Dr Gavin Heron
Lecturer
Social Work
Personal statement
Personal statement
Has expertise in:
-
teaching and learning
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student assessment and feedback practices
-
equality and discrimination
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Publications
- Generative AI, Critical Thinking and Social Work Practice
- Gillon Fern, Weaver Beth, Heron Gavin, Reid Fergus, Dong Feng
- Iriss Insights Iriss Insights, Vol 77 (2026)
- Intervention methods in secure care : what is going on for society's most vulnerable children?
- Heron Gavin, Gibson Ross
- Social Sciences Vol 14 (2025)
- https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14090523
- The role of deliberation in correcting and validating intuition : a holy grail for childcare professionals or a false dawn?
- Heron Gavin, Black Kate
- British Journal of Social Work Vol 55, pp. 243-260 (2025)
- https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcae137
- The role of uncertainty in professionals' thinking about children who harm other people
- Heron Gavin, Black Kate
- British Journal of Social Work Vol 53, pp. 2922-2939 (2023)
- https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad056
- Reconceptualizing protective factors in response to risk with vulnerable children
- Heron Gavin, Lightowler Claire
- Journal of Social Work Vol 23, pp. 205–220 (2023)
- https://doi.org/10.1177/14680173221142761
- Breaking into secure : Introducing philosophical discussions to young people in secure accommodation
- Cassidy Claire, Heron Gavin
- Journal of Social Work Vol 20, pp. 287-306 (2020)
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017318815399
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Research Interests
My research interests focus on social work education. This includes students’ ability to convey critical thinking in their written work, the way race issues are understood by students, use of assessment tools and the effective delivery of feedback.
Professional Activities
- What do I Not Know? AI, Risk and Probation
- Participant
- 12/3/2025
- Justice Leaders Workshop: AI and Risk Decision-Making
- Organiser
- 1/11/2024
- Working with Uncertainty - Applying the Learning
- Organiser
- 25/6/2024
- Working with Uncertainty: Training in ChatGPT
- Organiser
- 18/6/2024
- Working with Uncertainty
- Organiser
- 3/6/2024
- International Council for Philosophical Inquiry with Children
- Participant
- 27/6/2017
Projects
- Who knows best? Working with uncertainty
- Weaver, Beth (Principal Investigator) Belton, Ian (Co-investigator) Dong, Feng (Co-investigator) Gillon, Fern Rebecca Louise (Researcher) Heron, Gavin (Co-investigator) Lagnado, David (Co-investigator) Sanna, Greta (Researcher)
- Through interactive workshops, interdisciplinary collaboration, and structured practitioner engagement, we can influence how JSW’s interpret, trust, and act upon information when conducting risk assessments; strengthen AI literacy among practitioners; augment their critical thinking using causal modalities; support responsible and ethical use of AI. This addresses an urgent unmet need for improved professional critical thinking, AI literacy, practical/policy guidance in responsible use of AI, and critical awareness and trust in adoption of AI technologies.
Project partners are South Lanarkshire HSCP (SLHSCP), a Strathclyde Strategic partner, and Social Work Scotland (SWS), a National Professional body. While SLHSCP will directly participate in the workshops they will be key to local impact. SWS are instrumental to achieving national impact across social work and social care. - 15-Jan-2025 - 15-Jan-2026
- Digital Storytelling, Accomodated Children and Children's Hearings
- Heron, Gavin (Principal Investigator) Steckley, Laura (Co-investigator)
- 27-Jan-2015 - 25-Jan-2015
- Exploring the influence of feedback on student social workers' understanding of child care and protection
- Heron, Gavin (Principal Investigator) Duncalf, Zachari (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2011 - 31-Jan-2013