Publications

Implementation of leaving care policy : continuing care in Scotland

Porter Robert, Lough Dennell Brandi Lee, Doull Kirsty, McGhee Kenny

Child & Family Social Work (2026)

https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.70200

Deciding who children and young people living in care are able to stay in touch and connected with : Learning from the Livelong Links Evaluation in Scotland

Fowler Nadine, Porter Robert Benjamin

ISPCAN Congress 2025 (2025)

Symposium: What does it take to achieve transformational change? Learning from Scotland’s Children’s Services Reform Research study

Ottaway Heather, Anderson Micky, Fowler Nadine, Porter Robert Benjamin, McTier Alexander

ISPCAN Congress 2025 (2025)

Understanding the role of the third sector in providing the support that children, young people and families need : Lessons from the Children’s Services Reform Research Study

Fowler Nadine, Manole Mihaela, McTier Alexander, Scott Jane, Young Emma, Anderson Carol Ann, Porter Robert Benjamin, Mackinnon Kate, Ottaway Heather

ISPCAN Congress 2025 (2025)

Understanding carers’ roles in social work with children and young people in care : Learning from Lifelong Links in Scotland

Fowler Nadine, Porter Robert Benjamin

European Scientific Association on residential and Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF) (2025)

Barriers in transitioning from children’s to adult services for young people leaving care : Learning from research in Scotland

Manole Mihaela, Fowler Nadine, Porter Robert Benjamin, McTier Alexander, Scott Jane, Young Emma, McIver Leanne, Anderson Carol Ann, Ottaway Heather

European Scientific Association on residential and Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF) (2025)

More publications

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

Cross-Faculty Connections: Growing Networks and Building Opportunities with and for Children and Young People

Participant

26/2/2026

Barriers in transitioning from children’s to adult services for young people leaving care: Learning from research in Scotland

Contributor

10/9/2025

Prevention and early intervention services amid increasing challenges: insights from Scotland's children's services workforce

Contributor

10/9/2025

Meeting the needs of children and families transitioning to adult services

Speaker

12/6/2025

Undertaking and using social policy research to inform and influence policy and practice

Speaker

4/7/2024

Child Protection and Practice (Journal)

Editorial board member

1/3/2024

More professional activities

Projects

ADR Scotland: 2026-3031 (UoE led)

Porter, Robert Benjamin (Principal Investigator)

01-Jan-2026 - 31-Jan-2031

Independent Review of Scotland's Legislative Framework for Children's Care

Norrie, Kenneth (Principal Investigator) Doyle, Kathleen Isobel (Principal Investigator) McTier, Alexander (Co-investigator) McCreadie, Craig (Co-investigator) Quinn, Laura (Co-investigator) Porter, Robert Benjamin (Co-investigator) Thomson, Vivien (Co-investigator) Young, Emma (Co-investigator) Doull, Kirsty (Co-investigator) McIver, Leanne (Co-investigator) Fowler, Nadine (Co-investigator) Orr, Rosanna (Co-investigator) McGregor, Sharon (Co-investigator) Thomson, Elizabeth (Researcher) Ottaway, Heather (Researcher) Mackinnon, Kate (Researcher) Anderson, Katherine (Researcher) Sillars, Lorraine (Researcher)

A research project commissioned by Scottish Government with the aim of gathering evidence to provide Scottish Ministers with clear, evidence-based and practical recommendations, focused on the structure, coherence, and accessibility of the existing legislative framework, that aim to improve outcomes and experiences for children and families, and support those who work with and alongside them.

01-Jan-2026 - 28-Jan-2027

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) Charlton, Kayleigh (Researcher)

01-Jan-2024 - 14-Jan-2027

The Voice and Inclusions Project - Recommendations and Action Planning

Porter, Robert Benjamin (Principal Investigator) Young, Emma (Co-investigator)

The VIP work sought to address this using a participative research approach through which children and young people could share their knowledge and views to inform policy and practice improvements within the Hearings System. The work of the VIP project began in the spring of 2021 with funding to continue until spring 2023. In 2021 CELCIS applied to the HaSS knowledge exchange funding call to support the development of these recommendations into actionable plans for implementation. In December 2021 CELCIS were awarded £12, 148.89 through the HaSS knowledge exchange funding on the ‘impact case study development grants’ pathway. The VIP recommendations work ran through July and August 2022.

03-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2023

Improving experiences of non-compulsory care in Scotland: Section 25

Porter, Robert Benjamin (Co-investigator)

01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2028

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-Jan-2022 - 31-Jan-2023

More projects