Overview
I am a Research Associate at CASCADE, the Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre at Cardiff University.
My research interests are around the use of administrative data to provide a robust evidence base to inform policy and practice, with my doctoral thesis demonstrating the utility of using Bayesian approaches in the context of risk assessment processes within the youth justice system. I am currently in receipt of a Health and Care Research Wales Social Care Research Fellowship. The project will link responses from successive waves of the School Health Research Networks' Student Wellbeing survey and administrative data to enhance understandings of risky behaviours and potential protective factors in children receiving social care.
My time is split between two data linkage projects: I am the principal investigator for a HCRW funded project, based in CASCADE (3 days) and for the remainder of the week, I am employed at Swansea University (Mondays and Tuesdays).
Publication
2024
- Wood, S., Williams, A., Warner, A., Hodges, H., Cummings, A. and Forrester, D. 2024. Outcomes for high-risk young people referred to secure children’s homes for welfare reasons: a population record linkage study in England. Journal of Children's Services 19(2), pp. 105-122. (10.1108/JCS-04-2023-0018)
2023
- Hodges, H. and Scourfield, J. 2023. Why are there higher rates of children looked after in Wales?. Journal of Children's Services 18(3/4), pp. 165-179. (10.1108/JCS-02-2022-0007)
2022
- Williams, A., Cummings, A., Forrester, D., Hodges, H., Warner, N. and Wood, S. 2022. Even secure children’s homes won’t take me. Children placed in alternative accommodation. Residential Treatment for Children and Youth 39(4), pp. 370-386. (10.1080/0886571X.2022.2044431)
2021
- Goldstone, R., Hodges, H., Durrant, H. and Taylor-Collins, E. 2021. Who is lonely in Wales?. [Online]. Data Insight: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Who-is-lonely-in-Wales.pdf
- Hodges, H., Goldstone, R., Durrant, H. and Taylor-Collins, E. 2021. Health and Loneliness in Wales. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Health-and-loneliness-in-Wales.pdf
- Hodges, H., Goldstone, R., Durrant, H. and Taylor-Collins, E. 2021. Age and loneliness in Wales. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Age-and-loneliness-in-Wales.pdf
- Goldstone, R., Hodges, H., Durrant, H. and Taylor-Collins, E. 2021. Loneliness in Wales during the coronavirus pandemic. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Loneliness-in-Wales-during-the-Coronavirus-pandemic.pdf
- Hodges, H., Goldstone, R., Durrant, H. and Taylor-Collins, E. 2021. Loneliness data insights: methodological appendix. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Loneliness-data-insights-Methodological-appendix.pdf
2020
- Hodges, H. R. 2020. Children looked after in Wales: flows into and out of care.. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/children-looked-after-in-wales/
- Hodges, H. R. 2020. Children looked after in Wales: factors contributing to variation in rates.. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/children-looked-after-in-wales/
- Hodges, H. R. 2020. Children looked after in Wales: trends.. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/children-looked-after-in-wales/
- Hodges, H. R. 2020. Financial vulnerability in the pandemic: a dilemma for local authorities.. [Online]. https://www.wcpp.org.uk/: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/commentary/financial-vulnerability-in-the-pandemic-a-dilemma-for-local-authorities/
- Park, M., Nesom, S. and Hodges, H. R. 2020. What do children and young people looked after and their families think about their care?. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/what-do-children-and-young-people-looked-after-and-their-families-think-about-care/
- Williams, A., Wood, S., Warner, N., Cummings, A., Hodges, H., El-Banna, A. and Daher, S. 2020. Unlocking the facts: young people referred to secure children's homes. What Works for Children's Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/research-report/unlocking-the-facts-young-people-referred-to-secure-childrens-homes/
2019
- Hodges, H. R. 2019. No fault evictions: striking a good balance. [Online]. https://www.wcpp.org.uk/: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/commentary/no-fault-evictions-striking-a-good-balance/
- Hodges, H. R. and Bristow, D. 2019. Analysis of the factors contributing to the high rates of care in Wales. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/analysis-of-the-factors-contributing-to-the-high-rates-of-care-in-wales/
- Hodges, H. and Bristow, D. 2019. Analysis of the factors contributing to the high rates of care in Wales: Briefing Paper (Revised). Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy Cardiff University. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.54454/20190514
- Collard, S., Hodges, H. R. and Worthington, P. 2019. Responding to citizens in debt to public services.. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/responding-to-citizens-in-debt-to-public-services/
2018
- Webb, J., Parken, A., Hodges, H. and Mathias, M. 2018. Promoting job progression in low pay sectors. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy.
