Biography
Name: Bethany Lee-Shield
University: University of Edinburgh
Title of research: Examining Potential Inequalities in Outcomes of Care Experienced Children
Flagship datasets using: Looked After Children Longitudinal Dataset- Scotland
Supervisor: Professor Susan McVie and Professor Morag Treanor
Please tell us about your PhD project.
The aim of my PhD project is to understand inequalities in the outcomes of Care Experienced Children (CEC) using Scottish linked administrative data. The main objectives are:
- To identify patterns in the care journeys of CEC
- To examine potential differences in outcomes of children with different types of care journey
- To understand how different aspects of CEC’s lives intersect over time
The Looked After Children Longitudinal Dataset-Scotland collects data on the care of children taken into formal Local Authority Care, allowing episodes of care to be linked on an individual level. This can provide a longitudinal understanding of children’s care journeys. This dataset can be linked to education datasets and health datasets to understand how differences in care journeys may lead to different outcomes. The linkage of these datasets has the potential to provide a more holistic understanding into the lives of CEC and has the potential to inform policy in this area.
What is your key takeaway/ what are your key takeaways from the ADR UK PhD Annual Gathering 2025?
One of the key takeaways from the ADR PhD gathering is the importance of building connections with other researchers. This engagement with the research community allows the sharing of practice and expertise, which helps produce high quality research. The ADR PhD gathering provided a chance to speak to other PhD students who are researching within the area of Children’s Social Care, as well as those using administrative data in other fields. This allowed the development of relationships among peers for collaboration and support.
Are there any speakers / session or presentation that particularly resonated with you? And why?
Yes, the workshop connecting with the ADR funded research fellows allowed us to hear about how administrative data has been utilised to produce high impact research. Several of the research fellows emphasised the way that public engagement had enhanced their research. For different research projects, the public were involved at various points of the research process. A particularly interesting piece of research involved the public for the selection of the analytical strategy, which is not something I’ve heard about before. These talks highlighted the importance of meaningful engagement to improve research outcomes, and that the approach to public engagement may vary depending on the specific research project.
How has the event impacted your perspective on your research?
The PhD gathering highlighted the importance of using Administrative Data Research to have a positive impact on society, and the steps that can be taken to do this. This includes collaborating with stakeholders, engaging with policymakers to support evidence-based decision making and engaging with the public to ensure that the research is relevant and accessible. This event helped me further consider the development of my research questions, so that my project can have greater potential to benefit the Care Experienced Community.
Did the event inspire any new ideas for your current or future research? Can you please share with us your next steps for your research following the event?
The event provided a valuable opportunity to hear more about the methods that fellow PhD students will be using, and those that the research fellows have already used. Over the next few months, I will be completing data applications for my project. As I continue to develop my project and analytical plan, I will explore some of the methods mentioned at the gathering and consider using them within my own research.