Home: Lancaster Interdisciplinary Child Welfare Research Unit, Department of Applied Social Science, Lancaster University, UK.

Lancaster Interdisciplinary Child Welfare Research Unit (CWRU)

Located in the Department of Applied Social Science, CWRU brings together a group of academics who are committed to the advancement of knowledge, and development of policy and practice in child welfare. The Department's primary disciplines are Social Work and Criminology; however, members of the research group work with colleagues from a range of disciplinary backgrounds. The group is committed to maximising the impact and relevance of research work.

Based on principles of inclusivity, members of CWRU work in close collaboration with practice partners (local authorities, third sector and private sector agencies), service user groups, colleagues from UK and overseas Universities and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). Integral to the success of this group is the contribution of the department’s postgraduate student community.

Research Themes

Child Welfare, Technology and Information
Improving Safeguarding Practices
Social Protection for Children and Families
The Boundaries between 'Care' and 'Crime' (Looked After Children)
Adoption and Fostering
Professional practice: definition and directions
Critical reflection in child welfare
Effective family support interventions

NSPCC Conference

Working in Partnership with the NSPCC and Manchester University, CWRU hosted the 'new horizons in safeguarding children' conference 23rd-24th of May. Presentation slides and papers from this conference are now freely available here.

CWRU and the Centre for Cyber Security

Interdisciplinary collaboration between CWRU and the Lancaster University Centre for Cyber Security advances the protection of children online. Pioneering research utilises mobile phone technology to promote youth security supported by KidsCo.

Coventry and Warwickshire Pre-Proceedings Pilot Report

The report from the Coventry and Warwickshire Pre-Proceedings Pilot is now available in full. An article in which Dr Karen Broadhurst and Ms Kim Holt set out the arguments that have provided the rationale for this project is available on the web-site of Family Law Week.

Review of Cases of Contested Adoption

Department for Education study to report in September 2013. Contact Karen Broadhurst for more information.

The CWRU Co-ordinator is Karen Broadhurst.

Current News

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Seminar Series

This seminar series forms part of the activity of the interdisciplinary Child Welfare Research Unit (CWRU).

You can view past seminars by visiting our archive of CWRU seminar podcasts.

Details of our new seminar series will be announced in Autumn 2012.