The project team

Michelle Lefevre is Professor of Social Work at the University of Sussex and Director of CIRCY – the Centre for Innovation and Research in Childhood and Youth. Her research primarily focuses on professional practice with children, young people and families where there are issues of risk and harm, and it is rooted in her background as a child protection social worker and arts psychotherapist. 

You can learn more about Michelle here or contact Michelle at M.Lefevre@sussex.ac.uk.  

Tammy McCann brings a wealth of experience in programme management to her role as coordinator of the project. Working closely with the Principal Investigator she ensures the programme runs smoothly, meeting contractual and financial obligations. Tammy is based at the University of Sussex

Contact Tammy at T.L.McCann@sussex.ac.uk.

Dr Kristine Hickle (known as Kristi) is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Sussex. She originally trained as a social worker in the US. Her research has particularly centred on child sexual exploitation and human trafficking and she has been providing trauma-focused group interventions for victims of sexual violence for the last 12 years.

You can learn more about Kristi here or contact Kristi at K.Hickle@sussex.ac.uk.

Dr Carlene Firmin is Principal Research Fellow at The International Centre: Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Violence and Trafficking at the University of Bedfordshire. Since 2013 she has developed and led the Contextual Safeguarding and peer-on-peer abuse research programmes at Bedfordshire. She developed Contextual Safeguarding as a theoretical and operational framework which could be used to draw attention to, and address, the social and cultural contexts in which extra-familial abuse occurs. 

You can learn more about Carlene here or contact Carlene at Carlene.Firmin@beds.ac.uk.

Gillian Ruch is Professor of Social Work at the University of Sussex where she directs the Centre for Social Work Innovation and Research. Gillian trained originally as a social worker, practising in local authority child care posts in London and Essex before moving into academia. Her particular interests are in reflective and relationship-based practice and psychosocial research and reflective practice in social work. 

You can learn more about Gillian here or contact Gillian at G.Ruch@sussex.ac.uk.

Dr Carlie Goldsmith is a social researcher who has worked in higher education and the not-for-profit sector for the past fifteen years. She has designed and conducted a range of national and local research and evaluation projects in the fields of crime and justice, suicide prevention, human trafficking and modern slavery, and trauma-informed practice. Carlie is really interested in research that works with people and that aims to make a tangible and positive difference to their lives, especially those living in the most insecure and challenging circumstances. Carlie is working on a review of innovation theory and practice in year 1 and conducting interviews on innovation practice with professional expert informants.

You can learn more about Carlie here or contact Carlie at cg477@sussex.ac.uk.

Dr Jeri Damman has extensive experience from the US and UK in working with children, adults, and families in direct service delivery, providing front-line social work supervision, and strategic service delivery at a senior management level. Her research addresses how participatory practices with birth parents at multiple levels in the child welfare system can contribute to service improvements and more positive child and family outcomes.

You can learn more about Jeri here or contact Jeri at J.L.Damman@sussex.ac.uk.

Dr Reima Ana Maglajilc (known as Rea) trained originally as a social worker in Croatia, where she gained particular experience with refugees and displaced persons. She subsequently worked to support the development of the mental health system survivor movement in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She has a particular interest currently in reform processes in health and social care (particularly in post-conflict societies), and in theorisations of mental health.

You can learn more about Rea here or contact Rea at R.A.Maglajlic@sussex.ac.uk.

Dr Jenny Lloyd is a Senior Research Fellow at The International Centre: Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Violence and Trafficking at the University of Bedfordshire. She is a social and cultural geographer working in the area of peer-on-peer abuse in adolescence. Prior to joining the International Centre she worked within the voluntary sector to advocate on issues of human trafficking, labour rights and exploitation.

You can learn more about Jenny here or contact Jenny at jenny.lloyd@beds.ac.uk.

Rebecca Godar works as an independent consultant and researcher with local authorities and local partnerships to develop data-informed strategy for children and families. Her interests are in developing capability to use data and intelligence for strategic decision making and building a culture of curiosity around data.

You can contact Rebeecca at Rebecca.Godar@researchinpractice.org.uk.

Dr Susannah Bowyer is Assistant Director at Research in Practice, where she leads the children and families team on core delivery to the Partnership network, as well as a range of commissioned project activities. Susannah provides intel on emerging Transitional Safeguarding approaches and will support knowledge exchange on the project with the Research in Practice network as findings emerge.

You can learn more about Susannah here or contact Susannah here.

Dez Holmes is the Director of Research in Practice. She is interested in knowledge mobilisation, systems leadership, adolescence, safeguarding and participative practice. She is a senior project advisor, supporting practice influence and impact building in the social care sector and providing intel on emerging Transitional Safeguarding approaches.

You can learn more about Dez here or contact Dez at Dez.Holmes@researchinpractice.org.uk.

Martha Hampson is an Associate of Innovation Unit. She has built up expertise in innovation across public services, having worked on a range of projects in health and social care, education, complex families and probation services, including included three years in the Innovation Unit team delivering the DfE’s Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme, Martha is working on two research reviews in the first year of the project: a critical interpretive synthesis of existing knowledge on innovation in children's social care, and a documentary analysis of policy and guidance on approaches from around the UK to addressing complex safeguarding risks in adolescence.

You can learn more about Martha here or contact Martha at martha.hampson@innovationunit.org.

Dr Lisa Holmes is Director of the Rees Centre & Associate Professor at the University of Oxford. Over the past twenty years Lisa has undertaken a range of research projects and evaluations to inform child welfare policy and practice and carried out responsive studies for various government departments, including the Department for Education and Ministry of Justice. On the Innovate Project, Lisa’s consultancy will particularly be informed by her work on the Cost Calculator for Children’s Services.

You can learn more about Lisa here or contact Lisa at lisa.holmes@education.ox.ac.uk.