Dr Helen Whincup: (Principal Investigator). Helen is a Senior Lecturer at University of Stirling, teaching primarily on the post-qualifying Masters in Applied Professional Studies (Child Welfare and Protection) and the Professional Supervision module. She is a qualified social worker with a practice background in children and families work, and practice and personal experience of adoption.
Dr Ariane Critchley: (Lecturer). Ariane is a Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Stirling, where she teaches mainly on the post-qualifying Masters in Applied Professional Studies. Ariane has previously undertaken research with parents who have a child or children no longer living at home, and with parents experiencing pre-birth child protection assessment. Ariane is a qualified social worker and worked in practice prior to becoming involved in research.
Dr Linda Cusworth: (Co-Investigator). Linda is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Child and Family Justice Research at Lancaster University. She is an experienced quantitative social researcher, and has worked as a researcher in child wellbeing, child protection and family justice for around 15 years. She has a passion for the use of administrative data and linked data in family justice research.
Dr Maggie Grant: Maggie is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Stirling. She has worked in adoption, fostering and kinship care for 15 years, including at AFKA (Association for Fostering, Kinship and Adoption Scotland).
Dr Alison Hennessy: (Lecturer). Alison is an educational researcher with a strong interest in the education of looked after children.
Jade Hooper: (Researcher). Jade is a Researcher within the team and PhD Candidate. She spans both the Faculty of Social Science at the University of Stirling and the Centre for Child and Family Justice Research at Lancaster University.
Dr Paula Jacobs: (Research Fellow). Paula Jacobs is a Research Fellow based at the University of Stirling. She worked in residential care for many years supporting children and young people with additional support needs before starting her PhD. She has done previous research with care experienced young people about mental health and was involved in a project about the disruption of permanent foster and adoption placements.
Former Colleague:
Dr Adele Laing: (Research Fellow). Adele was a Research Fellow in the Centre for Child Wellbeing and Protection. Adele recently left the group to start a new career in Educational Psychology.