Professor Emily Munro

Goldberg Professor of Social Work Research

Director of the Institute of Applied Social Research and Director of the Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work and Social Care

Emily Munro

Professor Emily Munro was appointed Director of the Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work and Social Care (TGC) in May 2016. The following year she also took up the role of Director of the Institute of Applied Social Research (IASR). Prior to this she held academic posts at Thomas Coram Research Unit, UCL Institute of Education and the Centre for Child and Family Research, Loughborough University.

Emily’s research focuses on social work decision-making to protect and promote the wellbeing of children in and on the edge of care. She has also undertaken an extensive body of research on young people’s transitions from care to adulthood. She is a founding member, and Chair of the Executive Committee of the International Network on Transitions from Care to Adulthood (INTRAC).

Between 2010 and 2014 the Department of Education funded the Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre (£2 million) – a partnership between the Institute of Education, Loughborough University and University of Kent – to provide high-quality research, analysis and expert advice on the issues that promote or inhibit childhood wellbeing. Emily oversaw the design and delivery of a programme of rapid response research on a broad range of topics, including referral and assessment practice, understanding the market and use of children’s homes, adoption timescales and post-adoption support.

Emily currently directs a programme of research, funded under the Department for Education’s Children’s Social Care Innovation Initiative, which aims to develop new models of social work practice and rethink support for adolescents in or on the edge of care.

Findings from Emily’s research have informed the Review of the Child Care Proceedings System in England and Wales, the Munro Review of Child Protection and the Review of the Office of the Children’s Commissioner.

Research Interests

Child and family social work
Transitions from care to adulthood
Comparative child welfare policy and practice
Participatory research methodology
Research ethics

Qualifications

PhD (Loughborough University) Balancing looked after children’s protective, provisional and participatory rights in research, policy and practice.
MA Social Research (University of Birmingham)
BSocSc Social Policy (2.1 Hons) (University of Birmingham)
Certificate in International Child Law (Merit) (University of Leicester)
Certificate in Judicial Review and Social Welfare Law (Merit) (University of Leicester)

Current and Recent Research Projects

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care System (BLMK ICS) Research and Innovation Hub: Reducing inequalities in health and social care (Co-lead with Prof Gurch Randhawa and Dr Louise Grant)
Care leavers, Covid-19 and the transition from care (CCTC) (PI) (ESRC/UKRI Covid-19 rapid response)
Exploring Innovations in Transition to Adulthood (EXIT Study) (Co-I) (ESRC)
Global North/Global South Leaving Care Research Workshops (GCRF)
Integrated care and support for care leavers (PI) (European Social Network)
Early Adopters: New Statutory Arrangements for Children’s Safeguarding (PI) (Bexley Children’s Services)
Evaluation of Havering Face2Face Pathways (Co-I) (DfE Children’s Innovation Fund)
Evaluation of the National Female Genital Mutilation Centre (PI) (DfE Children’s Innovation Fund)
Focus on Practice: Evaluation of the Quality of Systemic Social Work Practice (DfE)
Leeds Partners in Practice Evaluation (Co-I) (DfE Children’s Innovation Fund)
Re-imagining social care services in co-production with disabled parents (PI) (DRILL/Big Lottery)
How can health services effectively improve the health and wellbeing of young people leaving public care? (Co-I) (NIHR)
Residential parenting assessments: Uses, costs and contributions to effective and timely decision making in public law cases (PI) (DfE/ Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre)
Special Guardianship: research/practice bridging workshops and training (PI) (North London Adoption and Fostering Consortium)
Ealing Brighter Futures Intensive Engagement Model: Working with adolescents in and on the edge of care (PI) (DfE Children’s Innovation Fund)

