![Donald Forrester](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/8764?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Professor Donald Forrester
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Donald Forrester
Director of CASCADE
Overview
My main interest is in what makes for effective child and family social work. In particular I am interested in the relationship between good practice and outcomes, and in understanding the features of organisations that produce good practice. More recently I have become interested in the opportunities and risks of applying AI into social work, with a focus on developing ethical and human-centred AI to support (and not replace) professional practice. I have led projects and programmes worth over £30 million, including setting up the Tilda Goldberg Centre, academic lead for the Frontline social work programme, founding the What Works Centre for Children's Social Care, helping to found the Better Childhoods Centre in University College Copenhagen and the SCALE Centre for Social Care and AI research as well as leading CASCADE Centre for Children's Social Care Research and Development.
Publication
2025
- Aaltio, E. et al., 2025. Motivational interviewing training for child and family social workers in Finland: An exploratory evaluation study. The British Journal of Social Work (10.1093/bjsw/bcaf279)
- Forrester, D. 2025. RCTs, the What Works centre and children's social care. In: Sanders, M. , Westlake, D. and Hirneis, V. eds. Experimental Methods and Children's Social Care: The Contribution of Randomised Controlled Trials. Sociology, Social Policy and Education 2025 Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. , pp.21-29. (10.4337/9781035327157.00010)
- Forrester, D. and Westlake, D. 2025. Motivational interviewing in Islington: our first, worst, and most eye-opening trial. In: Sanders, M. , Westlake, D. and Hirneis, V. eds. Experimental Methods and Children's Social Care: The Contribution of Randomised Controlled Trials. Sociology, Social Policy and Education 2025 Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. , pp.86-97. (10.4337/9781035327157.00016)
- Lowthian, E. et al., 2025. Children’s early care experiences and their educational attainment: a population data-linkage study in Wales. Oxford Review of Education (10.1080/03054985.2025.2540036)
- Stabler, L. et al. 2025. How might shared decision-making meetings reduce the need for children to be in care? A rapid realist review. Journal of Social Work 25 (1), pp.102-124. (10.1177/14680173241258891)
- Warner, N. et al. 2025. What linked data can tell us about the increasing numbers of children entering public care. Child & Family Social Work (10.1111/cfs.70026)
- Westlake, D. et al. 2025. A Cluster randomised controlled trial of social workers in schools in England. Research on Social Work Practice (10.1177/10497315251338227)
2024
- Bennett, V. et al. 2024. Student perspectives on school-based social workers: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Children's Services 19 (3), pp.189-221. (10.1108/JCS-04-2023-0021)
- Forrester, D. 2024. The enlightened social worker: An introduction to rights-focused practice. Bristol: Bristol University Press. (10.51952/9781447367680)
- Usubillaga, J. et al. 2024. Doing with or doing to? A realist case study of factors affecting the implementation of guidance on child sexual exploitation in Wales. Children and Youth Services Review 166 107964. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107964)
- Webb, M. et al., 2024. Do new policies influence practice? A qualitative study of practice and change in relation to the new Welsh child sexual exploitation guidance. The British Journal of Social Work 54 (3), pp.1109-1128. (10.1093/bjsw/bcad164)
- Wood, S. et al. 2024. Outcomes for high-risk young people referred to secure children’s homes for welfare reasons: a population record linkage study in England. Journal of Children's Services 19 (2), pp.105-122. (10.1108/JCS-04-2023-0018)
2023
- Adara, L. et al. 2023. The Social Workers in Schools Trial: An evaluation of school based social work.. Project Report.Early Intervention Foundation.
- Usubillaga, J. , Diaz, C. and Forrester, D. 2023. How are policies implemented in children's services? Developing an initial programme theory to evaluate the implementation of the new Child Sexual Exploitation guidance in Wales. Child and Family Social Work 28 (1), pp.268-278. (10.1111/cfs.12959)
- Wood, S. and Forrester, D. 2023. Comparing local authority rates of children in care: A survey of the children’s social care workforce in Wales. The British Journal of Social Work 53 (6), pp.3089-3109. (10.1093/bjsw/bcad097)
2022
- Bostock, L. et al., 2022. Why does systemic supervision support practitioners' practice more effectively with children and families?. Children and Youth Services Review 142 106652. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106652)
- Forrester, D. et al. 2022. Children's social services and care rates in Wales: A survey of the sector. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.54454/20220311.
