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Dirty science and murky law (2018)
Presentation / Conference
Devine, L., & Parker, S. (2018, December). Dirty science and murky law. Paper presented at Dirty Science and Murky Law

This invited research seminar at the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia explores the 'murky science' of risk prediction in relation to familial abuse, and the 'dirty law' enabling the State's response to it.

Consequences of a positivistic approach to child abuse (2018)
Presentation / Conference
Parker, S. (2018, December). Consequences of a positivistic approach to child abuse. Paper presented at Sociological Association of Aotearoa, New Zealand (SAANZ) Conference 2018: The Future is in the Past

Within the UK’s positivistic paradigm, the belief is that data can predict human behaviour. This has led to the use of algorithmic risk prediction systems from profit making providers, including risk prediction for child abuse. These algorithms assum... Read More about Consequences of a positivistic approach to child abuse.

Rethinking the welfare/policing dichotomy: Reflections from England (2017)
Presentation / Conference
Devine, L., & Parker, S. (2017, December). Rethinking the welfare/policing dichotomy: Reflections from England. Paper presented at Respect Existence or Expect Resistance

In England, the State’s role in child protection social work practice is paternalistic and rights focussed. A neo-liberal ideology is evident via policies promoting ‘innovation’. The UK government devolves powers enabling each local authority to us... Read More about Rethinking the welfare/policing dichotomy: Reflections from England.

Submission to the open consultation by HM Government: Reporting and acting on child abuse and neglect (2017)
Report
Devine, L., & Parker, S. (2017). Submission to the open consultation by HM Government: Reporting and acting on child abuse and neglect

This submission is presented by Dr Lauren Devine, Associate Professor of Jurisprudence, and Mr Stephen Parker, Senior Law Lecturer, Centre for Applied Legal Research, University of the West of England, Bristol. We are Principal and Co-Investigator o... Read More about Submission to the open consultation by HM Government: Reporting and acting on child abuse and neglect.

Rethinking child protection strategy: Findings from an analysis of key areas of child protection and safeguarding strategy (2017)
Presentation / Conference
Devine, L., & Parker, S. (2017, July). Rethinking child protection strategy: Findings from an analysis of key areas of child protection and safeguarding strategy. Paper presented at Changing Lives Workshop

This invited presentation was delivered at Pembroke College, Oxford at the 'Changing Lives Workshop' 10th July 2017. This multi-disciplinary workshop was jointly organised by the University of Oxford and the Economic and Social Research Council.

Rethinking child protection strategy: Designing a sustainable framework for children’s social care referrals and assessments' (2017)
Presentation / Conference
Devine, L., & Parker, S. (2017, May). Rethinking child protection strategy: Designing a sustainable framework for children’s social care referrals and assessments'. Paper presented at Local Area Research and Intelligence Association (LARIA) Conference 2017

This paper draws on the results of our two year Economic and Social Research Council funded project 'Rethinking Child Protection Strategy', explaining the project, its findings and their use in designing a sustainable framework around the growing num... Read More about Rethinking child protection strategy: Designing a sustainable framework for children’s social care referrals and assessments'.

'Rethinking child protection strategy': Causes and consequences of children in the care system (2017)
Presentation / Conference
Devine, L., & Parker, S. (2017, February). 'Rethinking child protection strategy': Causes and consequences of children in the care system. Paper presented at Invited workshop

An invited workshop presentation for Family Policymakers and Analysts at the Ministry of Justice. The presentation covers the final data and theoretical findings from 'Rethinking Child Protection Strategy' (ESRC grant number ES/M000990/1) together w... Read More about 'Rethinking child protection strategy': Causes and consequences of children in the care system.

Risk and (un)reliability in child protection and safeguarding (2016)
Presentation / Conference
Devine, L., & Parker, S. (2016, July). Risk and (un)reliability in child protection and safeguarding. Paper presented at Public Debate 21 July 2016 : Is our child protection system too risk adverse?

This paper is a summary of evidence given by the expert panel at the Public engagement event held at Bristol Family Justice Centre, 21st July 2016. This event debated the motion ‘Is the child protection system too risk adverse?’ The expert panel con... Read More about Risk and (un)reliability in child protection and safeguarding.

