Biography

I am Professor of Social Work at the University of Kent's School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research and Co-Director of the university's new Centre for Child Protection. My interest, experience and expertise are in child protection.

I am also visiting Professor of Child Protection Research at Royal Holloway College, University of London. Prior to coming to Kent in 2007, I was Professor of Social Work Research at Middlesex University.

I am the author of more than 60 articles, books and chapters on relationally-based social work theory, research and practice. In 2010 I co-authored a government-funded, C4EO Knowledge Review on Working with Highly Resistant Families. In 2011 I published the popular Understanding Disorganized Attachment: Theory and Practice of Working with Children and Adults (JKP Books).

Currently I lead the Advanced Child Protection stream within the West London Alliance Post-qualifying Initiative (involving eight London boroughs) and I also direct the Assessment of Disorganised Attachment and Maltreatment (ADAM) Project in 23 child protection organisations across the UK and Europe.

Career
I qualified in 1974 and worked with traumatised children for a number of years before becoming a Senior Policy Adviser in services to children and families to the Director of Social Services in Essex and then Deputy Director of Social Services in Southend.

I then joined the University of East Anglia in Norwich, firstly as a Lecturer and then as a Senior Lecturer. After 17 years at UEA, I was appointed as Professor of Social Work Research at Middlesex University in 2005. I came to the University of Kent as Professor of Social Work in 2007. I was also Deputy Head of the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR) from 2007-2010.   

Education
I qualified as a teacher in 1974 from the University of Sussex and went on to gain an advanced post-graduate qualification from Cambridge University. I have a master’s degree and PhD from the University of East Anglia.

Find me
Visit my website.

Teaching

Current

Currently I am convenor for SO308: Human Growth and Development (Year One).

Research

Research interests
I have been researching attachment theory in child protection have developed innovative ways of assessing risk and helping families through the Assessment of Disorganised Attachment and Maltreatment (ADAM) Project.

I was one of three researchers in a DH-sponsored study of 220 family members' involvement in child protection processes, the results of which were reported in the influential Messages from Research series.

I retain an interest in this area of study and directed two research projects into the use of Family Group Conferences, one with youth offenders, the other in mental health.

I am also interested in mixed methods in social research, especially the use of QMethodology to explore “patterned subjectivities” Path Analysis and Structural Equation Modelling.

Current
I am currently director of the Assessment of Disorganised Attachment and Maltreatment (ADAM) project. It is an innovative approach to assessment and intervention where there are child protection concerns.

The ADAM Project is now established in 23 organisations in the UK and Europe including in Stockholm, Dusseldorf, Hanover and Cyprus. Depending on the child's age, different measures of Disorganised Attachment (DA) are used to “deepen and strengthen” existing enquiries because of the high association between DA and abuse.

With Dr Jane Reeves I established the Centre for Child Protection here at the University of Kent. It will have a new, online MA in Child Protection in January 2013. The centre also houses new and innovative ways of training and developing the skills, knowledge and practice of multi-agency child protection professionals, including social workers, paediatricians, GPs, health visitors, teachers and probation officers.

This work involves the development of ‘serious games’, which are immersive, virtual reality platforms to help professionals:

• Assess risk and the potential for change simultaneously.
• Share concerns and also show concern.
• Detect deceptive communication and disguised compliance.
• Help and support families and change is possible.

Until 2009, I was the principal investigator of a research project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (£97,000 plus £5,000 from the Social Care Institute for Excellence) entitled 'An Action Research Project to Increase the Confidence and Capability of Academic Social Work Researchers across the UK'.

The project was part of the ESRC's Researcher Development Initiative and involved six UK universities from November 2007 to 2009.

Finally, I run sessions across the university on the writing of research proposals and presented this material at Oxford University in 2010 and 2012 and at Naples in 2010.

Research grants

• 2011 - £38500 Lead on a University of Kent Innovation and Enterprise Ideas Factory grant ‘Developing the Kent Online Child Protection Hub – new approached to child protection skills and methods using virtual reality environment technology and online lectures, seminars, discussion groups and blogs.
• 2010 - £3000 Co-I on the ESRC RDI 4 Increasing the competence and confidence of social work researchers III.
• 2010 - £6000  Lead on the West London Alliance Advanced Child Protection Programme.
• 2009 - £12000 Development of the ADAM Project in three London Boroughs. 
• 2009 - £21000 South-east Coastal Communities Project with the Swale Mediation Service.   
• 2007 - £93,442  PI on the ESRC RDI 2 series RES-035-25-0068 ‘Increasing the competence and confidence of social work researchers II: An action-learning programme to develop research capacity’ (funded over two years).
• 2007 - £5000 Additional contribution to the above project from the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE).

