UoA 20 – Social Work and Social Policy

Resettlement of children after custody: improving youth justice policy and practice

Supporting children who are leaving custody (‘resettlement’) is a chronic problem across
England and Wales as both typical practice and reoffending outcomes have historically been
recognised by Inspectors as ‘shocking’. Professor Hazel’s research has raised policy awareness
of the issues, directly influenced government policy, driven practice improvements and informed
the standards by which resettlement support for children is judged. His research forms the basis
for a new cross-departmental national policy approach to resettlement, national standards for all
Youth Offending Teams and custodial institutions, the Youth Custody Service’s new theory of
change, inspection criteria and the curriculum for youth justice staff training to support
resettlement. Moreover, policymakers and practitioners are increasingly recognising the
usefulness of these research findings to guiding practice beyond resettlement, including for non-custodial sentences and for adult probation.

The Welfare Conditionality (WelCond) and Sanctions, Support & Service Leavers (SSSL) projects: improving domestic and international social security policy and practice

The Welfare Reform Act 2012 and subsequent introduction of Universal Credit (UC) is widely
recognised as the most fundamental reform of the social security system since its inception.
When fully implemented, UC will cover approximately 7,000,000 people in the UK. Research
evidence and recommendations provided by Prof. Scullion into the impact of these reforms on
marginalised populations – including military veterans, migrants and disabled people – have
informed debate and achieved demonstrable policy and practice influence at national and
international level. Specifically, recommendations directly influenced responses from the UK
Government and devolved administrations as well as the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) to the implementation of social security. This resulted in
a reduction in the waiting period for UC first payment (from 6+ weeks to 5 weeks); the
introduction of a benefit sanctions warning pilot; and a GBP5,000,000 UK Government
investment to enhance its Armed Forces Champions network. Salford’s research also informed
the development of the UK’s first ever Veterans’ Strategy and Ministry of Defence Holistic
Transition Policy.