Senior Lecturer in Professional Policing

I retired from Kent Police in October 2019 having served 24 years as a Police Officer, achieving the rank of Detective Sergeant, and very frequently stepping into Acting Detective Inspector role. I worked exclusively in safeguarding for my final 11 years.

I completed a four-year MA in safeguarding children and young people in 2015. At the time of my retirement from policing I was the only UK Police Officer with such a qualification, and I was recognised as a subject matter expert.

I have a wealth of experience of working in partnership with colleagues from Health, Education, Social Care, and third sector organisations. This experience, along with my academic studies inevitably resulted in my enjoyment of, and appreciation for, multi-agency perspectives and working.

Section 1 of the Children Act 1989, sets out the ‘paramountcy principle’ whereby the welfare of the child is utmost. The same principle, whilst not specifically enshrined in law, in my opinion should also be the case for vulnerable adults. The protection of vulnerable people from those that seek to harm, neglect and/or exploit them is fundamental to my core values.

Qualifications

• MA Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people – University of Greenwich
• Currently studying for a Professional Doctorate (2023)

Teaching Expertise

• Senior Lecturer on the professional policing degree
• Senior Lecturer on the Safeguarding Children, young people and adults degree
• Visiting lecturer University of Bedfordshire
• Visiting lecturer University of Greenwich
• Visiting lecturer Canterbury Christ Church University
• Visiting lecturer University of Kent
• Associate Lecturer on behalf of Zoe Lodrick Ltd
• Delivered training on behalf of NSPCC
• Delivered training on behalf of Safeguarding Associates for Excellence (SAFE)

Research Interests

• Immersive learning within safeguarding – utilising HYDRA
• Clinical supervision supporting the wellbeing of police officers working in child safeguarding in England and Wales

External Roles

• External expert on QA panel for new MA course (University of Bedfordshire)

Contact Details

E: simon.grant@beds.ac.uk