Personal statement

Following the completion of my MRes in Criminology I joined the research team at the Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland (CELCIS) in January 2014. My experience at CELCIS spans across research, evaluation, consultancy, knowledge exchange and translation activities. I am currently involved in the Transforming Pathways programme of work at CELCIS which is focussed on system responses to children and families who are considered on the edges of care; with an emphasis on expanding and developing effective earlier intervention approaches in response to local needs. Prior to this I was involved in the Throughcare and Aftercare programme of work as well as holding a broader research and evaluation role where I worked predominantly on commissioned research projects and evaluations for service providers.

In addition to my role at CELCIS I am currently undertaking part-time study for a PhD within the school of social work and social policy. My research is funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council on the social work and social policy student-led doctoral training pathway at the University of Strathclyde. The current working title of my thesis is, Supporting successful parenting: exploring the concepts of risk and need in decision making processes in the context of young women in and leaving care as parents.