My broad research interest is in identifying systems and approaches that promote effective social work with children and families.

My PhD topic is leadership and the question I ask is ‘what is good leadership in child protection services?’. I intend to explore the broad concept of leadership and to unpick drivers and barriers to achieving effective leadership with the aim of developing a framework for improvement. Many groups have the potential to influence how statutory social work is delivered – children and families with experience of services, social workers, managers, inspection bodies, politicians, courts and safeguarding partner agencies. My hope is to collaborate with stakeholders to advance leadership theory.

I retrained as a social worker in 2010 following an early career as a management consultant. My focus in recent years has been on child wellbeing and child protection and I have had interesting and varied roles in practice and research in England and Australia.