- Hodges, H., Webb, J. and Parken, A. 2018. Promoting job progression in low pay sectors: Technical annex. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Job-Progression-Technical-Annex.pdf
- Hodges, H. R. 2018. Towards a Bayesian approach in criminology: A case study of risk assessment in youth justice.. PhD Thesis, Swansea University.
2017
- Hodges, H. R. 2017. Is this normal? Deciding which test of association to use: an example using youth offending service data.. Sage. Available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781526411372
Articles
- Wood, S., Williams, A., Warner, A., Hodges, H., Cummings, A. and Forrester, D. 2024. Outcomes for high-risk young people referred to secure children’s homes for welfare reasons: a population record linkage study in England. Journal of Children's Services 19(2), pp. 105-122. (10.1108/JCS-04-2023-0018)
- Hodges, H. and Scourfield, J. 2023. Why are there higher rates of children looked after in Wales?. Journal of Children's Services 18(3/4), pp. 165-179. (10.1108/JCS-02-2022-0007)
- Williams, A., Cummings, A., Forrester, D., Hodges, H., Warner, N. and Wood, S. 2022. Even secure children’s homes won’t take me. Children placed in alternative accommodation. Residential Treatment for Children and Youth 39(4), pp. 370-386. (10.1080/0886571X.2022.2044431)
Monographs
- Hodges, H., Goldstone, R., Durrant, H. and Taylor-Collins, E. 2021. Health and Loneliness in Wales. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Health-and-loneliness-in-Wales.pdf
- Hodges, H., Goldstone, R., Durrant, H. and Taylor-Collins, E. 2021. Age and loneliness in Wales. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Age-and-loneliness-in-Wales.pdf
- Goldstone, R., Hodges, H., Durrant, H. and Taylor-Collins, E. 2021. Loneliness in Wales during the coronavirus pandemic. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Loneliness-in-Wales-during-the-Coronavirus-pandemic.pdf
- Hodges, H., Goldstone, R., Durrant, H. and Taylor-Collins, E. 2021. Loneliness data insights: methodological appendix. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Loneliness-data-insights-Methodological-appendix.pdf
- Hodges, H. R. 2020. Children looked after in Wales: flows into and out of care.. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/children-looked-after-in-wales/
- Hodges, H. R. 2020. Children looked after in Wales: factors contributing to variation in rates.. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/children-looked-after-in-wales/
- Hodges, H. R. 2020. Children looked after in Wales: trends.. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/children-looked-after-in-wales/
- Park, M., Nesom, S. and Hodges, H. R. 2020. What do children and young people looked after and their families think about their care?. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/what-do-children-and-young-people-looked-after-and-their-families-think-about-care/
- Williams, A., Wood, S., Warner, N., Cummings, A., Hodges, H., El-Banna, A. and Daher, S. 2020. Unlocking the facts: young people referred to secure children's homes. What Works for Children's Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/research-report/unlocking-the-facts-young-people-referred-to-secure-childrens-homes/
- Hodges, H. R. and Bristow, D. 2019. Analysis of the factors contributing to the high rates of care in Wales. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/analysis-of-the-factors-contributing-to-the-high-rates-of-care-in-wales/
- Hodges, H. and Bristow, D. 2019. Analysis of the factors contributing to the high rates of care in Wales: Briefing Paper (Revised). Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy Cardiff University. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.54454/20190514
- Collard, S., Hodges, H. R. and Worthington, P. 2019. Responding to citizens in debt to public services.. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/responding-to-citizens-in-debt-to-public-services/
- Webb, J., Parken, A., Hodges, H. and Mathias, M. 2018. Promoting job progression in low pay sectors. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy.