- Janes, E. et al. 2022. Young carers, mental health and psychosocial wellbeing: A realist synthesis. Child: Care, Health and Development 48 (2), pp.190-202. (10.1111/cch.12924)
- Westlake, D. et al. 2022. The SWIS trial: protocol of a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial of school based social work. PLoS ONE 17 (6) e0265354.. (10.1371/journal.pone.0265354)
- Williams, A. et al. 2022. Even secure children’s homes won’t take me. Children placed in alternative accommodation. Residential Treatment for Children and Youth 39 (4), pp.370-386. (10.1080/0886571X.2022.2044431)
- Wood, S. et al. 2022. How might changes to family income affect the likelihood of children being in out-of-home care? Evidence from a realist and qualitative rapid evidence assessment of interventions. Children and Youth Services Review 143 106685. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106685)
2021
- El-Banna, A. et al., 2021. Systematic review of economic evaluations of children's social care interventions. Children and Youth Services Review 121 105864. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105864)
- Forrester, D. , Wilkins, D. and Whittaker, C. 2021. Motivational interviewing for working with children and families. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- Stabler, L. et al. 2021. A scoping review of system-level mechanisms to prevent children being in out-of-home care. British Journal of Social Work 52 (5), pp.2515-2536. bcab213. (10.1093/bjsw/bcab213)
- Wilkins, D. and Forrester, D. 2021. What do parents think about statutory child and family social work services in the UK?. British Journal of Social Work 51 (6), pp.2210-2227. (10.1093/bjsw/bcaa185)
2020
- Bezeczky, Z. et al. 2020. Intensive family preservaton services to prevent out-of-home placement of children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Child Abuse and Neglect 102 104394. (10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104394)
- Forrester, D. et al. 2020. Patterns of practice: an exploratory factor analysis of child and family social worker skills. Child and Family Social Work 25 (1), pp.108-117. (10.1111/cfs.12664)
- Maxwell, N. et al. 2020. Home education for children with additional learning needs – a better choice or the only option?. Educational Review 72 (4), pp.427-442. (10.1080/00131911.2018.1532955)
- Nurmatov, U. et al. 2020. Impact of shared decision-making family meetings on children's out-of-home care, family empowerment and satisfaction: a systematic review. Project Report.[Online].London: What Works Centre for Children's Social Care. Available at: https://foundations.org.uk/our-work/publications/impact-of-shared-decision-making-family-meetings-on-childrens-out-of-home-care-family-empowerment-and-satisfaction/.
2019
- Bostock, L. et al., 2019. How do we assess the quality of group supervision? Developing a coding framework. Children and Youth Services Review 100 , pp.515-524. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.03.027)
- Bostock, L. et al., 2019. What is the impact of supervision on direct practice with families?. Children and Youth Services Review 105 104428. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104428)
- Brand, S. et al. 2019. Mapping the evidence about what works to safely reduce the entry of children and young people into statutory care: a systematic scoping review protocol. BMJ Open 9 (8) e026967. (10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026967)
- Brand, S. et al. 2019. How family budget change interventions affect children being in care: a rapid evidence assessment. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff, Wales: What Works for Children's Social Care. Available at: http://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/WWCSC_Family_Budget_Change_rapid_evidence_assessment_Full_Report_Aug2019.pdf.
- Forrester, D. et al. 2019. What is the relationship between worker skills and outcomes for families in child and family social work?. British Journal of Social Work 49 (8), pp.2148-2167. (10.1093/bjsw/bcy126)
- Meindl, M. et al. 2019. How do family drug and alcohol courts work with parents to safely reduce the number of children in care? A rapid realist review. Project Report.[Online].London: What Works Centre for Children's Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/WWCSC_FDAC_rapid_realist_review_Oct2019.pdf.
- Stabler, L. et al. 2019. Shared decision-making: What is good practice in delivering meetings? Involving families meaningfully in decision-making to keep children safely at home: A rapid realist review. Technical Report.
