Crossing boundaries: Co-designing support for vulnerable young people

This project will develop a model for better information sharing with the aim of supporting vulnerable young people by reducing opportunities for exploitation.  

Why is this important?

The Commission on Young Lives and the Independent Review into Children’s Social Care identified failings in social care, public health, and educational systems that resulted in some communities and children being exposed to exploitation. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Telford and Wrekin highlighted how mothers and daughters had been victimised. The inquiry also stressed: 

• The need for effective lines of communication between individuals, communities, and public organisations. 
• The importance of mutual sharing of critical information. 
• Community members’ belief that lived experiences should be understood.  

What does it involve?

Using a co-production approach, the research team will work with public organisations and community members in Telford and Wrekin to study and address the needs of children and young people in the community vulnerable to exploitation. The project will address the following research questions:  

1. Is it possible to develop a co-created model for sharing critical information effectively to identify and help young people at risk of exploitation? 

2. Is this model acceptable and usable enough to be adopted by local organisations? 

3. Does working within a co-production framework facilitating communication between key organisations and communities influence the perceived quality of, and access to, public services? 

Focus groups and interviews will be held with representative of local agencies and with members of community groups. The information-sharing model developed from this work will be shared with initial respondents for feedback and revised accordingly.   

How will it make a difference?

Ultimately, the research team aim to impact criminal justice, social care, education, and health policy and practice and identify ways of sharing information to support young people who have been or are at risk of exploitation. Findings will be disseminated at an event in Telford with local agencies and community groups, as well as though presentations to relevant Council committees.