“There’s never just one type”: A mixed methods realist evaluation of Adolescent-Focused Low-Intensity Life Story Work

Hammond, Simon P., Seeley, Carys, Skevington, Paige, Speer, Emma, Baker, Kayley, Hiller, Rachel M., Mickleburgh, Ella, Midgley, Nick, Blackett, Rosie, Hardeman, Wendy, Thomas, Sarah, Shepstone, Lee, Wilson, Jon, Neil, Elsbeth, Cossar, Jeanette, Jordan, Peter, Sims, Erika and Wong, Geoff (2026) “There’s never just one type”: A mixed methods realist evaluation of Adolescent-Focused Low-Intensity Life Story Work. British Journal of Social Work. ISSN 0045-3102

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Abstract

Life Story Work is a way of supporting children who spend time in out-of-home care to make sense of their experiences. It is highly valued yet poorly evidenced and inconsistently implemented with adolescents aged 12-18 years old. We sought to improve our understandings of the ways in which carers are already supporting what we describe as Adolescent-Focused Low-Intensity Life Story Work (AF-LI-LSW) to improve the quality, consistency and availability of this support. We collected data from 78 participants (adolescents, carers and social care professionals) from eight English Local Authorities. Using a participatory realist evaluation, we analysed qualitative and quantitative data to develop and test our understandings of AF-LI-LSW. We developed seven principles indicating that AF-LI-LSW is likely to be optimal when: it is flexible and person-centred; starts early; begins in the present; provides future storytelling prompts; adolescents are encouraged to participate; focusses on everyday life and when training and support is available. Participants experiences were characterised by several dilemmas. The need to offer (and desire for care-experienced adolescents to enact) participation choices whilst acting in the best interest of adolescents in current and possible future contexts. Our findings provide guidance for carers, adolescents and children’s out-of-home care more broadly.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Education and Lifelong Learning Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Social Work Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Research on Children and Families Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Public Health Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Statistics Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Services and Primary Care Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Child Protection & Family Support Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Clinical Trials Unit
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	05 Feb 2026 11:37
Last Modified:	05 Feb 2026 11:37
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/101815
DOI:	10.1093/bjsw/bcaf313

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