Past

• (2004) Family Group Conferences with young offenders in a social services department, as part of a national programme into evaluating restorative justice schemes (part of a series of studies co-ordinated by University of Oxford).
• (2003) Family Group Conferences in adult mental health services in a social services department and NHS Trust.
• (2002) Using records in supervision within a London Borough.
• (1999) Action research project and analysis of focus groups in a health authority undergoing major organisational and attitudinal change.
• (1999) Action Research into change management in a large City Council.
• (1998) The needs and views of ‘unknown’ carers in two areas in a social services department and with the Health Commission.
• (1997) Children and young people attending child protection conferences in two social services departments involving a survey of the views of children, parents and professionals.
• (1997) Action Research into knowledge management in an international financial institution.
• (1996) (with Prof Peter Wedge) Motivation, morale and performance within a major UK financial institution.
• (1995)  (with Prof June Thoburn and Ann Lewis) Family participation in child protection conferences in seven social services departments - a three-year research study funded by the Department of Health involving 220 families.
• (1995) A study of family participation in child protection conferences in an inner London social services department with multi-agency professionals.
• (1988) (with Prof June Thoburn) Family participation in child protection conferences in an inner London social services department, survey of 122 professionals and qualitative interviews with 22 family members.

Supervision
If you have a proposal in my areas of interest and you are interested in studying at the University of Kent, please email me to discuss further. I currently supervise six PhD students.

Publications

Recent publications

• Shemmings, D. Shemmings, Y. & Cook, A (2012) ‘Gaining the Trust of ‘Highly Resistant’ Families: Insights from Attachment Theory and Research’, Child & Family Social Work.
• Corby, B. Shemmings, D. & Wilkins, D. (2012) Child Abuse (revised 5th edition, following the death of Brian Corby).  
• Shemmings, D. & Ellingsen, I. (2012) ‘Using Q-methodology in Qualitative Research’ in The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research, Sage. 
• Shemmings, D. (2011) Attachment in Children and Adults, An online resource for Research in Practice.
• Shemmings, D. &. Shemmings, Y. (2011) Understanding Disorganized Attachment: Theory and Practice of Working with Children and Adults, Jessica Kingsley.
• Shemmings, D. & Shemmings, Y. (2011) ‘Disorganised Attachment and Child Maltreatment: New Ways of Assessing and Working with Families’, Community Care (27.01.2011)
• Shemmings, D. & Shemmings, Y. (2011) ‘Disorganised Attachment and Child Maltreatment: a brief knowledge review, Community Care Inform. Jan.2011.
• Ellingsen, I., Shemmings, D. & Størksen, I (2011) ‘The Concept of ‘Family’ Among Norwegian Adolescents in Long-Term Foster Care, Child Adolescent Social Work Journal, online DOI 10.1007/s10560-011-0234-0.
• Orme, J. & Shemmings, D. (2010) Developing Research-based Social Work Practice, Palgrave Books.
• Fauth, R., Jelicic, H., Hart, D., Burton, S., Shemmings, D., Bergeron, C., White, K. and Morris, M. (2010) Effective practice to protect children living in ‘highly resistant’ families, London: C4EO (Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services).
• Shemmings, D. (2011) ‘Unprocessed Emotion and Child Protection Practice’, Social Work Now, Mar 2011).

Earlier publications

• Mutter, R., Shemmings, D, Dugmore, P., & Hyare, M. (2008) 'Restorative Justice and Family Group Conferencing', Health and Social Care in the Community, 16(3), pp.262-270.
• Shemmings, D. (2006) ‘Using adult attachment theory to differentiate adult children’s internal working models of later life filial relationships’ Journal of Aging Studies, 20(2), April 2006, pp 177-191.
• Shemmings, D. (2006) ‘“Quantifying” qualitative data: an illustrative example of the use of Q methodology in psychosocial research’, Qualitative Research in Psychology,  3(2), April 2006, pp 147-165.
• Shemmings, D. (2004) 'Researching relationships from an attachment perspective: the use of behavioural, interview, self-report and projective methods', Journal of Social Work Practice, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 299–314.
• Howe D., Shemmings, D. and Feast J. (2001) ‘Age at placement and adult adopted people's experience of being adopted’, Child and Family Social Work, vol 6 (4) pp. 337-349.
• Shemmings, D. (2000) ‘Adult attachment theory and its contribution to an understanding of conflict and abuse in later-life relationships’, Journal of Adult Protection, vol 2 (3), pp. 40-49.
• Shemmings, D. (2000) ‘Professionals’ attitudes to children’s participation in decision-making: dichotomous positions and doctrinal contests’, Child and Family Social Work, vol 5 (3), pp. 235-244. 
• Thoburn, J., Lewis, A. and Shemmings, D. (1995) 'Family Involvement in Child Protection', Child Abuse Review, 4, pp.161-171.
• Shemmings, D. (1991) Client Access to Records: Participation in Social Work, Avebury, Gower, 123pp.
• Thoburn, J., Lewis, A. and Shemmings, D. (1995) Paternalism or Partnership? Family Participation in Child Protection, HMSO.
• Shemmings, D. and Platt, D. eds. (1996) Making Enquiries into Allegations of Child Abuse: Partnership with Families, John Wiley.

Monographs

• Shemmings, D, and Thoburn, J. (1990) Parental Participation in Child Protection Conferences in Hackney Social Services Department, University of East Anglia, Norwich.
• Shemmings, D. (1991) Family Participation in Child Protection Conferences in Lewisham Social Services Department, University of East Anglia, Norwich.
• Shemmings, D. (1992) 'The Use of Language' in Participation in Practice-Involving Families in Child Protection: A Reader, Thoburn, J. ed., University of East Anglia, Norwich (commissioned by the Department of Health).  
• Shemmings, D. and Wedge, P. (1996) Motivation, Morale and Performance, UEA Publications.
• Shemmings, D. (2005) Adult Attachment Theory, UEA Social Work Monograph series (No. 213), UEA Norwich.

Book chapters

• Shemmings, D. and Shemmings, Y. (1995) 'Participatory Practice in Health and Welfare' in Empowerment and Community Care, Jack, R. ed., Chapman and Hall, pp 43-58.
• Shemmings, D. and Shemmings, Y. (1996) ‘Building Trust when Making Enquiries’ in Making Enquiries into Alleged Child Abuse and Neglect: Partnership with Families, Shemmings, D. and Platt, D. eds., John Wiley, 67-85.
• Shemmings, D. (1996) ‘Introduction’ to Making Enquiries into Alleged Child Abuse and Neglect: Partnership with Families, Shemmings, D. and Platt, D. eds. John Wiley, pp. xiii-xxv.
• Thoburn, J., Lewis, A. and Shemmings, D. (1996) ‘Partnership-Based Practice in Child Protection Work’ in Child Welfare Services: Developments in Law, Policy, Practice and Research, Hill, M. and Aldgate, J. eds., London: Jessica Kingsley, pp 132-146.
• Shemmings, D. and Shemmings, Y (1997) ‘Using Psychodynamic Theory in Social Work’ in Using Theory in Social Work (ed. Jack, R.), Open Learning Foundation/Department of Health.  
• Shemmings, D (1997) ‘Child protection investigations and enquiries’ in Turning Points: Involving Young People in Decision-Making: A Reader, Marchant, R and Gordon, R (eds.), John Wiley/NSPCC.
• Shemmings, D (1997) ‘Conceptions of Childhood’ in Turning Points: Involving Young People in Decision-Making: A Reader, Marchant, R and Gordon, R (eds.), John Wiley/NSPCC.
• Connolly, J. and Shemmings, D (1998) Understanding Assessment in Family Support and Child Protection: A Directory of Training Materials, Courses and Key Texts, University of East Anglia, Norwich.
• Shemmings, D. (ed.) (1999) Involving Children in Family Support and Child Protection, London: Stationery Office.
• Shemmings, D (1999) ‘Research into children’s involvement in child protection conferences’ in Involving Children in Family Support and Child Protection, Shemmings, D. (ed.), London: Stationery Office.
• Shemmings, D (1999) ‘The Importance of Relationships’ in Involving Children in Family Support and Child Protection, Shemmings, D. (ed.) London: Stationery Office.
• Shemmings, D (1999) In On The Act - Involving Children in Family Support and Child Protection - A Training Pack, commissioned by the Department of Health, University of East Anglia, Norwich.
• Corner. A, Rushforth, C. and Shemmings, D. (1999) ‘Preparing Children for Involvement in Decision-Making’ in Involving Children in Family Support and Child Protection, Shemmings, D. (ed.) London: Stationery Office.
• Shemmings, Y. and Shemmings, D. (2001) ‘Empowering children and family members to participate in the assessment process’ in The Child’s World: Assessing Children in Need (ed. Horwarth, J), London: Jessica Kingsley.
• Shemmings, D. & Shemmings, Y. (2003) ‘Developing research-mindedness for managers and supervisors’, in Managing Care in Practice, Seden, J. & Reynolds, J. (eds.).

Activity

Editorial

• Co-editor (with Dr Fiona Brooks) of a Special Edition of Health and Social Care in the Community on ‘Children and Families’ (2008).

Memberships

• Member of a UK-wide Planning Team established to implement A Social Work Research Strategy in Higher Education: 2006-2020by the Joint Universities Council for Social Work Education Committee (JUC-SWEC).

External Examining

• New College, Durham, BA programme (1998-2002).
• Tavistock Institute/University of East London, MA in Child Protection Studies (1999-2003). 
• Leeds University, BA programme (current).
• York University, MSc programme (current).
• University of Bath, BA programme (current).
• UEA, PQ/MA programme (current). 
  

Links

Websites of interest in this field

• My website.