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Professor Lucie Cluver awarded King's Birthday Honour in recognition of services to children's wellbeing and to global public health

14 June 2025
Professor Lucie Cluver has been appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King's Birthday Honours list 2025.
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Professor Frances Gardner awarded King's Birthday Honour in recognition of services to reducing violence against children

14 June 2025
Professor Gardner has been appointed as a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) in the King's Birthday Honours list 2025.
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DSPI researchers help develop new World Health Organization guide on parenting interventions for policymakers

09 June 2025
Five researchers from DSPI were part of the core team from Parenting for Lifelong Health that produced WHO's new guide on parenting interventions for policymakers, practitioners and stakeholders.
Our Space Project

University of Oxford strengthens collaborative efforts on sexual misconduct prevention and support

27 May 2025
On 18 March, the Department of Social Policy and Intervention (DSPI) hosted an event to share the findings of the OUR SPACE 2024 survey and qualitative interviews.
10 people, including panellists and students, who took part in the policy exercise, looking directly at the camera.

Should smartphones be banned in UK schools? DSPI students apply learning and present recommendations to local policymakers and government

22 May 2025
25 students from the Department took part in a three-day Integrative Policy Exercise (IPE) examining whether smartphones should be banned in UK schools.
Dirk Witteveen has short hair, wearing a black and red striped shirt smiling at the camera.

New publication from Dr Dirk Witteveen in International Migration Review examines immigrant career inequalities

15 April 2025
The article explores the factors influencing career growth among American men and European immigrants, focusing on the interplay between modernisation and immigrant career mobility.
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rEUsilience project, jointly led by researchers at University of Oxford and Stockholm University, recognised as European Commission Success Story

14 April 2025
This prestigious recognition highlights the project's outstanding impact in positioning families as a driving force for building a more resilient Europe
A nurse in a white uniform pressing a stethoscope to the back of a young child's back. Credit: Riccardo Niels Mayer - stock.adobe.com

New research: Nearly 500,000 children could die from AIDS-related causes by 2030 without stable PEPFAR programmes

08 April 2025
The article, published in The Lancet, is co-authored by Professor Lucie Cluver (Professor of Child and Family Social Work at DSPI).
Dr Gabriela Pavarini has shoulder length dark hair, wearing a black top smiling gently at the camera.

Exploring youth-led mental health initiatives: empowering adolescents and strengthening community wellbeing

27 March 2025
Find out more about recent research by Dr Gabriela Pavarini, Senior Departmental Lecturer.
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Integrating household structure and employment patterns: key insights for effective poverty reduction strategies in Europe

10 March 2025
Study proposes that changes in household structures and employment patterns may offer insights into the paradox that poverty rates in Europe have remained a persistent challenge, even as employment levels have increased.
Winners of the Teresa Smith Awards 2023-24

Celebrating excellence: Teresa Smith Awards 2023-24

03 March 2025
We are delighted to announce the winners of the Teresa Smith Award 2023-24, Ahsan Mashhood and Madeline McDonald.
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New global study highlights alarming rates of online child sexual exploitation and abuse

24 February 2025
Recent study led by Childlight - Global Child Safety Institute at the University of Edinburgh and co-authored by Dr Bridget Steele, Departmental Lecturer in Evidence-Based Intervention and Policy Evaluation at DSPI.
Three babies playing on a colourful floor matt. Photo credit: stock.adobe.com / Krakenimages.com

Transforming early childhood: The Royal Foundation's partnership with Professor Jane Barlow and Dr Michael Fanner

30 January 2025
The partnership with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood is for Phase Two of the ground-breaking ADBB (Alarm Distress Baby Scale) study.
Joana Geisler (left) has shoulder length hair wearing a graduation gown, looking directly at the camera.

George Smith Award Winners 2023-2024

18 December 2024
Announcing the winners of the George Smith Award 2023-24, Joana Geisler and Chenxuan Li.
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In the media: recent report into impact of outsourcing in England's social care sector

19 November 2024
Coverage of a report by Dr Anders Bach-Mortensen and Dr Benjamin Goodair examining the privatised care sector in the UK.
Jane Barlow is wearing a black top and jacket, with short gray hair, smiling for the camera.

Project led by Professor Jane Barlow wins Social Sciences Division Interdisciplinary Hubs Award

08 November 2024
The 'Interdisciplinary hub to promote developmental recovery for infants who have suffered significant harm as a result of adverse childhood experiences' has been awarded almost £40,000.
Dr Gabriela Pavarini has shoulder length dark hair, wearing a black top smiling gently at the camera.

DSPI welcomes Dr Gabriela Pavarini

31 October 2024
This month, we welcome Dr Gabriela Pavarini to her new role as Senior Departmental Lecturer.
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Professor Lucie Cluver wins ERC Public Engagement with Research award

30 October 2024
Professor Cluver was one of six laureates awarded the prize by the European Research Council.
A young girl standing at a window, hugging a teddy bear. Credit: fizkes / Getty Images 1300371821

New report sheds light on extent and impact of outsourcing in England's social care sectors

03 October 2024
The report compiles a comprehensive, longitudinal data resource on outsourcing trends and their associations with critical outcomes nationwide.
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A tribute from George Smith to his wife, Teresa Smith Collingwood (1941-2024)

25 September 2024
Teresa Smith was Head of the Department of Social Policy and Social Work for eight years, from 1997-2005.
Side-by-side images of Jamie Lachman and David Humphreys. Jamie is wearing a patterned grey shirt and is mid-speech, gesturing with his hands. David has short brown hair, dark glasses and is wearing a white shirt, smiling at the camera.

Two new Professorships awarded at DSPI

06 September 2024
We are delighted to congratulate Professor Jamie Lachman and Professor David Humphreys.