My research is broadly in the field of child welfare, with a specific focus on children in care and care leavers.

I am a mixed-methods researcher and have an interest in uses of data, including secondary analysis of administrative datasets.

Over the past twenty-five years I have carried out a range of research and evaluation projects, with a particular focus on the relationship between needs, costs and outcomes of services and support provided to children and families. This has included the development of the Cost Calculator for Children's Services.

I currently work on a range of funded research projects, these include:

Co-Principal Investigator on the ReThink project focused on the mental health and wellbeing of care-expereinced young people, funded by the Medical Research Council

Co-Investigator on the Children's Information Project funded by the Nuffield Foundation

Co-Investigator on the ESRC ADR and Foundations funded Community Catalyst for Children at risk of poor outcomes

I am also Principal Investigator for two evaluations of Lifelong Links, commissioned by Family Rights Group