This report evaluates the Young People’s Participation Pathway pilot, which enabled young people in care proceedings to meet judges directly, with benefits for understanding, wellbeing and engagement.

A new Nuffield Family Justice Observatory report evaluates a pilot intervention — the Young People’s Participation Pathway — designed to give young people involved in care proceedings the opportunity to meet regularly with the judges making decisions about their futures. Traditionally, children’s voices are represented indirectly, which can leave them feeling excluded and uncertain. The pilot found that most participants valued the meetings, reporting increased confidence, reduced anxiety and a better understanding of the court process. Some young people described feeling more at ease and trusting that decisions were being made in their best interests after direct dialogue with judges. The pilot also showed that small, meaningful changes — such as adjustments to access to personal items — were made following meetings, and that involvement helped some young people accept difficult decisions even when outcomes didn’t match their preferences. Implementation challenges included mixed views from judges about role boundaries and a need for clearer involvement of guardians. The report recommends expanding opportunities for direct engagement to support procedural justice, young people’s wellbeing and clearer understanding of care proceedings.

Family Group Conferencing is a family-led decision-making process used in children’s social care in the UK. Unlike traditional meetings between families and professionals when there is a safeguarding concern, Family Group Conferences are often held outside children’s services’ premises in a ‘neutral’ venue. In this article, we critique the idea that a meeting location can be neutral as spaces may be experienced differently, and hold multiple meanings, for the family, their network and professionals who take part.

Meetings to enhance shared decision-making, such as family group conferences, potentially contribute to enhancing meaningful involvement of families. Such meetings are also claimed by some to reduce the need for children to be in care, either by increasing support from family for parents or by identifying care from within the family network. This rapid realist review aims to develop an understanding of how meetings that facilitate shared decision-making between professionals and families might work to safely reduce the need for children to be in care. It identifies mechanisms that are thought to make a difference and contextual factors that influence the impact of identified mechanisms.

Research finds that many looked‑after children and young people struggle to meaningfully participate in their Child in Care Reviews due to confusion, poor relationships and organisational barriers.

Research shows many looked-after young people feel sidelined and stressed in Child in Care Reviews, with participation often limited by poor relationships and process barriers.

The ExChange Wales podcast brings researchers, practitioners and service users together to share evidence, insights and real care experiences shaping social care in Wales.

A study finds senior managers in one local authority may be unaware of the real challenges supporting meaningful participation of children in care decision-making.