- Wilkins, D. and Forrester, D. 2019. Predicting the future in child and family social work: theoretical, ethical and methodological issues for a proposed research programme. Child Care in Practice 26 (2), pp.196-209. (10.1080/13575279.2019.1685463)
2018
- Bostock, L. et al., 2018. Diffusion theory and multi-disciplinary working in children's services. Journal of Integrated Care 26 (2), pp.120-129. (10.1108/JICA-10-2017-0039)
- Brand, S. et al. 2018. Mapping the evidence about what works to safely reduce the number of children and young people in statutory care: A systematic scoping review. Technical Report.
- Forrester, D. et al. 2018. A randomized controlled trial of training in motivational Interviewing for child protection. Children and Youth Services Review 88 , pp.180-190. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.02.014)
- Sheehan, L. et al. 2018. Signs of safety: findings from a mixed methods systematic review focused on reducing the need for children to be in care. Technical Report.
- Westlake, D. et al. 2018. Safely reducing the need for children to enter care: telephone interviews with local authorities in England. Project Report.[Online].London: What Works Centre for Children's Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Reducing_the_number_of_children_in_statutory_care_telephone_interviews_with_local_authorities.pdf.
2017
- Antonopoulou, P. , Killian, M. and Forrester, D. 2017. Levels of stress and anxiety in child and family social work: Workers' perceptions of organizational structure, professional support and workplace opportunities in Children's Services in the UK. Children and Youth Services Review 76 , pp.42-50. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.02.028)
- Forrester, D. 2017. Outcomes in children’s social care. Journal of Children's Services 12 (2-3), pp.144-157. (10.1108/JCS-08-2017-0036)
- Forrester, D. et al. 2017. Family safeguarding Hertfordshire: Evaluation Report.
- Forrester, D. et al. 2017. An evidence based review of the risks to children and young people who are educated at home. National Independent Safeguarding Board. Available at: http://safeguardingboard.wales/2017/11/23/home-education-children-report-2/.
- Killian, M. et al., 2017. Validity of the Working Alliance Inventory within child protection services. Research on Social Work Practice 27 (6), pp.704-715. (10.1177/1049731515596816)
- Roberts, L. et al. 2017. Care-leavers and their children placed for adoption. Children and Youth Services Review 79 , pp.355-361. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.06.030)
- Teater, B. et al., 2017. Making social work count: A curriculum innovation to teach quantitative research methods and statistical analysis to undergraduate social work students in the United Kingdom. Journal of Teaching in Social Work 37 (5)(10.1080/08841233.2017.1381216)
- Whittaker, C. et al., 2017. Can we reliably measure social work communication skills? Development of a scale to measure child and family social work direct practice. International Journal of Child & Family Welfare 17 (1/2), pp.47-63.
- Wilkins, D. , Forrester, D. and Grant, L. 2017. What happens in child and family social work supervision?. Child and Family Social Work 22 (2), pp.942-951. (10.1111/cfs.12314)
2016
- Forrester, D. et al. 2016. Helping families where parents misuse drugs or alcohol? A mixed methods comparative evaluation of an intensive family preservation service. Child and Family Social Work 21 (1), pp.65-75. (10.1111/cfs.12111)
- Teater, B. et al. 2016. Quantitative research methods for social work: making social work count. Palgrave.
2015
- Waits, C. , Killian, M. and Forrester, D. 2015. Parental engagement in child and family social work: assessment from parent, social worker and observer perspectives. Presented at: BASPCAN 9th International Congress Edinburgh, Scotland 12-15 April 2015.
2014
- Holland, S. , Williams, A. and Forrester, D. 2014. Navigating ethical moments when researching substance misuse with parents and their children. Qualitative Research 14 (4), pp.411-427. (10.1177/1468794112473495)
- O'Connor, L. et al., 2014. Perspectives on children's experiences in families with parental substance misuse and child protection interventions. Children and Youth Services Review 38 , pp.66-74. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.01.008)
- Waits, C. and Forrester, D. 2014. Knowledge-building in child and family social work through 'velcro' research: researchers and practitioners collaborating to inform future research, training and practice. Presented at: 3rd International Conference on Practice Research New York, USA 9 -11 June 2014.
2013
- Forrester, D. 2013. What works in helping people and why?. Social Work and Social Sciences Review 16 (2), pp.88. (10.1921/2903160205)
- Holland, S. et al. 2013. Parenting and substance misuse: understanding accounts and realities in child protection contexts. British Journal of Social Work n/a (10.1093/bjsw/bcs197)
2012
- Forrester, D. 2012. Are the people who take part in randomised controlled trials real? A response to Stewart-Brown, et al.. Journal of Children's Services 7 (2), pp.144-147. (10.1108/17466661211238691)
2011
- Forrester, D. and Harwin, J. 2011. Parents who misuse drugs and alcohol: Effective interventions in social work and child protection. The NSPCC/Wiley Series in Protecting Children Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
- Galvani, S. and Forrester, D. 2011. How well prepared are newly qualified social workers for working with substance use issues? Findings from a national survey in England. Social Work Education 30 (4), pp.422-439. (10.1080/02615479.2010.504981)
- McDonald, L. et al., 2011. Mixed methods evaluation of a menu of research learning opportunities for mid-career social work academics with "protected time". Social Work and Social Sciences Review 15 (3), pp.7-25. (10.1921/095352212X658994)
2010
- Sullivan, M. P. , Forrester, D. and Al-Makhamreh, S. 2010. Transnational collaboration: Evaluation of a social work training workshop in Jordan. International Social Work 53 (2), pp.217-232. (10.1177/0020872809355387)
2009
- Cocks, A. J. et al., 2009. Facilitating the development of social work in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: A collaboration between Jordan and the UK. International Social Work 52 (6), pp.799-810. (10.1177/0020872809342656)
- Forrester, D. et al. 2009. What is the impact of public care on children's welfare? A review of research findings from England and Wales and their policy implications. Journal of Social Policy 38 (3), pp.439-456. (10.1017/S0047279409003110)
2008
- Forrester, D. 2008. Child protection and re-referrals involving serious concerns: a follow-up study of 400 referrals closed by Social Services Departments. Child & Family Social Work 13 (3), pp.286-299. (10.1111/j.1365-2206.2008.00548.x)
- Forrester, D. 2008. Is the care system failing children?. Political Quarterly 79 (2), pp.206-211. (10.1111/j.1467-923X.2008.00927.x)
- Forrester, D. et al. 2008. Evaluation of an intensive family preservation service for families affected by parental substance misuse. Child Abuse Review 17 (6), pp.410-426. (10.1002/car.1048)
- Forrester, D. et al. 2008. Child risk and parental resistance: Can motivational interviewing improve the practice of child and family social workers in working with parental alcohol misuse?. British Journal of Social Work 38 (7), pp.1302-1319. (10.1093/bjsw/bcl394)
- Forrester, D. et al. 2008. How do child and family social workers talk to parents about child welfare concerns?. Child Abuse Review 17 (1), pp.23-35. (10.1002/car.981)
2007
- Forrester, D. 2007. Patterns of re-referral to social services: a study of 400 closed cases. Child & Family Social Work 12 (1), pp.11-21. (10.1111/j.1365-2206.2006.00445.x)
- Forrester, D. , Fairtlough, A. and Bennet, Y. 2007. Describing the needs of children presenting to children's services: issues of reliability and validity. Journal of Children's Services 2 (2), pp.48-59. (10.1108/17466660200700016)
- Forrester, D. and Harwin, J. 2007. Parental substance misuse and child welfare: Outcomes for children two years after referral. British Journal of Social Work 38 (8), pp.1518-1535. (10.1093/bjsw/bcm051)
- McCambridge, J. et al., 2007. What is the extent and nature of quantitative research in British social work?. International Social Work 50 (2), pp.265-271. (10.1177/0020872807073992)
2006
- Forrester, D. and Harwin, J. 2006. Parental substance misuse and child care social work: findings from the first stage of a study of 100 families. Child & Family Social Work 11 (4), pp.325-335. (10.1111/j.1365-2206.2006.00415.x)
Articles
- Aaltio, E. et al., 2025. Motivational interviewing training for child and family social workers in Finland: An exploratory evaluation study. The British Journal of Social Work (10.1093/bjsw/bcaf279)
- Antonopoulou, P. , Killian, M. and Forrester, D. 2017. Levels of stress and anxiety in child and family social work: Workers' perceptions of organizational structure, professional support and workplace opportunities in Children's Services in the UK. Children and Youth Services Review 76 , pp.42-50. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.02.028)
- Bennett, V. et al. 2024. Student perspectives on school-based social workers: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Children's Services 19 (3), pp.189-221. (10.1108/JCS-04-2023-0021)
- Bezeczky, Z. et al. 2020. Intensive family preservaton services to prevent out-of-home placement of children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Child Abuse and Neglect 102 104394. (10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104394)
- Bostock, L. et al., 2018. Diffusion theory and multi-disciplinary working in children's services. Journal of Integrated Care 26 (2), pp.120-129. (10.1108/JICA-10-2017-0039)
- Bostock, L. et al., 2022. Why does systemic supervision support practitioners' practice more effectively with children and families?. Children and Youth Services Review 142 106652. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106652)
- Bostock, L. et al., 2019. How do we assess the quality of group supervision? Developing a coding framework. Children and Youth Services Review 100 , pp.515-524. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.03.027)
- Bostock, L. et al., 2019. What is the impact of supervision on direct practice with families?. Children and Youth Services Review 105 104428. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104428)
- Brand, S. et al. 2019. Mapping the evidence about what works to safely reduce the entry of children and young people into statutory care: a systematic scoping review protocol. BMJ Open 9 (8) e026967. (10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026967)
- Cocks, A. J. et al., 2009. Facilitating the development of social work in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: A collaboration between Jordan and the UK. International Social Work 52 (6), pp.799-810. (10.1177/0020872809342656)
- El-Banna, A. et al., 2021. Systematic review of economic evaluations of children's social care interventions. Children and Youth Services Review 121 105864. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105864)
- Forrester, D. 2012. Are the people who take part in randomised controlled trials real? A response to Stewart-Brown, et al.. Journal of Children's Services 7 (2), pp.144-147. (10.1108/17466661211238691)
- Forrester, D. 2008. Child protection and re-referrals involving serious concerns: a follow-up study of 400 referrals closed by Social Services Departments. Child & Family Social Work 13 (3), pp.286-299. (10.1111/j.1365-2206.2008.00548.x)
- Forrester, D. 2008. Is the care system failing children?. Political Quarterly 79 (2), pp.206-211. (10.1111/j.1467-923X.2008.00927.x)
- Forrester, D. 2017. Outcomes in children’s social care. Journal of Children's Services 12 (2-3), pp.144-157. (10.1108/JCS-08-2017-0036)
- Forrester, D. 2007. Patterns of re-referral to social services: a study of 400 closed cases. Child & Family Social Work 12 (1), pp.11-21. (10.1111/j.1365-2206.2006.00445.x)
- Forrester, D. 2013. What works in helping people and why?. Social Work and Social Sciences Review 16 (2), pp.88. (10.1921/2903160205)
- Forrester, D. et al. 2008. Evaluation of an intensive family preservation service for families affected by parental substance misuse. Child Abuse Review 17 (6), pp.410-426. (10.1002/car.1048)
- Forrester, D. , Fairtlough, A. and Bennet, Y. 2007. Describing the needs of children presenting to children's services: issues of reliability and validity. Journal of Children's Services 2 (2), pp.48-59. (10.1108/17466660200700016)
- Forrester, D. et al. 2009. What is the impact of public care on children's welfare? A review of research findings from England and Wales and their policy implications. Journal of Social Policy 38 (3), pp.439-456. (10.1017/S0047279409003110)
- Forrester, D. and Harwin, J. 2007. Parental substance misuse and child welfare: Outcomes for children two years after referral. British Journal of Social Work 38 (8), pp.1518-1535. (10.1093/bjsw/bcm051)
- Forrester, D. and Harwin, J. 2006. Parental substance misuse and child care social work: findings from the first stage of a study of 100 families. Child & Family Social Work 11 (4), pp.325-335. (10.1111/j.1365-2206.2006.00415.x)
- Forrester, D. et al. 2016. Helping families where parents misuse drugs or alcohol? A mixed methods comparative evaluation of an intensive family preservation service. Child and Family Social Work 21 (1), pp.65-75. (10.1111/cfs.12111)
- Forrester, D. et al. 2020. Patterns of practice: an exploratory factor analysis of child and family social worker skills. Child and Family Social Work 25 (1), pp.108-117. (10.1111/cfs.12664)
- Forrester, D. et al. 2008. Child risk and parental resistance: Can motivational interviewing improve the practice of child and family social workers in working with parental alcohol misuse?. British Journal of Social Work 38 (7), pp.1302-1319. (10.1093/bjsw/bcl394)
- Forrester, D. et al. 2008. How do child and family social workers talk to parents about child welfare concerns?. Child Abuse Review 17 (1), pp.23-35. (10.1002/car.981)
- Forrester, D. et al. 2018. A randomized controlled trial of training in motivational Interviewing for child protection. Children and Youth Services Review 88 , pp.180-190. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.02.014)
- Forrester, D. et al. 2019. What is the relationship between worker skills and outcomes for families in child and family social work?. British Journal of Social Work 49 (8), pp.2148-2167. (10.1093/bjsw/bcy126)
- Galvani, S. and Forrester, D. 2011. How well prepared are newly qualified social workers for working with substance use issues? Findings from a national survey in England. Social Work Education 30 (4), pp.422-439. (10.1080/02615479.2010.504981)
- Holland, S. et al. 2013. Parenting and substance misuse: understanding accounts and realities in child protection contexts. British Journal of Social Work n/a (10.1093/bjsw/bcs197)
- Holland, S. , Williams, A. and Forrester, D. 2014. Navigating ethical moments when researching substance misuse with parents and their children. Qualitative Research 14 (4), pp.411-427. (10.1177/1468794112473495)
- Janes, E. et al. 2022. Young carers, mental health and psychosocial wellbeing: A realist synthesis. Child: Care, Health and Development 48 (2), pp.190-202. (10.1111/cch.12924)
- Killian, M. et al., 2017. Validity of the Working Alliance Inventory within child protection services. Research on Social Work Practice 27 (6), pp.704-715. (10.1177/1049731515596816)
- Lowthian, E. et al., 2025. Children’s early care experiences and their educational attainment: a population data-linkage study in Wales. Oxford Review of Education (10.1080/03054985.2025.2540036)
- Maxwell, N. et al. 2020. Home education for children with additional learning needs – a better choice or the only option?. Educational Review 72 (4), pp.427-442. (10.1080/00131911.2018.1532955)
- McCambridge, J. et al., 2007. What is the extent and nature of quantitative research in British social work?. International Social Work 50 (2), pp.265-271. (10.1177/0020872807073992)
- McDonald, L. et al., 2011. Mixed methods evaluation of a menu of research learning opportunities for mid-career social work academics with "protected time". Social Work and Social Sciences Review 15 (3), pp.7-25. (10.1921/095352212X658994)
- O'Connor, L. et al., 2014. Perspectives on children's experiences in families with parental substance misuse and child protection interventions. Children and Youth Services Review 38 , pp.66-74. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.01.008)
- Roberts, L. et al. 2017. Care-leavers and their children placed for adoption. Children and Youth Services Review 79 , pp.355-361. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.06.030)
- Stabler, L. et al. 2021. A scoping review of system-level mechanisms to prevent children being in out-of-home care. British Journal of Social Work 52 (5), pp.2515-2536. bcab213. (10.1093/bjsw/bcab213)
- Stabler, L. et al. 2025. How might shared decision-making meetings reduce the need for children to be in care? A rapid realist review. Journal of Social Work 25 (1), pp.102-124. (10.1177/14680173241258891)
- Sullivan, M. P. , Forrester, D. and Al-Makhamreh, S. 2010. Transnational collaboration: Evaluation of a social work training workshop in Jordan. International Social Work 53 (2), pp.217-232. (10.1177/0020872809355387)
- Teater, B. et al., 2017. Making social work count: A curriculum innovation to teach quantitative research methods and statistical analysis to undergraduate social work students in the United Kingdom. Journal of Teaching in Social Work 37 (5)(10.1080/08841233.2017.1381216)
- Usubillaga, J. , Diaz, C. and Forrester, D. 2023. How are policies implemented in children's services? Developing an initial programme theory to evaluate the implementation of the new Child Sexual Exploitation guidance in Wales. Child and Family Social Work 28 (1), pp.268-278. (10.1111/cfs.12959)
- Usubillaga, J. et al. 2024. Doing with or doing to? A realist case study of factors affecting the implementation of guidance on child sexual exploitation in Wales. Children and Youth Services Review 166 107964. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107964)
- Warner, N. et al. 2025. What linked data can tell us about the increasing numbers of children entering public care. Child & Family Social Work (10.1111/cfs.70026)
- Webb, M. et al., 2024. Do new policies influence practice? A qualitative study of practice and change in relation to the new Welsh child sexual exploitation guidance. The British Journal of Social Work 54 (3), pp.1109-1128. (10.1093/bjsw/bcad164)
- Westlake, D. et al. 2025. A Cluster randomised controlled trial of social workers in schools in England. Research on Social Work Practice (10.1177/10497315251338227)
- Westlake, D. et al. 2022. The SWIS trial: protocol of a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial of school based social work. PLoS ONE 17 (6) e0265354.. (10.1371/journal.pone.0265354)
- Whittaker, C. et al., 2017. Can we reliably measure social work communication skills? Development of a scale to measure child and family social work direct practice. International Journal of Child & Family Welfare 17 (1/2), pp.47-63.
- Wilkins, D. and Forrester, D. 2019. Predicting the future in child and family social work: theoretical, ethical and methodological issues for a proposed research programme. Child Care in Practice 26 (2), pp.196-209. (10.1080/13575279.2019.1685463)
- Wilkins, D. and Forrester, D. 2021. What do parents think about statutory child and family social work services in the UK?. British Journal of Social Work 51 (6), pp.2210-2227. (10.1093/bjsw/bcaa185)
- Wilkins, D. , Forrester, D. and Grant, L. 2017. What happens in child and family social work supervision?. Child and Family Social Work 22 (2), pp.942-951. (10.1111/cfs.12314)
- Williams, A. et al. 2022. Even secure children’s homes won’t take me. Children placed in alternative accommodation. Residential Treatment for Children and Youth 39 (4), pp.370-386. (10.1080/0886571X.2022.2044431)
- Wood, S. et al. 2022. How might changes to family income affect the likelihood of children being in out-of-home care? Evidence from a realist and qualitative rapid evidence assessment of interventions. Children and Youth Services Review 143 106685. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106685)
- Wood, S. and Forrester, D. 2023. Comparing local authority rates of children in care: A survey of the children’s social care workforce in Wales. The British Journal of Social Work 53 (6), pp.3089-3109. (10.1093/bjsw/bcad097)
- Wood, S. et al. 2024. Outcomes for high-risk young people referred to secure children’s homes for welfare reasons: a population record linkage study in England. Journal of Children's Services 19 (2), pp.105-122. (10.1108/JCS-04-2023-0018)
Book sections
- Forrester, D. 2025. RCTs, the What Works centre and children's social care. In: Sanders, M. , Westlake, D. and Hirneis, V. eds. Experimental Methods and Children's Social Care: The Contribution of Randomised Controlled Trials. Sociology, Social Policy and Education 2025 Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. , pp.21-29. (10.4337/9781035327157.00010)
- Forrester, D. and Westlake, D. 2025. Motivational interviewing in Islington: our first, worst, and most eye-opening trial. In: Sanders, M. , Westlake, D. and Hirneis, V. eds. Experimental Methods and Children's Social Care: The Contribution of Randomised Controlled Trials. Sociology, Social Policy and Education 2025 Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. , pp.86-97. (10.4337/9781035327157.00016)
Books
- Forrester, D. 2024. The enlightened social worker: An introduction to rights-focused practice. Bristol: Bristol University Press. (10.51952/9781447367680)
- Forrester, D. and Harwin, J. 2011. Parents who misuse drugs and alcohol: Effective interventions in social work and child protection. The NSPCC/Wiley Series in Protecting Children Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
- Forrester, D. , Wilkins, D. and Whittaker, C. 2021. Motivational interviewing for working with children and families. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- Teater, B. et al. 2016. Quantitative research methods for social work: making social work count. Palgrave.
Conferences
- Waits, C. and Forrester, D. 2014. Knowledge-building in child and family social work through 'velcro' research: researchers and practitioners collaborating to inform future research, training and practice. Presented at: 3rd International Conference on Practice Research New York, USA 9 -11 June 2014.
- Waits, C. , Killian, M. and Forrester, D. 2015. Parental engagement in child and family social work: assessment from parent, social worker and observer perspectives. Presented at: BASPCAN 9th International Congress Edinburgh, Scotland 12-15 April 2015.
Monographs
- Adara, L. et al. 2023. The Social Workers in Schools Trial: An evaluation of school based social work.. Project Report.Early Intervention Foundation.
- Brand, S. et al. 2018. Mapping the evidence about what works to safely reduce the number of children and young people in statutory care: A systematic scoping review. Technical Report.
- Brand, S. et al. 2019. How family budget change interventions affect children being in care: a rapid evidence assessment. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff, Wales: What Works for Children's Social Care. Available at: http://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/WWCSC_Family_Budget_Change_rapid_evidence_assessment_Full_Report_Aug2019.pdf.
- Forrester, D. et al. 2017. Family safeguarding Hertfordshire: Evaluation Report.
- Forrester, D. et al. 2017. An evidence based review of the risks to children and young people who are educated at home. National Independent Safeguarding Board. Available at: http://safeguardingboard.wales/2017/11/23/home-education-children-report-2/.
- Forrester, D. et al. 2022. Children's social services and care rates in Wales: A survey of the sector. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff: Wales Centre for Public Policy. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.54454/20220311.
- Meindl, M. et al. 2019. How do family drug and alcohol courts work with parents to safely reduce the number of children in care? A rapid realist review. Project Report.[Online].London: What Works Centre for Children's Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/WWCSC_FDAC_rapid_realist_review_Oct2019.pdf.
- Nurmatov, U. et al. 2020. Impact of shared decision-making family meetings on children's out-of-home care, family empowerment and satisfaction: a systematic review. Project Report.[Online].London: What Works Centre for Children's Social Care. Available at: https://foundations.org.uk/our-work/publications/impact-of-shared-decision-making-family-meetings-on-childrens-out-of-home-care-family-empowerment-and-satisfaction/.
- Sheehan, L. et al. 2018. Signs of safety: findings from a mixed methods systematic review focused on reducing the need for children to be in care. Technical Report.
- Stabler, L. et al. 2019. Shared decision-making: What is good practice in delivering meetings? Involving families meaningfully in decision-making to keep children safely at home: A rapid realist review. Technical Report.
- Westlake, D. et al. 2018. Safely reducing the need for children to enter care: telephone interviews with local authorities in England. Project Report.[Online].London: What Works Centre for Children's Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Reducing_the_number_of_children_in_statutory_care_telephone_interviews_with_local_authorities.pdf.
Research
I am interesed in what good practice in child and family social work is, what difference it makes and what factors shape it. This has involved studies of the impact of training, supervision and organisational change on practice, developing coding schemes of good practice and exploring different types of outcomes within children's services. Several studies have involved applying Motivational Interviewing to child and family social work. I currently lead a major infrastructure award of £3 million from Health and Care Research Wales which includes CASCADE, the Centre for Trials Research and SAIL secure data linkage at Swansea to develop new research approaches for children's social care, enhance the involvement of children and parents and increase sector engagement with and use of research.
Teaching
I teach on the Masters in Social Work and the Professional Doctorate - with a focus on evidence based practice, practice skills and assessment in social work.
Biography
My first degree was in Psychology, however I spent much of my time doing voluntary work with children and young people. A feeling that psychology was too individualistic led me to follow a career in social work, and I qualified in 1992. I worked in Southwark in frontline child protection until 1999, when unanswered questions about how to do the work led me into research. Stints at Sussex, Goldsmiths and Brunel culminated in me becoming a Professor at Bedfordshire. In 2016 I came to Cardiff to head up the new CASCADE Centre for Children's Social Care Research and Development - a job I absolutely love!
Professional memberships
Registered social worker (Health Care Professionals Council)
Academic positions
1999 – 2002 Research Fellow, University of Sussex
2002 - 2005 Lecturer in Social Work, Goldsmiths College
2005 - 2007 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Brunel University
2007- 2009 Reader in Child Welfare, University of Bedfordshire
2009- 2015 Professor of Social Work Research, University of Bedfordshire
Supervisions
I currently supervise 8-10 PhD students, covering issues as diverse as ethnographies of social work decision-making, understanding the needs of young carers and exploring what leadership is in children's social care. I am particularly interested in work focussed on direct observation of practice or with the potential for an evaluative component.
CASCADE, based within one of the largest Schools of Social Science in the United Kingdom, is an exceptionally good place for postgraduate study and we have had a great deal of success in obtaining both funding for PhD study and postdoctoral research for students after they graduate. If you would like to discuss study within CASCADE do contact me.
