Now officially retired, I hold an honorary appointment as senior research fellow in the Department of Social Work and Social Policy and in CELCIS - the Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection - at the University of Strathclyde. I am editor-in-chief of the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care. I am currently guest editor (2022-25) of a special issue about residential care of the journal Youth and a member of the editorial board of Youth. I help to organise the annual Kilbrandon Lecture and the Kilbrandon Children's Research Webinar. I served as trustee of Who Cares? Scotland (2005-11) and as a non-executive director and trustee of Kibble Education and Care Centre (2013-2023). I was awarded the Strathclyde Medal in 2016 for making 'an outstanding contribution to the success of the University of Strathclyde and for demonstration of the University Values.'

My research, writing and public engagement is concerned with the care experience of children and young people, and particularly their experience in education. My current interests include residential care, and the history of industrial schools - in particular, the Training Ship Mars, moored in the river Tay in Scotland between 1969 and 1929.

• children and young people in public care, and care leavers
• residential child and youth care
• the education and wellbeing of looked after children
• widening participation in post-school education
• youth mentoring
• history of care experience
• family history
• Training Ship 'Mars'