Please note that this is a foundation-funded PhD scholarship, the Center for What Works for Children and Families and the largest funder of evaluation research in early intervention services and children’s social care. Children and young people (CYP) on Children in Need (CIN) plans or Child Protection (CP) orders are among the most vulnerable people in the country and from families with high levels of need. Children in CIN plans and CP orders constitute a large proportion of children and families seen by children’s social care services, and are at high risk of exiting home placements, representing a very high cost to the public purse. However, little research has been conducted on the services provided to these CYP and their families, especially when risks in parenting and domestic violence have been identified. Evidence-based parenting interventions have become increasingly widespread in the past 20 years, but they are primarily used in early help and wider children’s services, and it is not clear how well they offer families when there is a CIN or CP plan in place. This project aimed to investigate whether parenting interventions are offered and whether they are effective in this population of CYP and their families. The project will likely involve conducting systematic reviews and secondary data analysis of social care data and obtaining access to and analyzing data held by organizations providing parenting interventions. The researcher will also identify and interview key stakeholders in children’s services and children’s social care.

Scholarship available (subject to satisfactory performance): From 01 October for the academic year 2025-26, this amount will be Year 1: (FT) £20,780 plus £2,000 in London (where applicable) or PRO-RATA (PT) Year 2: In line with the UK rate Year 3: In line with the UK rate.

In addition, the successful candidate will receive a tuition fee contribution equivalent to the University’s home student rate, currently £5,006 or PRO-RATA (PT), for the duration of the scholarship. International applicants will need to pay the remaining tuition fees for the duration of the scholarships. These fees are subject to an annual increase

For an informal chat about the project, please contact Dr. Sajid Humayun (s.humayun@greenwich.ac.uk) or Professor Claire Rahban (c.monks@greenwich.ac.uk).

Please carefully review the following link, containing person specifications and other relevant information, before placing an order:

The scope and effectiveness of parenting interventions delivered in children’s social care in the UK: impact, families’ experience and barriers to evaluation | Documents | University of Greenwich