Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
My research focuses upon child welfare and protection. As a society, and internationally, there are acute and chronic issues of maltreatment which face children and need addressing. Child protection is a serious issue that involves a complex network of professionals. My specific focus is on the interactional environment, and in what way systems can be improved so childcare professionals are better able to protect children. I am a registered Social Worker with Social Work England with a professional background in England and Wales.
In the last five years my research has broadened to the global context, particularly the global south, where I am working with international partners and local community organisations in Africa. We have a number of ongoing projects that seek to investigate formal and informal responses to children's care, welfare and education within the community.
Methodologically I have experience of mixed methods approaches, quantitative and qualitative: social work case file analysis, semi-structured interviews, non-participation observation, and focus groups. I have particular familiarity with researching sensitive topics with children, families, and professionals in school and community settings, and of undertaking collaborative research within different cultural contexts.
Projects in Progress:
2021-24 'Care Work and Economy Africa: towards transformative care systems and economies, to harness Africa’s demographic transition'. William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. £410,336. With Professor Isabella Aboderin, Perivoli Africa Research Centre (PARC) and African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC).
2020-21 'Kids Under Cover Feasibility Study'. Commonweal Housing & 1625 Independent People. £10,000. With Dr Jon Symonds.
Projects Completed:
2018-19 ‘Understanding Child Fosterage in Namibia: children’s health and wellbeing in extended family contexts’. (£8,105) Funder: GCRF (University of Bristol’s Global Challenges Research Fund allocation from Research England). With Dr Janet Ananias and Dr Emma Leonard (University of Namibia), Dr Heather Ottaway.
2017-18 ‘Understanding Child Neglect in Namibia’. (£4,429) Funder: GCRF (University of Bristol’s Global Challenges Research Fund allocation from Research England). With Dr Janet Ananias and Dr Emma Leonard (University of Namibia), Dr Alyson Rees.
2014-18 ‘Identifying and Responding to Child Neglect in Schools in Wales’ (£68,000) PhD Studentship, Cardiff University. Funder: Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales.
External positions
Associate Editor, International Journal of Social Welfare
1 Jul 2021 → …
Structured keywords and research groupings
- SPS Children and Families Research Centre
- Child Protection
- Children's Services
- Interprofessional Practice
- Child Neglect
- Families and Parenting
- Perivoli Africa Research Centre (PARC)
- Namibia
- Children and Families
- Children's Health and Welfare
- Schools
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Network
Projects
- 2 Finished
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Understanding Child Fosterage in Namibia; children’s health and wellbeing in extended family contexts
Sharley, V. & Ottaway, H. C.
14/11/18 → 31/07/19
Project: Research
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Research output
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Working With Children Who Have Experienced Neglect: Good Practice Guide
Sharley, V. & Rees, A., 1 Oct 2022, (In preparation) CoramBaaf.Research output: Book/Report › Authored book
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Missing Data, Complex Processes and Differing Contexts: A Case File Analysis of School Staff's Involvement in Child Protection Cases for Concerns of Neglect
Sharley, V., 9 Nov 2022, In: Child Abuse Review. 30, 5, p. 444-457Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
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Identifying and Responding to Child Neglect within Schools : differing perspectives and implications for inter-agency practice
Sharley, V., 15 Nov 2019, In: Child Indicators Research. 13, p. 551–571 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Citations (Scopus)236 Downloads (Pure)