Purpose
This short report sets out an approach and framework for measuring disparity and disproportionality in the Care and Protection system.
There are a number of different indicators used in discussions about disparity and disproportionality between children of different ethnicities in the Care and Protection system. These indicators all have merit and highlight different aspects of disparity, and trends over time, in the Care and Protection system. There is no one single or right measure – consideration of a number of factors in relation to each other is required.
This report presents a framework for the ongoing measurement of disparity and disproportionality in the care and protection system. We will apply this framework going forward as a way to measure and report on disparity and disproportionality in a more systemised way.
Key Results
Understanding disparity and disproportionality is a complex topic. This paper provides a framework for measuring disparity and disproportionality for different ethnic groups in the Care and Protection system. A combination of regular measures can be used to reveal where differences exist and how they change over time. Additional analysis can be used to provide insight into why disparity and disproportionality exist.
The framework presented in this report takes a population wide view, however it is important to recognise disparity and disproportionality may also differ when broken down further, such as by region or age.