- Hodges, H., Webb, J. and Parken, A. 2018. Promoting job progression in low pay sectors: Technical annex. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Job-Progression-Technical-Annex.pdf
- Hodges, H. R. 2017. Is this normal? Deciding which test of association to use: an example using youth offending service data.. Sage. Available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781526411372
Thesis
- Hodges, H. R. 2018. Towards a Bayesian approach in criminology: A case study of risk assessment in youth justice.. PhD Thesis, Swansea University.
Websites
- Goldstone, R., Hodges, H., Durrant, H. and Taylor-Collins, E. 2021. Who is lonely in Wales?. [Online]. Data Insight: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Who-is-lonely-in-Wales.pdf
- Hodges, H. R. 2020. Financial vulnerability in the pandemic: a dilemma for local authorities.. [Online]. https://www.wcpp.org.uk/: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/commentary/financial-vulnerability-in-the-pandemic-a-dilemma-for-local-authorities/
- Hodges, H. R. 2019. No fault evictions: striking a good balance. [Online]. https://www.wcpp.org.uk/: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/commentary/no-fault-evictions-striking-a-good-balance/
- Goldstone, R., Hodges, H., Durrant, H. and Taylor-Collins, E. 2021. Who is lonely in Wales?. [Online]. Data Insight: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Who-is-lonely-in-Wales.pdf
- Hodges, H., Goldstone, R., Durrant, H. and Taylor-Collins, E. 2021. Health and Loneliness in Wales. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Health-and-loneliness-in-Wales.pdf
- Hodges, H., Goldstone, R., Durrant, H. and Taylor-Collins, E. 2021. Age and loneliness in Wales. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Age-and-loneliness-in-Wales.pdf
- Goldstone, R., Hodges, H., Durrant, H. and Taylor-Collins, E. 2021. Loneliness in Wales during the coronavirus pandemic. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Loneliness-in-Wales-during-the-Coronavirus-pandemic.pdf
- Hodges, H., Goldstone, R., Durrant, H. and Taylor-Collins, E. 2021. Loneliness data insights: methodological appendix. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Loneliness-data-insights-Methodological-appendix.pdf
- Hodges, H. R. 2020. Children looked after in Wales: flows into and out of care.. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/children-looked-after-in-wales/
- Hodges, H. R. 2020. Children looked after in Wales: factors contributing to variation in rates.. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/children-looked-after-in-wales/
- Hodges, H. R. 2020. Children looked after in Wales: trends.. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/children-looked-after-in-wales/
- Hodges, H. R. 2020. Financial vulnerability in the pandemic: a dilemma for local authorities.. [Online]. https://www.wcpp.org.uk/: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/commentary/financial-vulnerability-in-the-pandemic-a-dilemma-for-local-authorities/
- Park, M., Nesom, S. and Hodges, H. R. 2020. What do children and young people looked after and their families think about their care?. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/what-do-children-and-young-people-looked-after-and-their-families-think-about-care/
- Williams, A., Wood, S., Warner, N., Cummings, A., Hodges, H., El-Banna, A. and Daher, S. 2020. Unlocking the facts: young people referred to secure children's homes. What Works for Children's Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/research-report/unlocking-the-facts-young-people-referred-to-secure-childrens-homes/
- Hodges, H. R. 2019. No fault evictions: striking a good balance. [Online]. https://www.wcpp.org.uk/: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/commentary/no-fault-evictions-striking-a-good-balance/
- Hodges, H. R. and Bristow, D. 2019. Analysis of the factors contributing to the high rates of care in Wales. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/analysis-of-the-factors-contributing-to-the-high-rates-of-care-in-wales/
- Collard, S., Hodges, H. R. and Worthington, P. 2019. Responding to citizens in debt to public services.. Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/responding-to-citizens-in-debt-to-public-services/
- Webb, J., Parken, A., Hodges, H. and Mathias, M. 2018. Promoting job progression in low pay sectors. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy.
- Hodges, H., Webb, J. and Parken, A. 2018. Promoting job progression in low pay sectors: Technical annex. Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Job-Progression-Technical-Annex.pdf
- Hodges, H. R. 2018. Towards a Bayesian approach in criminology: A case study of risk assessment in youth justice.. PhD Thesis, Swansea University.
