I would be grateful if you could provide the following information relating to research governance for external research studies involving Children’s Social Care.

1. Research Governance Procedure
Please provide:
a) A copy of any policies, procedures, guidance documents, or process maps that outline your research governance procedure for external research studies involving Children’s Social Care.
b) Within these documents, or separately if necessary, please confirm who reviews and approves applications for external research studies involving children’s social care (e.g., job titles, teams, panels).
No information held. Children services are not, and have not been, involved in any research projects in the stated periods.

2. Number of Children's Social Care Research Applications Involving Child Participants (last 5 years)
For the period 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2024 (or the most recent five-year period for which you hold data), please provide:
a) The number of research governance applications received for external research studies where children were intended research participants within Children’s Social Care.
b) Of these, the **number of applications that involved children 11 years and younger.
Not applicable.

3. Outcomes of Applications (last 5 years)
For the same period, please provide:
a) The number of applications approved for external research studies involving child participants within Children’s Social Care.
b) Of these approved applications, the **number that involved children 11 years and younger.
Not applicable.

4. Approval Timeframes (if held)
a) Please provide any recorded information you hold on the time taken to process research governance applications relating to Children’s Social Care during the same five-year period, including (where available):
• the date the application was received, and
• the date the application was approved or declined.
Not applicable.