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My main research interests include service user experiences of the child protection and criminal justice systems, the involvement of family members in child protection and child welfare processes and methods for facilitating such involvement, the practice and experiences of professionals who operate the child protection system, and social work assessment and decision making in child welfare.

This research has included recent work on:

the use of family group conferences, both with children and families and adults,
an evaluation of the Safety in Partnership/Signs of Safety approach to child and family social work,
the use of the voluntary sector to provide services to children and families,
an evaluation of the Families Matter programme designed to help improve and maintain relationships between children and their imprisoned fathers,
An analysis of complaints made about child and family social workers to the Northern Ireland Social Care Council and the Patient and Client Council,

an evaluation of the NSPCC 'Speak Out, Stay Safe' programme delivered in primary schools.
The objective of the research activity is to identify ways in which the experiences of both those delivering and receiving child protection and welfare services can be improved.