Recent Publications

Alderson, H., Smart, D., Kerridge, G., Currie, G., Johnson, R., Kaner, E., Lynch, A., Munro, E.R., Swan, J., and McGovern, R. (2023) Moving from 'what we know works' to 'what we do in practice': An evidence overview of implementation and diffusion of innovation in transition to adulthood for care experienced young people. Child and Family Social Work doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12998
Skouteris, H., Green, R., Chung, A., Bergmeier, H., Amir, L.H., Baidwan, S. K., Chater, A. M., Chamberlain, C., Emond, R., Gibbons, K., Gooey, M., Hatzikiriakidis, K., Haycraft, E., Hills, A. P., Higgins, D., Hooper, O., Hunter, S., Kappelides, P., Kleve, S., Krakouer, J., Lumeng, J. C., Manios, Y., Mansoor, A., Marmot, M., Masse, L. C., Matvienko-Sikar, K., Mchiza, Z. J., Meyer, C., Moschonis, G., Munro, E. R., O'Connor, T. M., O'Neil, A., Quarmby, T., Sandford, R., Schneiderman, J. U., Sherriff, S., Simkiss, D., Spence, A., Sturgiss, E., Vicary, D., Wickes, R., Wolfenden, L., Story, M., Black, M . M. (2022). Nurturing children's development through healthy eating and active living: Time for policies to support effective interventions in the context of responsive emotional support and early learning, Health and Social Care in the Community (2022). Nurturing children's development through healthy eating and active living: Time for policies to support effective interventions in the context of responsive emotional support and early learning, Health and Social Care in the Community, doi.org/10.1111/hsc.14106
Munro, E. R., Friel, S., Baker, C., Lynch, A., Walker, K., Williams, J., Cook, E., Chater, A., (2022). Care leavers' transitions to adulthood in the context of COVID-19: Understanding pathways, experiences and outcomes to improve policy and practice, Luton: University of Bedfordshire
Munro, E.R., Friel, S., Newlands, F., Baker, C., García Alba, L. and Lynch, A. (2021) Research Briefing One: Professional perspectives on supporting young people leaving care in the context of COVID-19. Care Leavers, COVID-19 and the transition from care (CCTC study). University of Bedfordshire. Luton
Munro, E.R., Skouteris, H., Newlands, F., and Walker, S. (2021) Innovation in children's social care: From conceptualisation to improved outcomes? Journal of Children's Services, 16, 3, 177-183.
Munro, E.R., Friel, S., Newlands, F., Baker, C., García Alba, L. and Lynch, A. (2021) Research Briefing One: Professional perspectives on supporting young people leaving care in the context of COVID-19. Care Leavers, COVID-19 and the transition from care (CCTC study). University of Bedfordshire. Luton
Munro, E.R., Friel, S., Newlands, F., Baker, C., García Alba, L. and Lynch, A. (2021) Research Briefing One: Professional perspectives on supporting young people leaving care in the context of COVID-19. Care Leavers, COVID-19 and the transition from care (CCTC study). University of Bedfordshire. Luton
Munro, E.R. (2020) Promoting the welfare, protection and care of children during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Journal of Children's Services. 15, 4, 177-184
van Breda, A.D., Munro, E.R., Gilligan, R., Anghel, R., Harder, A., Incarnato, M., Mann-Feder, V., Rafaeli, T., Stolher, R. and Storø, J. (2020). Extended care: Global dialogue on policy, practice and research. Children and Youth Services Review. 119
Bostock, L., Khan, M., Munro, E.R., Lynch, A., Baker, C., Newlands, F. and Antonopoulou, V. (2020) Havering Face to Face Pathways. Final Report. London: Department for Education
Munro, E.R. and Tinarwo, M. (2020) Evaluation of the National Female Genital Mutilation Centre. London: Department for Education
Munro, E.R. and Simkiss, D. (2020) Transitions from care to adulthood: messages to inform practice. Paediatrics and Child Health. 30, 5, 175-180
Munro, E.R. (2019) Reflections on upholding the rights of youth leaving out of home care, in Mann-Feder, V. and Goyette, M (eds.) Leaving care and the transition to adulthood. Oxford University Press
Bostock, L., Patrizo, L., Godfrey, T., Munro, E. & Forrester, D. (2019) How do we assess the quality of group supervision? Developing a coding framework, Children and Youth Services Review, 100, 515-524, doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.03.027
Munro, E.R. (2018) Assessments to support young people making the transition from care to adulthood, in Horwath, J. and Platt, D. (Eds) (3^rded.)The Child's World. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Munro, E.R. and Zonouzi, M. (2018) Re-imagining social care services in co-production with disabled parents. Luton: University of Bedfordshire
Butterworth, S., Singh, S., Birchwood, M., Islam, Z., Munro,E.R., Vostanis, P., Paul M., Khan, A. and Simkiss, D. (2017) Transitioning care-leavers with mental health needs: “they set you up to fail!” Child and Adolescent Mental Health. 22(3), 138-147
Munro, E.R., Hollingworth, K., Meetoo, V. and Simon, A. (2017) Ealing Brighter Futures Intensive Engagement Model: Working with adolescents in and on the edge of care. London: Department for Education
Munro, E.R., Mølholt, A. and Hollingworth, K. (2016) Leaving care in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia: is it all that different in contrasting welfare regimes? In P. Mendes and P. Snow (eds) Young people transitioning from care: International research, policy and practice. London: Palgrave Macmillan
Cameron, C., Elliott, H., Iqbal, H., Munro, E.R. (2016) Focus on Practice in three London boroughs: an evaluation. London: Department for Education
Lushey, C. and Munro, E.R. (2015) Participatory peer research methodology: An effective method for obtaining young people's perspectives on transitions from care to adulthood? Qualitative Social Work. 14(4), 522-537
Mendes, P., Pinkerton, J. and Munro, E.R. (2014) Young people transitioning from out of home care. Australian Social Work. 67(1), 1-4
Munro, E.R., Hollingworth, K. Meetoo, V., Quy, K., McDermid, S. Trivedi, H. and Holmes, L. (2014) Residential Parenting Assessments: Uses, Costs and Contributions to Effective and Timely Decision Making in Public Law Cases. London: Department for Education
Munro, E.R. and Stone, J. (2014) The Impact of More Flexible Assessment Practices in Response to the Munro Review of Child Protection: A Rapid Response Follow-up. London: Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre
Munro, E.R., McDermid, S., Hollingworth, K. and Cameron, C. (2014) Children's Homes: Understanding the Market and Use of Out of Authority Placements. London: Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre
Munro, E.R. and Gilligan, R. (2013) The 'dance' of kinship care in England and Ireland: Navigating a course between regulation and relationships. Psychosocial Intervention. 22(3) 3, 185-192
Munro, E.R. Hollingworth, K., Meetoo, V. and Simon, A. (2013) Adoption Reform: Messages from Local Authorities on Changes to Processes and Timescales. Findings from Wave One. London: Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre

Expert Advisory Roles

Young people transitioning from out-of-home care in Norway and Australia: Interrelationships between policies, pathways, and outcomes (Norwegian Research Council, 2023-)
Improving outcomes for young people transitioning from out-of-home care (OOHC) in Victoria (Australian Research Council, 2022-)
Leeds Relational Practice Centre (LRPC) Academic Network (Leeds Children’s Services, 2018)
Research Group Advisory Committee for CoramBAAF (2017-)
Research Advisory Group for the Rees Centre for Research in Fostering and Education (Oxford University, 2016- )
Chair of the Executive Committee of the International Research Network on Transitions from Care to Adulthood (2017-2022)
Transition from Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS): users and leavers co-produce a Transition Preparation Programme (Cambridge University, NIHR funded, 2015 - 2016)
Doncaster Children’s Trust Expert Advisory Panel (Department for Education, 2014-2017)