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University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
UK, LU1 3JU
I first came to the University of Bedfordshire in 1994, and worked as a full-time researcher – and part-time PhD student - in the Department of Applied Social Studies until 2003.
I then left to work first at Birkbeck College and then the National Children’s Bureau. I returned to the University in 2007, and now work part-time as a researcher in the Institute of Applied Social Research.
I am interested in the way in which children and young people experience family, care and school and the processes through which they become disadvantaged. I am especially interested in the day-to-day nature of these processes, and the way in which they unfold at a micro-level.
Topics of interest include family stress resulting in experience of the care system, school exclusion and other forms of educational disadvantage. In teaching about these topics I am interested in the way in which different theories provide frameworks through which to explain and understand these issues, and in considering the evidence about different means through which children, young people and their families can be supported.
I currently co-ordinate two undergraduate units (ASS014-3 Inclusion and Exclusion in Education and ASS023-3 International Perspectives on Early Years Care and Education), supervise undergraduate dissertations and teach and supervise on the Masters and Professional Doctorate programmes.
My research interests span the experiences of children and young people in need and looked after and those who are having behavioural and other difficulties at school. I am also concerned with the experiences of their families and the range of professionals who work with them.
The majority of my research has been concerned with children in the care system, and especially with the educational experiences of children in care.
Working with the Social Care Institute for Excellence, I have completed a series of reviews for C4EO (Centre for Excellence in Outcomes for Children) on educational outcomes for looked after children and young people.
I have also combined these interests with colleagues in working on projects relating to sexual exploitation. Last year this included a scoping review for the NSPCC -
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on the provision of safe accommodation for young people in the care system who have been sexually exploited or trafficked.
Other recent projects include a research briefing for SCIE on mental health service transitions for young people – available at www.scie.org.uk/publications/guides/guide44/
Although I do not have a professional qualification, I have worked closely with practitioners and regularly provide research training and input for Making Research Count.
