Dr Sian Lucas

Senior Lecturer

Social Work Colin Bell Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Dr Sian Lucas

Contact details

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http://www.stir.ac.uk/people/selucas

About me

Siân works part time at the University. She is a registered social worker and Senior Lecturer. Siân is the undergraduate Social Work programme director and co-ordinates the qualifying social work dissertation module. Siân is a Yoga instructor, Sound Healer & Life Coach.

My research is grounded in the desire to enhance wellbeing and improve service delivery.

I am interested in supervising PhD students in the following topic areas: family life, care experience, child language brokering; intercultural communication in public services, social work for marginalised communities.

From 2021-2024 I was co-investigator on the ARCH project (Archiving Residential Children’s Homes) a collaboration with Osnabrück University to co-design a ‘digital archive’ that stores every day, shared events and experiences for care experienced young people who live in residential children’s homes.

I am particularly interested in the role that language plays in social work encounters and in 2023 piloted a project with Heriot Watt University involving BSL interpreters and social work students.

Event / Presentation

Respectful and Beneficial Research with Minority Groups. British Sociological Society Annual Conference 2011 - 60 Years of Sociology

http://content.yudu.com/…--Full-Programme

Getting the Balance Right: Developing a Cost Evaluation Tool for 'Team around the Family' approaches in Wales 2011. TiSSA 2011: 9th Conference of the International "Social Work Society" Academy (TiSSA): Politics of Identity - The Changing Face of Social Work

https://www.tissa.net/archive/7#tab_abstracts

To interpret or not to interpret: child language brokering in a social welfare context. University of Salford Postgraduate Research Conference SPARC 2012

http://www.salford.ac.uk/…sparc/sparc-2012

The peculiarities of fieldwork: Zumba, Coffee and Sweets. Celebrating Research Day, University of Salford

https://prezi.com/…ee-sweets-zumba/

Multilingualism: social work perspectives. The South West Doctoral Social Work Research Day 2012

http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/972/news/21483

Child Language Brokering: Voice, Power, Representation. Children, Young People and Adults: Extending the Conversation

https://www.crin.org/…ing-conversation

Child Interpreting in Social Work - perspectives from the UK. The University of Tallinn, Social Work Summer School

http://summerschool.tlu.ee/…rogramm-2012.pdf

Children that interpret: a small tragedy in a larger social work space?. British Sociological Association Annual Conference

http://www.britsoc.co.uk/…ce-archives.aspx

The regulation of child language brokering in a social work context. 2nd International Conference on Non-Professional Interpreting and Translation

http://www.fb06.uni-mainz.de/ikk/402.php

Child Language Brokering in a Social Welfare Context. Child Language Brokering Group

Other Project

Quarriers: Evaluation of Family Centre Services
Quarriers and Big Lottery Fund UK

Quarriers provides a wide range of creative activities to support parenting and families in the local area. This project is exploring how the services provided for children and parents (funded by the BLF) are making a difference to the lives of children and families.  The research methods include critical reflective dialogue, observation, interviews and focus groups. The evaluation team includes Sian Lucas and Andressa Gadda.

Research projects (7)

Living Archives in Residential Child Care: using the past to inform the future
PI: Professor Ruth Emond
Funded by: Arts and Humanities Research Council
–

From fuel to pot: an interdisciplinary partnership to address the role of solid fuel use in food preparation in the household in Kenya and Malawi.
PI: Dr Isabelle Uny
Funded by: Arts and Humanities Research Council
–

'Vulnerable' families in a time of pandemic
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
–

Experiences and impact of child language brokering in health care settings
PI: Dr Sian Lucas
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
–

Peri-natal Evaluation
PI: Dr Sian Lucas
Funded by: Quarriers
–

Towards best practice in educating and supporting separated children in Scotland Research Tender Specification
PI: Dr Sian Lucas
Funded by: Scottish Refugee Council
–

Evaluation of the Ruchazie Family Resource Centre
PI: Dr Sian Lucas
Funded by: Quarriers
–

Outputs (40)

Article

Finding traces of everyday life in unusual places: looking beyond case files in German and Scottish residential child care

Emond R, Eßer F, Schäfer M, Buncombe M, Burns A, Lucas S & Magee K (2025) Finding traces of everyday life in unusual places: looking beyond case files in German and Scottish residential child care [Spuren des Alltags an ungewöhnlichen Orten: Ein Blick über den Tellerrand in deutscher und schottischer Heimerziehung]. European Journal of Social Work. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2024.2411283

