Linking UK-based longitudinal population studies to administrative data on children’s social care: A scoping review : Linking UK cohort data to child social care

Bailey, Grace A., Broadhurst, Karen, Scourfield, Jonathan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6218-8158, Harron, Katie, Bailey, Rowena, Goodman, Alissa, Raybould, Alyce, McBride, Orla, Silverwood, Richard, Boyd, Andy, Turner, Emma L., Elliott, Martin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8062-6913, Harker, Lisa and Griffiths, Lucy J. 2026. Linking UK-based longitudinal population studies to administrative data on children’s social care: A scoping review : Linking UK cohort data to child social care. International Journal of Population Data Science Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

This scoping review explores the use of longitudinal population data linked to administrative data to further our understanding of the characteristics and outcomes of children involved in children’s social care (CSC) services within the UK. We searched eight electronic databases (Web of Science, SSCI, APA PsychInfo, Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL Ultimate, ASSIA) to identify relevant UK publications between 1 January 2000 and 22 July 2025. Despite the UK’s longstanding investment into longitudinal population studies, published studies have been limited to four populations that have been linked to CSC records. Around a third of the published studies (6/16) relied on a single local authority-based population (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children). The publications demonstrated links between parental and early childhood characteristics and subsequent involvement in CSC. Few publications examined longer-term outcomes, the wider family and the effectiveness of interventions. Data linkage has the potential to improve our understanding across services, including health, education, justice and welfare systems, for children involved with social care services. Upcoming work using electronic data such as the Born in Bradford’s Better Start study show promise in producing more integrated insights. Importantly, while this review focuses on the UK, the lessons learned and the value of linking longitudinal population-based studies and administrative data are highly relevant in international contexts where similar data assets exist. The review highlights the opportunities of data linkage to improve our understanding of the circumstances and experiences of young people and their families who are involved in the social care system.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) Research Institutes & Centres > Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE)
Publisher:	Swansea University
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	15 July 2026
Date of Acceptance:	28 June 2026
Last Modified:	05 Aug 2026 01:53
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/188228

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