Katie works alongside colleagues and students to support students to learn and develop to successfully complete their Masters in Social Work and enter the social work profession. Katie's teaching focuses on issues relating to social work practice (skills, knowledge and values), children and young people, disability and inequality, research, team work and supervision, communication and information sharing, and emotional intelligence and resilience. Katie has contributed to two published articles and is currently working on articles relating to the JUK project undertaken by young researchers at UCLan within the Centre for Children and Young People's Participation. Katie is currently contributing to the Connect Centre's '2018-2021 Evaluation of Women's Aid and Safe Lives Shared Roadmap for System Change' and '2018-2020 TESSE National Evaluation of Speak Out, Stay Safe (NSPCC)' research projects.
Katie graduated as a social worker in 2006 and went on to practice with a local authority, supporting children and young people living with complex disabilities and their families. Katie's prioritisation of the views of children and young people, and focus on the safety and wellbeing of children and young people and their families, has been maintained during her transition to academia and can be seen through her teaching and research focus. Katie has maintained her registration as a professional social worker and was a trustee for a local Carers charity for several years to achieve this. Katie has been interested in research and it's capacity to effect change at local and national/international levels since graduating in social work. Katie's research interests parallel her practice interests and relate to children, young people and their families, social work practice, user led practice and research, interpersonal harm, disability and inequality.