- Hodges, H. R. 2017. Is this normal? Deciding which test of association to use: an example using youth offending service data.. Sage. Available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781526411372
Research
My research to date has focused on social justice and inequality. Coming from an interdisciplinary background, this has tended to focus on utilising routine data to support the development of the evidence base to bring about changes in policy and practice.
Current Project:
Linking survey and administrative data to enhance understandings of risky behaviours and potential protective factors in children receiving social care: A feasibility study (April 2022 to March 2027)
This Health and Care Research Wales funded Fellowship will use data from the School Health and Wellbeing Survey conducted by the School Health Research Network (SHRN) to investigate young people’s participation in a range of ‘risky’ behaviours including smoking, drinking, drug use, truanting, exclusion, bullying/being bullied, sexting and sexual health. By linking responses to routinely collected social services, education and health data in SAIL Databank, the project seeks to enhance understandings of patterns of participation in these behaviours amongst those receiving care and support from social services relative to their peers, and the potential protective factors. Notably, by linking to social services and family court data there is an opportunity to undertake a more nuanced and intersectional approach rather than treating children looked after as a homogenous group.
Previous projects:
Looked after children in the youth justice system (October 2020 - February 2023)
This Health and Care Research Wales funded project focused upon identifying where there are opportunities to transform young peoples' life chances through the provision of appropriate and timely multi-agency support at ‘crunch points’ whilst under the supervision of the youth offending service.
The project adopted a mixed methods approach combining participatory, arts-based activities with novel statistical techniques to gain insights about the experiences of those with varying degrees of experience of both the youth justice and care system. The quantitative elements of the research employed data linkage techniques to link data from the risk assessment process used until recently within the youth justice system across England and Wales with routine data from health, social services and education.
Given the small sub-cohort number and need to enhance the potential for finding out about minority groups, analysis was undertaken in a Bayesian framework.
Snakes and Ladders: Developing a training tool for use in the youth justice system (April 2021 - July 2022)
The aim of this 12-month project was to develop an online/digital training tool which represents a young person’s journey through the youth justice system including the various challenges that they may face. It was jointly funded by an ESRC Impact Accelerator Account and monies from Neath Port Talbort Youth Justice and Early Intervention Service.
Other
Between September 2019 and March 2020, I was seconded to CASCADE where I worked on the first phase of the Secure Accommodation project as part of the Centre's activity under the What Works for Children’s Social Care programme. During this time I was part of the research team investigating the backgrounds and outcomes of young people referred to secure accommodation in England. The study used linked administrative data sets to compare the backgrounds and outcomes of young people placed in secure accommodation, with those who were referred but not placed. My role focused on the analysis of Children in Need data, to identify the young people’s prior involvement with children’s services.
Prior to joining CASCADE, I was based at the Wales Centre for Public Policy where I worked across both their Welsh Government and Pulic Services work programmes. This included work on around the foundational economy; how best to support vulnerable debtors; children looked after and more recently loneliness and social isolation.
Biography
Prior to returning to academia, I worked in analytical roles in a range of public sector organisations using local authority, police and health data. My time is currently split between two data linkage projects.
Qualifications
- PhD in Criminology, Swansea University
- Masters in Social Research Methods (Social Policy), University of Birmingham
- Degree predominately in maths and statistics, Open University
- Masters in Tourism and Leisure, Lancaster University
- BSc (Hons) Sport, Administration and Science, Nottingham Trent University
Professional memberships
- Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Member of the British Society of Criminology
- Member of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies
- Member of the Welsh Centre for Crime and Social Justice
Academic positions
- 2020-present: Research Associate, CASCADE, Cardiff University (PT)
- 2023-present: Research Officer and Data Scientist, Swansea Univeristy (PT)
- 2020-2023: Senior Research Associate, Bristol University (PT)
- 2020-2020: Research Officer, Wales Centre for Public Policy, Cardiff University
- 2019-2020: Associate Tutor, DACE, Swansea University (PT)
- 2019-2020: Research Associate, CASCADE, Cardiff University (Secondment)
- 2017-2019: Research Officer, Wales Centre for Public Policy, Cardiff University
- 2014-2017: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Swansea University
Contact Details
+44 29225 10870
sbarc|spark, Room 03.14, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Research themes
Specialisms
- Youth justice
- Data science
- Social policy
- Children's Rights