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

Hammond, Simon P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0473-3610, Seeley, Carys, Skevington, Paige, Speer, Emma ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8723-2999, Baker, Kayley ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1195-9155, Hiller, Rachel M., Mickleburgh, Ella, Midgley, Nick, Blackett, Rosie, Hardeman, Wendy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6498-9407, Thomas, Sarah, Shepstone, Lee, Wilson, Jon, Neil, Elsbeth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5655-7498, Cossar, Jeanette, Jordan, Peter, Sims, Erika ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7898-0331 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:	18 Jun 2026 20:49
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/101815
DOI:	10.1093/bjsw/bcaf313

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