Evaluating “People Offering Parents Support” (POPS): A Qualitative Study of Peer Parental Advocacy in Welsh Child Welfare Services

This qualitative study evaluates the People Offering Parents Support (POPS) programme, a peer parental advocacy initiative within Welsh child welfare services. Aimed at empowering parents navigating complex child protection systems, POPS recruits mentors with lived experience of related challenges to provide guidance and advocacy. Through semi-structured interviews with parents, peer mentors, and professionals, the study examines the programme’s impact on parental engagement, system navigation, and emotional support. Findings reveal that peer mentoring enhances parents’ confidence, knowledge, and emotional resilience, enabling more effective participation in child welfare processes. However, challenges related to role boundaries, professional integration, and sustainability were identified. This study contributes to the growing body of research on peer parental advocacy and offers insights into the potential of such models to transform child welfare services by fostering more inclusive, supportive, and empowering environments for families.