Report of evidence presented to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Children: Inquiry into children’s social care (2016)
Report
Devine, L., & Parker, S. (2016). Report of evidence presented to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Children: Inquiry into children’s social care

Evidence indicates that, over the past five years in England, overall demand for children’s social care services has increased, while English local authorities’ spending power has decreased. The All Party Parliamentary Group for Children (APPGC) has... Read More about Report of evidence presented to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Children: Inquiry into children’s social care.

Making the case for 'Rethinking Child Protection Strategy’: Findings from a large scale study (2016)
Other
Devine, L., & Parker, S. (2016). Making the case for 'Rethinking Child Protection Strategy’: Findings from a large scale study

This short article was commissioned by the University of Edinburgh to appear on their Revisiting Child Protection ESRC Impact Project blog. The article summarises the paper given by Dr Lauren Devine at the University of Edinburgh entitled Making the... Read More about Making the case for 'Rethinking Child Protection Strategy’: Findings from a large scale study.

Estimating child abuse numbers can overload social workers and put more pressure on families (2015)
Other
Devine, L., & Parker, S. (2015). Estimating child abuse numbers can overload social workers and put more pressure on families

A short article considering child abuse prevalence. This question is increasingly of interest to government and policy makers. Major prevalence studies published by the Children's Commissioner and the NSPCC have estimated the prevalence of child se... Read More about Estimating child abuse numbers can overload social workers and put more pressure on families.

ESRC evidence briefing: Rethinking child protection strategy: Child protection & assessment (2015)
Other
Devine, L., & Parker, S. (2015). ESRC evidence briefing: Rethinking child protection strategy: Child protection & assessment

There is a trend towards over-referral according to ESRC funded research by Dr Lauren Devine and Mr Stephen Parker at the University of the West of England, Bristol. They have examined referral data across England, and the social work response to it.... Read More about ESRC evidence briefing: Rethinking child protection strategy: Child protection & assessment.

Rethinking child protection strategy: Integrating law, practice & social enterprise into effective safeguarding training and a post-referral family support initiative (2015)
Presentation / Conference
Devine, L., & Parker, S. (2015, June). Rethinking child protection strategy: Integrating law, practice & social enterprise into effective safeguarding training and a post-referral family support initiative. Paper presented at Safeguarding Conference: Exploring professional issues for child and adult safeguarding

This paper presents the results of funded research, undertaken to gain insight into how the duty to safeguard is understood and responded to in secondary schools. The aim of the research was to identify how effectively teachers, as non-experts in ch... Read More about Rethinking child protection strategy: Integrating law, practice & social enterprise into effective safeguarding training and a post-referral family support initiative.

The SAFER Initiative: A case study in applying research to social enterprise: Creating impact (2015)
Presentation / Conference
Devine, L., & Parker, S. (2015, April). The SAFER Initiative: A case study in applying research to social enterprise: Creating impact. Paper presented at Ideas for Good

The SAFER Initiative is a newly established social enterprise venture, providing support around the child protection & safeguarding referral and assessment process. This fulfils a social need whilst creating a forum for our research findings to have... Read More about The SAFER Initiative: A case study in applying research to social enterprise: Creating impact.

Public family law cases in the context of miscarriages of justice (2015)
Journal Article
Devine, L., & Parker, S. (2015). Public family law cases in the context of miscarriages of justice

Public family law decisions in English courts are ostensibly made to serve the best interests of the child, whose interests are given paramountcy under the Children Act 1989. Hence, there is little recognition of the capacity for decisions to constit... Read More about Public family law cases in the context of miscarriages of justice.

Report of the submission to the law commission’s thirteenth programme of law reform consultation: Children's social care
Report
Devine, L., & Parker, S. (2016). Report of the submission to the law commission’s thirteenth programme of law reform consultation: Children's social care

This is a report of our response to the Law Commission's 13th Programme of Law Reform. It summarises our proposal for reform of s.17 Children Act 1989 and its relationship with s.47. Our research has identified numerous problems in practice caused... Read More about Report of the submission to the law commission’s thirteenth programme of law reform consultation: Children's social care.