Dr Camille Warrington

Senior Research Fellow: Children and Young People’s Participation, Safer Young Lives Research Centre

Camille Warrington

I am an applied social researcher with a particular interest in participatory research practice, and young people’s involvement in decisions about safeguarding and care.

In recent years my work has focused on children with experiences of sexual violence in the UK and in particular their experiences of service responses including police, social care and third sector support.

I am particularly interested in how children’s decision-making informs or is marginalised from these processes and the implications for children’s safety.

I have an active interest in developing ethical approaches to researching sensitive issues and facilitating meaningful engagement of marginalised children and young people.

Current research projects include:

The Imagining Resistance project (AHRC) in partnership with University of Sussex: exploring the potential of creative arts-based research to enhance our understanding of resistance amongst young people affected by interpersonal, sexual violence and abuse.
Learning from the Experts (ESRC/ NSPCC) a participatory action research project focusing on supporting mental health and wellbeing after sexual abuse in adolescence.
Our Voices (Oak Foundation) an international programme of research promoting the involvement of children and young people affected by sexual violence in research, policy and practice.
I also oversee and support the centre’s Young Research Advisory Panel (YRAP).

Examples of past research include Making Noise a qualitative study of children affected by sexual abuse in the family network (Warrington et al., 2017); Making Justice Work: a participatory study of young people’s experiences of criminal justice processes in child sexual exploitation cases (Beckett and Warrington 2015); Research and collaboratively developed films on gang associated sexual violence and the Be Healthy Project

In June 2013 I completed a doctorate exploring service user’s involvement in decision making about their care in relation to child sexual exploitation.

Prior to joining the centre I worked as a qualified youth worker in a variety of voluntary and statutory sector projects both as a practitioner and researcher including leaving care teams, youth services, and provision for young Gypsy and Travellers.

Qualifications

Professional Doctorate: “Helping me find my own way: Sexually exploited young people’s involvement in decision-making about their care” The University of Bedfordshire
MA Youth and Community and Applied Anthropology – Goldsmiths College
MA (Hons) Politics and Film and Television - Glasgow University

Teaching Role

Postgraduate supervision including examination of doctoral students
Postgraduate and undergraduate teaching including on the Professional Doctorate in Leadership in Children and Young People's Services and Masters units on Child Sexual Exploitation; Conceptual Frameworks and Methodologies

Research Interests

Children’s rights and participation
Child sexual abuse
Criminal justice responses to children affected by violence and abuse
Children’s involvement in decision-making about professional support
Ethical approaches to researching sensitive issues
Use of creative and participatory research methodologies

Service to the Academic/Professional Community

Member of Research Institute Ethics Committee
Advisory council member of Association of Young People’s Health
Director of Abianda

Selected journal articles and book chapters

Hill, N and Warrington, C (2021 forthcoming) ‘Nothing about me without me’, in Holmes, D (ed) Safeguarding Adolescents. London: Routledge
Warrington C, Larkins C. (2019) Children at the centre of safety: challenging the false juxtaposition of protection and participation. Journal of Children’s Services. 14(3):133-142. doi:10.1108/JCS-09-2019-055
Hamilton, CJ, Rodgers, A, Howard, K & Warrington, C (2019) ‘From the ground up: young research advisors’ perspectives on relationships between participation and protection’, Journal of Children’s Services, 14(3): pp. 228–234. doi:10.1108/JCS-07-2019-0037.
Warrington C and Brodie, I (2017) ‘Developing participatory practice and culture in CSE services’ in Pearce and Beckett (eds) Understanding and Responding to Child Sexual Exploitation.
Firmin, C., Warrington, C., & Pearce, J. (2016). Sexual Exploitation and its Impact on Developing Sexualities and Sexual Relationships: The Need for Contextual Social Work Interventions. British Journal of Social Work, 46(8), 2318–2337. doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcw134
Warrington, C. (2013) ‘Partners in care? Sexually exploited young people’s inclusion and exclusion from decision making about safeguarding.’ in Melrose, M. and Pearce, J. (eds.) Critical Perspectives on Child Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking. (pp. 110 – 124) Basingstoke. Palgrave Macmillan
Warrington, C. (2010) ‘From less harm to more good: the role of children and young people’s participation in relation to sexual exploitation’. Youth and Policy, Vol 104 pp 62- 79

Reports and briefings

Beckett, H. and Warrington, C. with Devlin, J (2019) 'Learning about online sexual harm'. London: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, and Young people’s summary: [PDF]
Bovarnick, S., Peace, D., Warrington, C., & Pearce, J. J. (2018). Being heard: promoting children and young people’s involvement in participatory research on sexual violence: findings from an international scoping review [PDF]. Luton: University of Bedfordshire
Warrington C (2017) Young person-centred approaches in CSE - promoting participation and building self-efficacy: Frontline Briefing. Dartington: Research in Practice.
Warrington, C, Ackerley, E, Beckett, H, Walker, M & Allnock, D (2016) Making Noise: Children’s voices for positive change after sexual abuse’ Luton: University of Bedfordshire/ Children’s Commissioner.
Warrington, C. and Thomas, R. (2016) ‘The AVA project: empowering young people to address domestic and sexual violence: final evaluation report’ [PDF] London: AVA
Beckett, H, Warrington, C, Ackerley, E & Allnock, D (2015) 'Children’s voices: children and young people’s perspectives on the police’s role in safeguarding: a report for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies [PDF]’ and Young people’s summary [PDF]
Beckett, H. and Warrington, C. (2015) ‘Making justice work: experiences of criminal justice for children and young people affected by sexual exploitation as victims and witnesses’. Luton: University of Bedfordshire
Beckett, H. and Warrington, C. (2014) ‘Suffering in silence: children and unreported crime’. London: University of Bedfordshire/ Victim Support

Participation project outputs

Making Noise: Children’s Voices for positive change after sexual abuse: Film. 2016
Children’s voices: children and young people’s perspectives on the police’s role in safeguarding
I define me; Just a Link Misunderstood; Love, Sex. Conflict: Four films about gang associated sexual exploitation. 2013. Luton. University of Bedfordshire
AYPH Be Healthy: DVD and Booklet. 2013. London AYPH
'In a New Light’ [PDF] Photographs and words from the Having our Say Project 2008. London. NWG/ Photovoice