparatively little research directly observing these often complicated and sometimes difficult conversations. The first half of this talk will share findings from studies observing over 300 recordings of practice to identify key features of effective practice. It will introduce a reliable coding scheme… Read More
Abstract I will tell you about two of our NIHR-funded studies: the Victoria & Stuart Project (co-producing a toolkit of co-created resources that help people with a learning disability to be involved in end of life care planning) and the DAPPLE Project (looking at models of palliative and end of life care delivery for people… Read More
Abstract Adoption in England is at a critical point, shaped by increasing complexity in children’s needs, system pressures, and the need for more responsive, evidence-informed practice. This presentation explores how Adoption England—a national collaboration of Regional Adoption Agencies—is driving a modernisation agenda by listening to people’s experiences and using evidence to guide the work. Central… Read More
Abstract In England, there are an estimated 120,000 children living in kinship arrangements, only a minority of which are in formal, legally secure arrangements. Evidence shows that children from minority ethnic groups, and Black children in particular, are underrepresented among children living in these formal kinship arrangements. Kinship carers from Black and Asian communities participated… Read More
Abstract Young carers are children and young people who have caring responsibilities for familiy members. Previously considered as a small group with substantial roles who access specialist young carer projects, prevalence estimates of 17% in Wales (School Health Research Network, 2023) suggest they should be investigated as a larger but more diverse population in terms… Read More
Abstract Unpaid carers sustain the social fabric of Wales, yet remain invisible within systems designed for their support. Despite over a decade of implementation through the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act, the recent 2026 Senedd report, Unpaid Carers: At Breaking Point, reports carers begging and fighting for help, with only 1.5% receiving formal support… Read More
Abstract This session will outline research findings on the experiences of Nearest Relatives and Approved Mental Health Professionals of the Mental Health Act and share details of a new and free online resource for Nearest Relatives about their role in the Act. The research identified the emotional challenges faced by carers/family members when they are a… Read More
