Vicky’s research areas focus upon child care and protection and  interprofessional collaboration across organisational/sectoral boundaries. Child protection is a serious issue that commonly involves a complex network of professionals. Vicky’s research specifically explores the interactional environment within child welfare systems, and in what way processes and policies can be improved and practice enhanced, so that professionals are better able to protect children.

As a Social Work academic, Vicky’s research centres upon creating impact in front-line practice and service delivery to improve children’s welfare. As such, her work prioritises the translation of research for practice contexts through practical and accessible strategies.

Methodologically Vicky has experience of mixed methods, quantitative and qualitative approaches: including social work case file analysis, semi/structured interviews, observations, focus groups. She is familiar with researching sensitive topics with children, families, and professionals, in personal and community settings, and of undertaking collaborative needs-led research within different cultural contexts both in the UK and in Africa. 

PhD Supervision 

Vicky welcomes applications from PhD Candidates - particularly in the areas of child protection and safeguarding, education, interprofessional collaboration with child care professionals, in the United Kingdom and internationally.