I joined the University of Strathclyde in October 2015 as Programme Director for the BA (Hons) Education and Social Services. After completing my PhD at Durham University in 2009 I was awarded an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship, which I undertook at the University of Edinburgh. From 2010 to 2013 I worked as Lecturer in the Department of Applied Social Sciences at Durham University supporting the delivery of the MA Social Work and BA Sociology programmes and in the position of Acting Programme Director for the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Social Work with Children, Young People, their Families and Carers. Immediately before my move to Strathclyde University I was Lecturer in Child Protection at the NSPPC/University of Edinburgh Child Protection Research Centre.

My research is concerned with the intersection of state policies, welfare practices and family relationships. I focus particularly on the experiences and outcomes of care-experienced children and adults and the impact of state interventions on family practices. I am currently PI on an impact and effectiveness study of TESSA, a new innovative post-adoption support programme being developed by Adoption UK. I am also conducting a programme of work on the sibling relationships of children in public care and permanent placements. Other completed projects include a UK study of the expereinces of the child protection system of maltreated deaf and disabled children and a collaboration between the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Strathclyde, the Fostering Network and Quarriers exploring barriers and enablers of permanency for disabled children.

My research is characterised by an enduring commitment to working in partnership with stakeholders including those with expereince of care and permanence. I also focus heavily on achieving real world impact through my research. In 2018 I co-founded a collaborative partnership called Stand Up For Siblings (www.standupforsiblings.co.uk) to provide leadership on the legal, policy and practice changes needed to secure the right to family life for siblings in care. Our achievments have included a proposed change in Scots law to strenthen the duties placed on statutory services to promote personal relations between siblings in care and acceptance of our recommendations in the recent Independent Care Review. In 2019, we were delighted to be awarded the prestigous Herald Society Partnership Award.

 https://www.strath.ac.uk/whystrathclyde/news/strathclyde-ledchildadvocacypartnershipwinsinsocietyawards/

I am a member of the ESRC Peer Review College and the Coram BAAF Research Group Advisory Committee. I am a Trustee of the Adoption and Fostering Alliance and an advisor for Adoption UK.