Dr Robert Benjamin Porter

Research Lead

Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection

Contact

Personal statement

I am a socio-legal researcher, with experience conducting research in national and international organisations. I am focused on work that creates real-world differences, particularly for individuals in need. This has led me to conduct research into rehabilitation of drug users, the efficacy of interventions to prevent acute admissions for older people, access to justice for individuals worldwide, and in CELCIS permenance arrangements for looked after children, as well as the operation of the Children's Panel.

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Area of Expertise

Expertise in evaluation methods and methodology, socio-legal research, and measure design and implementation

Qualifications

B.Sc. Psychology from the University of Aberdeen, 2001

PG.Dip. Psychology from the University of Wales, Cardiff, 2002

M.Res. Psychology from the University of Aberdeen, 2004

LLB from the University of London (external), 2008

PhD Law (pending) from the University of Tilburg, Netherlands

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Research Interests

Research interests include legal empowerment and access to justice, specifically how/if people use and experience legal structures. In particular interest in the Children's Hearings System, it's operation and efficacy.

Professional Activities

Child Protection and Practice (Journal)
Editorial board member
1/3/2024
Youth (Journal)
Peer reviewer
10/11/2023
Child Protection and Practice (Journal)
Associate Editor
1/6/2023
INTRAC - UK and Ireland Organising Committee (External organisation)
Member
1/6/2022

More professional activities

Projects

Challenging Justice Inequalities. Co-producing change with children in conflict with the law
Vaswani, Nina (Principal Investigator) Donnelly, Michelle (Co-investigator) Porter, Robert Benjamin (Co-investigator) Taylor, Yvette (Co-investigator)
01-Apr-2024 - 30-Jun-2026
Children's Services Reform Research study
Ottaway, Heather (Principal Investigator) Porter, Robert Benjamin (Co-investigator) McTier, Alexander (Co-investigator) Anderson, Micky (Co-investigator) Young, Emma (Co-investigator) McIver, Leanne (Co-investigator) Fowler, Nadine (Co-investigator) Mackinnon, Kate (Co-investigator) Soraghan, Joanna (Co-investigator) Manole, Mihaela (Co-investigator)
A research project commissioned by Scottish Government with the aim of gathering evidence to inform decision-making about how best to deliver children's services in Scotland in light of the proposed introduction of the National Care Service
01-Sep-2022 - 31-Oct-2023
University of Edinburgh 2022-2026 ADR UK Programme (ESRC Administrative Data Research Centre extension)
Porter, Robert Benjamin (Principal Investigator)
01-Apr-2022 - 31-Mar-2026
Voluntary Care Arrangements for Children and Families in Scotland: Learning from the use, understanding, and experience of Section 25.
Porter, Robert Benjamin (Principal Investigator) Lough Dennell, Brandi Lee (Researcher) Anderson, Micky (Researcher)
This project will investigate voluntary care arrangements (Section 25 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995) in Scotland and how these are used, understood, and experienced by children, families and practitioners. These arrangements place a duty on local authorities to care for a child or young person where they consider it necessary in order to respond to the care and protection needs of a child, and where their parents either agree, or are not present.
01-Apr-2022 - 31-Oct-2024
Non-compulsory care for children and young people in Scotland: Learning from experiences of Section 25
Porter, Robert Benjamin (Principal Investigator) Lough Dennell, Brandi Lee (Researcher) Anderson, Micky (Researcher)
01-Apr-2022 - 31-Oct-2024
Section 25 in Scotland: Learning from use, understanding, and experience
Porter, Robert Benjamin (Principal Investigator) Lough Dennell, Brandi Lee (Academic)
01-Apr-2022 - 31-Oct-2024

More projects

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Contact

Dr Robert Benjamin Porter
Research Lead
Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection

Email: robert.porter@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 444 8549