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Four versions are given here to suit different speaking
engagement needs
short (50 words)
Michael Little, Ph.D. is the Co-Director of The Social Research Unit based at Dartington in the UK. Michael's work is best known for establishing connections between research, policy and practice in Europe and the United States.
general events (100 words)
Michael Little, Ph.D. was trained as a social psychologist and sociologist. He is the Co-Director of The Social Research Unit based at Dartington in the UK. He holds professorial positions at the universities of Bath and Exeter and is Visiting Fellow at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago. He is author of more than 10 books and over 100 other publications on child development and services aimed at reducing social need. Michael's work has been used in the formation of policy and practice in England, five EU countries and three US states. Michael's work is best known for establishing connections between research, policy and practice.
events for practitioners (125 words)
Michael Little Ph.D. is a researcher who applies high quality research to policy and practice. His work at The Social Research Unit has led to the creation of a collection of research, development and dissemination activities based in England, Spain and the United States dedicated to improving outcomes for children in need. Michael is author of several books and other publications on services for children aimed at reducing social need, including the Common Language series of practice tools designed to improve communication and co-operation between professionals working with children. Michael's work has been used in the formation of policy and practice in England, five EU and three US states.
longer statement (358 words)
Michael Little, Ph.D. is the Co-Director of The Social Research Unit an NGO bases in Dartington in the UK. He is also a Visiting Fellow at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago and holds additional appointments at the universities of Bath and Exeter in England. His primary research interest is studying the way in which children's services impact on child development. His work is focused on improving policy and practice for children in need and has been used in some way in over 20 countries in four continents. His work has produced:
- Over 150 publications, including 13 books examining: parental involvement for children in state care; the balance between family support and child protection; prevention and early intervention for children in need; secure accommodation for extremely difficult and disturbed young people; the re-unification of separated children; the identity of anti-social young people; and residential services for children in need.
- Strong application to policy. His research has been cited in or used to structure legislation on:
Services for Children in Need (England and Wales Children Act) Child Protection (UK Government Policy)
- Secure Accommodation (Specific policy initiatives in Spain and England)
- Level of Secure Accommodation (Youth Justice Board of England)
- Increased Preventative Services (UK SureStart Programme)
- A methodology for applying ideas that underpin research to improve practice on behalf of children in need. This work has led to:
- Publication of seven practice tools dealing with assessment, aggregation of case level data, the return of separated children and predicting outcomes for children in need
- The take-up of these tools in eight European states and three US states
An international network of sites using the practice tools
- The development or founding of several research, dissemination, practice development, information design and publishing organisations - dedicated to demonstrably improved outcomes for children in need - with bases in England, Spain and the United States.
Michael is actively involved in the support of research and development designs to improve children's health and development in several countries. Michael directs a programme for Ph.D. students selected for their diverse cultural backgrounds and commitment to high quality research applied to policy and practice.
born: Liverpool, UK, 28th August 1958
current positions: Co-Director: The Social Research Unit
other roles:Visiting Professor Universities of Bath and Exeter; Fellow of the Centre for Social Policy: Warren House; Visiting Fellow at the Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
qualifications:B.A. (Hons) Sociology (1980); Ph.D. Social Psychology (1988)
other service:Co-Editor of Journal of Children's Services; Executive Editor of Prevention Action; Trustee for ChildHope UK; Expert Faculty, ISPCAN; Reviewer for Adoption and Fostering; Child and Adolescent Mental Health; Prevention Science; Journal of Adolescence; Journal of Child and Family Social Work; Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry; Developmental Psychology; British Journal of Social Work; Representing Children
previous positions:Lecturer, City of Birmingham Polytechnic; Senior Research Fellow, School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol
other service (completed):Trustee, Michael Sieff Foundation; Member of the Child Protection, Family Law and Justice Committee of the Nuffield Foundation; Member of the Youth Justice Board Panel on Secure Estate; Member of the South-West NHS Executive Research and Development Executive Committee on the Interface between Personal Social Services and Health; Friend of RPS/Rainer Foundation; Evaluator for Oak Foundation, Geneva; Expert Evidence in UK High Court (Family Division)
publications:To date 159 publications including 13 books, 7 practice tools to help implement research findings, 39 chapters in books, 18 published research monographs, 27 articles in refereed journals, 25 articles in professional journals and 12 unpublished research monographs; Editor of three book series - Living Away from Home: Studies in Residential Care, John Wiley and Sons, (with Davies, C., Archer, L. and Hicks, L.), Dartington Social Research Series, Ashgate Publishing, (with Mount K.), International Library of Child Development and Children in Need, Ashgate
organisational development:Founder: Dartington-i (England, Spain and US); Research in Practice; DeMo; Warren House Press; Centre for Social Policy; Warren House Group at Dartington |
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