Sample

The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) identified all young people aged 12-15 who were subject to a HSR for at least 12 consecutive months at the 31st of December 2008 in Thistle City. Once the sample had been identified SCRA forwarded information about the research, together with a consent form and prepaid envelope, to all 98 young people identified and their parents.

Young people and/or parents  willing to take part in the research could then return their consent form via the post; or, if they preferred, call, text or email. Once young people and/or their parents had given their consent to take part in the research their social workers were contacted. Social workers were then also invited to take part in the research and, if the young person had agreed to, arrangements made to read case files.

A total of 12 cases were included in the final analysis.  The young people who took part were aged between 12 and 17 at the time of the research and an equal number of boys and girls took part. Table 1 describes the varying combinations of data available for each case.

Table 1: Participants