Research interests
child abuse
child neglect
child maltreatment
qualitative methods
research theory
sub-Saharan Africa
gender based-violence
systematic reviews
methodology
disabled children and disclosure of abuse

International Relations
Convenor: International Congress of the British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Edinburgh April 2015.
Fellow of the European Academy of Nursing Science (since May 2005). EANS is an independently organised body composed of invited members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of nursing science in Europe through scholarship and research. The purpose of the Academy is to sustain a forum of European nurse scientists to develop and promote knowledge in nursing science and to recognise research and scholarly achievement in the pursuit of excellence. Regularly lead cohort of 30+ doctoral students from over 22 EU countries.
Visiting scholar, University of Michigan, 2015; 2016; 2017.
Visiting professor, University of Tampere, 2017.
Visiting scholar, University of Balamand, Lebanon (since 2009). Qualitative methods and curriculum development.
Visiting professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queens University Belfast (2002-2006).
Founding member Gender and Child Welfare Network, an international multiprofessional network established 2003. The Network made an official response to the government green paper Every Child Matters, a response accepted for publication. The Network held its first conference in 2005 and a special issue of the international journal Critical Social Policy reported the papers from the conference.
International Steering Group for Social Work Advisory Group Research Highlights 2009-2015
Cochrane Collaboration Child Health Group 2002-2010
National Relations
Founding member Scottish Centre for Child Care and Protection, an interdisciplinary collaborative network to co-ordinate evaluation, research and dissemination activity.
Registered expert researcher with Research in Practice, the largest childcare research implementation project in the country.
Organising Committee for 2007 RCN Annual Nursing Research Conference, hosted by Dundee.
Organising Committee for 2018 RCN Annual Nursing Research Conference, hosted at Birmingham.
Visiting Professor, School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, since 2010.
Honorary Professor, Dept of Nursing and Dept of Applied Social Science, University of Stirling, since 2011.
Visiting Professor, School of Education, University of Edinburgh (2011-2013).
Chair of External Expert Reference Group: NSPCC Physical Abuse in High Risk Families.
Gave evidence to House of Lords Adoption Select Committee 4/12/2012
Advisor to Research Bodies
Medical Research Council (MRC) Advisory Board member (2002-2005).
Big Lottery Fund Medical and Social Research Advisory Panel (2002-2008).
International Scientific Advisory Panel, RCN Research Society (2005-2013).
Reviewer for Research Funding Bodies
MRC Health of the Public (2003-2012).
Big Lottery Fund (2002-2010).
Regular invited reviews of policy and evaluation commissioning documents, nationally and internationally – most recently for ESRC; Nuffield; Chief Scientist Office; NIHR; US National Institute for Health; Norwegian Government; University of Namibia.
Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland Projects Board (2005-2011).
Scottish Government Office of the Chief Scientist (since 2009).
National Institute for Health Research (since 2011).
Government Working Groups
Scottish Government Working Group: Getting Our Priorities Right (2012) Updated Good Practice Guidance for use by all practitioners working with children, young people and families affected by substance use
Scottish Government Working Group: National Guidance for Health Professionals on Child Protection (The Pink Book): 2011-2012.
Scottish Government Working Group on National Guidelines for Child Protection (RCN nominated: 2009)
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland Vulnerable Families Pathways Steering Group (RCN Nominated: 2009)
Editorial Committee and Task Force member, Public Health Nursing Review, Scottish Executive. Resulted in the publication of ‘Nursing for Health'. A review of the contribution of nurses, midwives and health visitors to improving the public’s health’. 2001.
Home Office: Violence Against Women Group (2012).
All Party Parliamentary Group: Alcohol Misuse and Children (2013).
All Party Parliamentary Group: Forced Marriage (2012).
Office of the Children’s Commissioner (England and Wales): Teenage Violence (2014).
Professional Committees and Advisory Groups
HEFCE Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2013 Sub-panel Three (Allied Health, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy) (2011-2014).
Co-opted steering group member, Royal College of Nursing Research Society 2006-2010; Appointed member under revised constitution 2010-2015.
NICE Steering Group: Guidance on Physical Abuse of Children (2008).
Universities Scotland International Steering Group in Higher Education (2009-2010).
Projects Committee member Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS) (2005-2011).
QNIS Council Member 2007-2015.
Chair of Joint Nursing Committee, QNIS, 2009-2015
NHS Scotland Public Health Institute for Scotland mentor (2005-2011).
NHS Tayside R&D and University Scientific Review Group 2004-2010.
National Board for Scotland for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (NBS) Register of Experts 1997-2002.
Specialist Registry Member, English National Board (ENB) 1996-1998.
Total Quality Management Facilitator. York University 1993-1997.
Editorial and Journal Profile
With Danielle Turney (Bristol), guest editor for Special Edition Child Abuse Review on Interventions for Child Neglect: published summer 2014.
With Anne Lazenbatt (QUB), guest editor for Special Edition Child Care in Practice on Physical Abuse in High Risk Families: published summer 2013.
Associate Editor Child Abuse Review (2007-2012).
Editorial Board: Child Abuse Review (since 2012).
Editorial Board: Child and Family Social Work (2008-2015).
Editorial Board: Nurse Researcher (2009-2015).
Editor of Research Headlines, the publication of the RCN Research Society (2006-2010)
Editor: Research Highlights in Social Work (Book Series: Jessica Kingsley) (since 2008)
Membership of Professional Bodies
Full member International Society for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
Full member Royal College of Nursing; RCN Research Society
RCN Child Protection Society.
Full member Institute of Teaching and Learning
Invited member of International Poverty Network
Member UK Council for Graduate Education
Full member British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect