![Lorna Stabler BA, MA, MSc, PhD](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/8082?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Lorna Stabler
(she/her)
BA, MA, MSc, PhD
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Lorna Stabler
Research Fellow
Overview
I am a Research Fellow within CASCADE. I primarily lead research focused on kinship care, and family-led decision making, including most recently a Nuffield Foundation funded study focused on Special Guardianship Orders in Wales, and an NIHR study focused on understanding how Family Group Conferences can be embedded in statuory child and family social work. I currently hold an HCRW funded Advancing Researcher award to develop further research related to kinship care. I am also the HCRW Specialty Lead for Social Care and Residential Settings across Wales.
I began my work with CASCADE on a programme of work for the What Work's Centre for Children's Social Care. I previously worked for the Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work and Social Care as an embedded researcher within an inner London Local Authority, focused on improving child protection social work practice.
I am particularly motivated by understanding what can make a difference for families and young people involved in children's social care, and links between what social worker do and wider family outcomes. With that aim in mind, I have worked on a number of realist informed projects exploring what works well, for whom, under what circumstances in reducing the need for children to be in care.
Publication
2026
- Stabler, L. et al. 2026. Exploring how “risk” can be conceptualised and addressed to overcome barriers to implementing family-led innovations in child protection social work. Journal of Children's Services (10.1108/jcs-05-2025-0025)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2026. Special guardianship families: Identifying children’s strengths and support needs. Project Report.Cardiff University.
- Stabler, L. et al. 2026. Special guardianship families in Wales: Summary report. Project Report.Cardiff University.
- Stabler, L. et al. 2026. Family Group Conferences as an alternative to Initial Child Protection Conferences for families on the Child Protection pathway: Synopsis. Health and Social Care Delivery Research 14 (22)(10.3310/plqs7147)
- Warner, N. et al. 2026. Special guardianship families in Wales: Characteristics and care pathways. Project Report.Cardiff University.
- Day, J. et al., 2026. Contextual factors influencing the implementation of an innovation in child protection services in England: a qualitative analysis using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. The British Journal of Social Work 56 (3), pp.1077-1096. (10.1093/bjsw/bcaf232)
- Bernheim, B. et al., 2026. Family‐led decision‐making meetings as an alternative to initial child protection conferences: Findings from a realist evaluation of the Safeguarding Family Group Conferencing pilot in England. Child & Family Social Work (10.1111/cfs.70131)
- Fitz-Symonds, S. and Stabler, L. 2026. Advocacy for children in care. In: Diaz, C. , Fitz-Symonds, S. and Fisher, T. eds. Participatory Approaches in Child and Family Social Work. Policy Press. , pp.167-188. (10.51952/9781447373407.ch009)
- Stabler, L. , Fisher, T. and Man Au, K. 2026. Strengthening families through family group conferencing. In: Diaz, C. , Fitz-Symonds, S. and Fisher, T. eds. Participatory Approaches in Child and Family Social Work. Policy Press. , pp.87-110. (10.51952/9781447373407.ch006)
2025
- Stabler, L. 2025. Learning from experience: how lived, living and learned experiences can cocreate knowledge [Editorial]. BMJ Paediatrics Open 9 (1) e004125. (10.1136/bmjpo-2025-004125)
- Stabler, L. 2025. Signs of Safety – what is it, and what did the evidence say?. 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.66-76. (10.4337/9781035327157.00014)
- Bernheim, B. et al., 2025. The power and potential of space and place in family group conferencing: Reimagining the role of the venue in child protection practice. Qualitative Social Work 24 (4), pp.355-372. (10.1177/14733250241301829)
- Bernheim, B. et al., 2025. Applying a realist evaluation to an intervention in children’s social care: A worked example from the Safeguarding Family Group Conference study. Evaluation 31 (1), pp.49-69. (10.1177/13563890241309643)
- 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)
- Stabler, L. 2025. An exploration of sibling kinship care with siblings, policy makers and practitioners in the UK: Identifying pathways for improving understanding and outcomes. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
2024
- Stabler, L. 2024. “They finally see me, they trust me, my brother’s coming home” Recognising the motivations and role of siblings who become kinship carers. Societies 14 (2) 24. (10.3390/soc14020024)
2023
- Stabler, L. et al. 2023. ‘I probably wouldn’t want to talk about anything too personal’: A qualitative exploration of how issues of privacy, confidentiality and surveillance in the home impact on access and engagement with online services and spaces for care-experienced young people. Adoption & Fostering 47 (3), pp.277-294. (10.1177/03085759231203019)
- 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.
2022
- 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)
- Mannay, D. et al. 2022. The strengths and challenges of online services and interventions to support the mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced children and young people: A study exploring the views of young people, carers, and social care professionals in Wales during the Coronavirus pandemic. Project Report.Cardiff: The Fostering Network in Wales.
2021
- Stabler, L. et al. 2021. A rapid realist review of effective mental health interventions for individuals with chronic physical health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic using a systems-level mental health promotion framework. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18 (23) 12292. (10.3390/ijerph182312292)
- 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)
2020
- Stabler, L. , Wilkins, D. and Carro, H. 2020. What do children think about their social worker? A Q-method study of children's services. Child and Family Social Work 25 (1), pp.118-126. (10.1111/cfs.12665)
2019
- 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.
- 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)
- 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.
2018
- Wilkins, D. et al. 2018. Evaluating the quality of social work supervision in UK children's services: comparing self-report and independent observations. Clinical Social Work Journal 46 (4), pp.350-360. (10.1007/s10615-018-0680-7)
- 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.
Articles
- Stabler, L. et al. 2026. Exploring how “risk” can be conceptualised and addressed to overcome barriers to implementing family-led innovations in child protection social work. Journal of Children's Services (10.1108/jcs-05-2025-0025)
- Stabler, L. et al. 2026. Family Group Conferences as an alternative to Initial Child Protection Conferences for families on the Child Protection pathway: Synopsis. Health and Social Care Delivery Research 14 (22)(10.3310/plqs7147)
- Day, J. et al., 2026. Contextual factors influencing the implementation of an innovation in child protection services in England: a qualitative analysis using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. The British Journal of Social Work 56 (3), pp.1077-1096. (10.1093/bjsw/bcaf232)
- Bernheim, B. et al., 2026. Family‐led decision‐making meetings as an alternative to initial child protection conferences: Findings from a realist evaluation of the Safeguarding Family Group Conferencing pilot in England. Child & Family Social Work (10.1111/cfs.70131)
- Stabler, L. 2025. Learning from experience: how lived, living and learned experiences can cocreate knowledge [Editorial]. BMJ Paediatrics Open 9 (1) e004125. (10.1136/bmjpo-2025-004125)
- Bernheim, B. et al., 2025. The power and potential of space and place in family group conferencing: Reimagining the role of the venue in child protection practice. Qualitative Social Work 24 (4), pp.355-372. (10.1177/14733250241301829)
- Bernheim, B. et al., 2025. Applying a realist evaluation to an intervention in children’s social care: A worked example from the Safeguarding Family Group Conference study. Evaluation 31 (1), pp.49-69. (10.1177/13563890241309643)
- 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)
- Stabler, L. 2024. “They finally see me, they trust me, my brother’s coming home” Recognising the motivations and role of siblings who become kinship carers. Societies 14 (2) 24. (10.3390/soc14020024)
- Stabler, L. et al. 2023. ‘I probably wouldn’t want to talk about anything too personal’: A qualitative exploration of how issues of privacy, confidentiality and surveillance in the home impact on access and engagement with online services and spaces for care-experienced young people. Adoption & Fostering 47 (3), pp.277-294. (10.1177/03085759231203019)
- 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)
- Stabler, L. et al. 2021. A rapid realist review of effective mental health interventions for individuals with chronic physical health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic using a systems-level mental health promotion framework. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18 (23) 12292. (10.3390/ijerph182312292)
- 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. , Wilkins, D. and Carro, H. 2020. What do children think about their social worker? A Q-method study of children's services. Child and Family Social Work 25 (1), pp.118-126. (10.1111/cfs.12665)
- 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)
- Wilkins, D. et al. 2018. Evaluating the quality of social work supervision in UK children's services: comparing self-report and independent observations. Clinical Social Work Journal 46 (4), pp.350-360. (10.1007/s10615-018-0680-7)
Book sections
- Fitz-Symonds, S. and Stabler, L. 2026. Advocacy for children in care. In: Diaz, C. , Fitz-Symonds, S. and Fisher, T. eds. Participatory Approaches in Child and Family Social Work. Policy Press. , pp.167-188. (10.51952/9781447373407.ch009)
- Stabler, L. , Fisher, T. and Man Au, K. 2026. Strengthening families through family group conferencing. In: Diaz, C. , Fitz-Symonds, S. and Fisher, T. eds. Participatory Approaches in Child and Family Social Work. Policy Press. , pp.87-110. (10.51952/9781447373407.ch006)
- Stabler, L. 2025. Signs of Safety – what is it, and what did the evidence say?. 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.66-76. (10.4337/9781035327157.00014)
Monographs
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2026. Special guardianship families: Identifying children’s strengths and support needs. Project Report.Cardiff University.
- Stabler, L. et al. 2026. Special guardianship families in Wales: Summary report. Project Report.Cardiff University.
- Warner, N. et al. 2026. Special guardianship families in Wales: Characteristics and care pathways. Project Report.Cardiff University.
- 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.
- Mannay, D. et al. 2022. The strengths and challenges of online services and interventions to support the mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced children and young people: A study exploring the views of young people, carers, and social care professionals in Wales during the Coronavirus pandemic. Project Report.Cardiff: The Fostering Network in Wales.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Thesis
Research
I work in partnership with staff across different diciplines. I lead a collaborative NIHR funded project drawing on children's social care expertise in CASCADE, Implementation Science expertise in University of Exeter Medical School and social work practice experience with partner local authorities. I have recently worked on a TRIUMPH (Transdisciplinary Research for the Improvement of Youth Mental Public Health) funded project with DECIPHER on adapting online tools to support young people's mental health. In addition, I have worked on a number of bids and projects with researchers across the UK and in Canada.
I am keen to develop a programme of work related to kinship care. I am currently working on an ESRC funded PhD programme exploring sibling kinship carers' experiences and support needs. In addition, I have been awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship in 2019 to travel to countries in Asia (Cambodia, India and Japan) to explore approaches to foster and kinship care.
Teaching
MA Social Work
Student dissertation supervision (undergraduate and masters)
Biography
- 2023 - Ongoing Research Fellow, CASCADE, Cardiff University
- 2018 - 2023 Research Associate, CASCADE, Cardiff University
- 2016 - 2018 Research Assistant, Tilda Goldberg Centre, University of Bedfordshire
- 2015 - 2016 Research Assistant, Cambridge International Examinations, Cambridge University
Honours and awards
Churchill Fellowship (2019).
Professional memberships
Member of European Social Work Research Association
Committees and reviewing
- Journal reviewer, Qualitative Social Work
- Journal reviewer, Social Work Education
- Project reviewer, NSPCC
Supervisions
- Kinship care / Special Guardianship
- Improving outcomes for care experienced young people
- Family Group Conferencing / family network involvement
- Lived experience-led research / codesign and coproduction
- Realist methodology
- Critical Realism
News articles
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Kinship Care
- Social work
- Care experience
- Foster care
- Co-production
