Kinship Care Mediation

Completed Project

This project has now been completed. The linked publication can be viewed here:

Kinship Care Mediation

Summary

This protocol summarises plans for a feasibility study of the Kinship Care Mediation project. This is an intervention offering mediation to kinship families and training to professionals.

Who, what, why and how?

Kinship care describes arrangements in which children live with a relative or close family friend, usually because their parents are unable to care for them. This intervention, developed by Family Solutions, aims to use mediation to help kinship carers and parents communicate better and support them to make decisions about the child, while taking the child’s view into account.

We have commissioned Coram to conduct a feasibility study of the Kinship Care Mediation pilot, to determine whether or not the intervention can be evaluated. The intervention will be delivered to kinship families in four local authorities in the South Hampshire area: Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council, and Isle of Wight Council. Coram will use an approach based on rapid cycle design and testing, and will act as a collaborative and critical learning partner to Family Solutions as the intervention develops over the one-year delivery phase.

Kinship families will be offered four in-person mediation sessions, typically over 16 weeks. These sessions will also include support with conflict management, positive parenting techniques, and communication skills. Children aged 10 or over will also be offered consultation as part of the sessions, and mediation training will be provided for 70 professionals.

Research Questions

  1. To what extent is the intervention feasible and can it be evaluated?
  2. How should the Kinship Care Mediation project be evaluated in future?
  3. How should the Kinship Care Mediation pilot be developed, scaled up and replicated in future?
  4. Are there signs that the Kinship Care Mediation pilot is achieving the outcomes listed in the logic model (evidence of promise)?

Delivery Partners

Family Solutions

Evaluation partners

Due Date

This project is due to be completed by October 2024.
SHARE

Kinship Care Mediation Intervention Protocol

Download

Kinship Care Mediation Research Protocol

Download

Related Projects

Cost ratings:

Rated 1: Set up and delivery is low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of less than £100.

Rated 2: Set up and delivery is medium-low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £100–£499.

Rated 3: Set up and delivery is medium cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £500–£999.

Rated 4: Set up and delivery is medium-high cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £1,000–£2,000.

Rating 5: Set up and delivery is high cost. Equivalent to an estimated unit cost of more than £2,000.

Set up and delivery cost is not applicable, not available, or has not been calculated.

Click here for more information.

Child Outcomes:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.

Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Preventing child maltreatment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Enhancing school achievement & employment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Preventing crime, violence and antisocial behaviour: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Preventing substance abuse: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Preventing risky sexual behaviour & teen pregnancy: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Preventing obesity and promoting healthy physical development: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Evidence ratings:

Rated 2: Has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome from a quantitative impact study, but there is not yet evidence of causal impact.

Rated 2+: Meets the level 2 rating and the best available evidence is based on a study which is more rigorous than a level 2 standard but does not meet the level 3 standard.

Rated 3: Has evidence of a short-term positive impact from at least one rigorous study.

Rated 3+: Meets the level 3 rating and has evidence from other studies with a comparison group at level 2 or higher.

Rated 4: Has evidence of a long-term positive impact through at least two rigorous studies.

Rated 4+: Meets the level 4 rating and has at least a third study contributing to the Level 4 rating, with at least one of the studies conducted independently of the intervention provider.

Rating has a *: The evidence base includes mixed findings i.e., studies suggesting positive impact alongside studies, which on balance, indicate no effect or negative impact.

Click here for more information.