Dr Kate Parkinson

Biography	Kate is a qualified social worker and had practiced for 15 years in children and families social work, before taking moving into the academic environment. Kate worked for 8 years at the University of Salford as a Lecturer in Social Work and Programme Leader for the MA, Social Work before moving to Huddersfield to take up the role of Subject Leader, Health and Social Care. Kate returned to Salford in January 2024 to take up the position of Head of Social Work and Integrated Care. Whilst in practice, Kate established and managed a Family Group Conference Service in the Midlands and is passionate about Family Group Conferences (FGCs) and other forms of Family Led Decision Making in social work. Kate has many publications on the subject of FGCs and continues to research and write in this area. Kate and a colleague, Deanna Edwards developed the Post Graduate Certificate in FGCs at the University of Salford, in partnership with the Family Rights Group, the only postgraduate qualification in FGCs in England and Wales. Kate is the book review editor for Child Abuse Review, the Social Work Collection editor for Lived Places and a reviewer for British Journal of Social Work. Journal of Social Work Education, Child Care in Practice, Policy Press and Palgrave. Kate is trustee and safeguarding lead for a local charity, Wood Street Mission, who support families in poverty in Manchester and Salford.
Research Interests	Family Group Conferences, Family-Led Decision Making, Children's Safeguarding, Strengths-based approaches to Social Work,
PhD Supervision Availability	Yes
PhD Topics	Children and Families Social Work, Safeguarding Practice, Family Led Decision Making, Family Group Conferences, Harmful Sexual Behaviour, Strengths-based approaches to practice.