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Samantha Fitz-Symonds
Teams and roles for Samantha Fitz-Symonds
Research Associate
Overview
I am a Research Associate at CASCADE, with research interests spanning children's social care, advocacy, participatory practice, and the implementation of policy guidance. My work is grounded in realist-informed approaches to research, seeking to explore what works, for whom, and in what contexts.
I previously led a study as Principal Investigator examining children's advocacy in England. I am currently Co-Investigator on two projects: a Nuffield Foundation-funded project exploring parental advocacy in England and Wales, and a Health and Care Research Wales-funded project investigating the role of personal advisors in Wales.
Alongside my research, I have taught on Family Law and Contract Law modules within the Law School. I am a co-editor of a forthcoming book on participatory practices in children's social care, and have authored and co-authored various publications on parental advocacy across the UK and the implementation of CSE guidance.
Publication
2024
- Powell, S., Fitz-Symonds, S., Wilkins, D., Westlake, D., Long, F., Lilly, E. and Diaz, C. 2024. Understanding how and under what circumstances parental advocates support parents to participate in decision-making: a scoping review. Child Care in Practice 30(4), pp. 517-536. (10.1080/13575279.2024.2354823)
- Evans, L., Fitz-Symonds, S., Long, F., Roberts, L., Diaz, C. and Powell, S. 2024. “They seem to listen more now I have an advocate”: a study into the implementation of parental advocacy in Wales. Journal of Children's Services 19(2), pp. 89-104. (10.1108/JCS-05-2023-0027)
2023
- Devine, R., Benson, K., Fitz-Symonds, S., Westlake, D., Campbell, K. and Diaz, C. 2023. Peer parental advocacy: A narrative review of the literature. Journal of Children's Services 18(3/4), pp. 244-260. (10.1108/JCS-08-2022-0020)
- Fitz-Symonds, S., Stabler, L. and Diaz, C. 2023. Understanding how advocacy services support care-experienced young people to participate in decision-making. Cardiff: What Works for Children's Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/CASCADE-Spark-advocacy-services-trial-protocol.pdf
- Fitz-Symonds, S., Evans, L., Tobis, D., Westlake, D. and Diaz, C. 2023. Mechanisms for support: A realist evaluation of peer parental advocacy in England. The British Journal of Social Work (10.1093/bjsw/bcad200)
- Diaz, C., Fitz-Symonds, S., Evans, L., Westlake, D., Devine, R., Mauri, D. and Davies, B. 2023. The perceived impact of peer parental advocacy on child protection practice: a mixed-methods evaluation. Project Report. [Online]. What Works for Early Intervention and Children’s Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/The-perceived-impact-of-peer-parental-advocacy-on-child-protection-practice_FINAL-with-cover_16-Jan.pdf
Articles
- Powell, S., Fitz-Symonds, S., Wilkins, D., Westlake, D., Long, F., Lilly, E. and Diaz, C. 2024. Understanding how and under what circumstances parental advocates support parents to participate in decision-making: a scoping review. Child Care in Practice 30(4), pp. 517-536. (10.1080/13575279.2024.2354823)
- Evans, L., Fitz-Symonds, S., Long, F., Roberts, L., Diaz, C. and Powell, S. 2024. “They seem to listen more now I have an advocate”: a study into the implementation of parental advocacy in Wales. Journal of Children's Services 19(2), pp. 89-104. (10.1108/JCS-05-2023-0027)
- Devine, R., Benson, K., Fitz-Symonds, S., Westlake, D., Campbell, K. and Diaz, C. 2023. Peer parental advocacy: A narrative review of the literature. Journal of Children's Services 18(3/4), pp. 244-260. (10.1108/JCS-08-2022-0020)
- Fitz-Symonds, S., Evans, L., Tobis, D., Westlake, D. and Diaz, C. 2023. Mechanisms for support: A realist evaluation of peer parental advocacy in England. The British Journal of Social Work (10.1093/bjsw/bcad200)
Monographs
- Fitz-Symonds, S., Stabler, L. and Diaz, C. 2023. Understanding how advocacy services support care-experienced young people to participate in decision-making. Cardiff: What Works for Children's Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/CASCADE-Spark-advocacy-services-trial-protocol.pdf
- Diaz, C., Fitz-Symonds, S., Evans, L., Westlake, D., Devine, R., Mauri, D. and Davies, B. 2023. The perceived impact of peer parental advocacy on child protection practice: a mixed-methods evaluation. Project Report. [Online]. What Works for Early Intervention and Children’s Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/The-perceived-impact-of-peer-parental-advocacy-on-child-protection-practice_FINAL-with-cover_16-Jan.pdf
Biography
Research Associate, CASCADE - October 2024-Present
Research Assistant, CASCADE - October 2022-October 2024
Peer Researcher, CASCADE - December 2021-October 2022
PhD Researcher, Cardiff Law School October 2021-Present