This feasibility study found that it is possible to run a pilot RCT of the Kinship Connected programme.
This is a feasibility study of Kinship Connected, a programme developed by Kinship, the leading kinship care charity, conducted by Ecorys, the University of Exeter and Kinship. The programme offers one-to-one support to kinship carers for at least six months via a dedicated project worker, and develops and maintains kinship carers’ support networks through community-based peer support groups.
Research illustrates that Kinship Connected has been positively received by kinship carers. However, the potential of the programme to improve children’s mental health and wellbeing, through support to ensure that kinship carers can meet their needs, has not been established in the evidence so far.
The study aimed to determine whether it is possible to run a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the Kinship Connected intervention with a focus on children’s mental health and wellbeing, and what the key design features of such a pilot would be.
The study aimed to determine whether it is possible to run a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the Kinship Connected intervention with a focus on children’s mental health and wellbeing, and what the key design features of such a pilot would be.
This study aimed to answer the following questions:
The feasibility study involved conducting five focus groups with a total of 13 kinship carers and 10 staff from local authorities and the Kinship charity. The focus groups aimed to obtain the participants’ views on the above questions, and so fostered discussions surrounding the ethics of randomisation in this context, ways to increase the likelihood of the study being successful, and which outcome measurements may be most appropriate to consider.
The study also involved refining the Theory of Change and logic model for Kinship Connected, to understand the pathways by which outcomes from the programme could be achieved.
The study found that it is possible to run a pilot RCT of the Kinship Connected programme. The aim of the pilot RCT would aim to determine whether a full-scale RCT could be conducted to ultimately answer the question: Does the Kinship Connected intervention improve children’s mental health outcomes?
Based on the findings of the study, this report makes the following key recommendations about how to design the pilot RCT:
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.
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.
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.