Article

Exploring the use of solid fuels for cooking and household air pollution in informal settlements through photovoice: The Fuel to Pot study in Ndirande (Malawi) and Mukuru (Kenya)

Uny I, Chasima T, Caes L, Kambalame L, Chamba MVM, Kalumbi L, Orina F, Price H, Lucas S, Nyikuri M, Semple S & Meme H (2024) Exploring the use of solid fuels for cooking and household air pollution in informal settlements through photovoice: The Fuel to Pot study in Ndirande (Malawi) and Mukuru (Kenya). Shrestha SL (Editor) PLOS ONE, 19 (12), Art. No.: e0316095. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316095

Commentary

Beyond high-level recommendations and rule books: doing the ‘hard work’ of global health research – lessons and recommendations from an interdisciplinary global partnership

Uny I, Kambalame L, Price H, Caes L, Kalumbi LR, Semple S, Lucas S, Orina F, Chasima T, Chamba MVM & Meme H (2024) Beyond high-level recommendations and rule books: doing the ‘hard work’ of global health research – lessons and recommendations from an interdisciplinary global partnership. BMJ Global Health, 9, Art. No.: e015169. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2024-015169

Other

The Fuel to Pot Project: An interdisciplinary partnership to address the role of solid fuel use in food preparation in the household in Kenya and Malawi

Uny I, Chamba M, Chasima T, Caes L, Kalumbi L, Orina F, Kambalame L, Semple S, Price H, Lucas S & Meme H (2023) The Fuel to Pot Project: An interdisciplinary partnership to address the role of solid fuel use in food preparation in the household in Kenya and Malawi., Edinburgh, 13.11.2023. https://rse.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/RSE-AWG-scoping-project-report.pdf

Other

OP13 Undertaking photovoice in informal settlements in Kenya and Malawi: methodological learning from a qualitative study exploring solid fuel use, cooking and air pollution

Uny I, Chasima T, Kambalame L, Caes L, Meme H, Kalumbi L, Price H, Chamba M, Lucas S & Semple S (2023) OP13 Undertaking photovoice in informal settlements in Kenya and Malawi: methodological learning from a qualitative study exploring solid fuel use, cooking and air pollution. Society for Social Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts, 06.09.2023. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2023-ssmabstracts.13

Conference Paper (unpublished)

OP13 Undertaking photovoice in informal settlements in Kenya and Malawi: methodological learning from a qualitative study exploring solid fuel use, cooking and air pollution

Uny I, Chasima T, Kambalame L, Caes L, Meme H, Kalumbi L, Price H, Chamba M, Lucas S & Semple S (2023) OP13 Undertaking photovoice in informal settlements in Kenya and Malawi: methodological learning from a qualitative study exploring solid fuel use, cooking and air pollution. Society for Social Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts, Newcastle University, 06.09.2023-08.09.2023. https://jech.bmj.com/content/77/Suppl_1/A7.1; https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2023-ssmabstracts.13

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Preliminary findings from a photovoice study of community members’ choice, experiences and perceptions around fuel use and cooking practices in Mukuru (Kenya) and Ndirande (Malawi)

Uny I, Chasima T, Kambalame L, Caes L, Meme H, Kalumbi L, Price H, Chamba M, Lucas S, Semple S & Orina F (2023) Preliminary findings from a photovoice study of community members’ choice, experiences and perceptions around fuel use and cooking practices in Mukuru (Kenya) and Ndirande (Malawi). The KASH Conference, Nairobi, kenya, 13.02.2023-16.02.2023. https://www.kemri.go.ke/kash-14/#1571270387975-4b3b4eea-d7ab

Research Report

Spoken language interpreters in social work

Lucas SE (2020) Spoken language interpreters in social work. IRISS. Insights: A Series of Evidence Summaries, 52. Glasgow. https://www.iriss.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-04/insights-52.pdf

Book Chapter

'Mum, if you’ve got a doctor's appointment take me or my sister': contributions of a child language broker

Lucas S (2014) 'Mum, if you’ve got a doctor's appointment take me or my sister': contributions of a child language broker. In: Westwood J, Larkins C, Moxon D, Perry Y & Thomas N (eds.) Participation, Citizenship and Intergenerational Relations in Children and Young People's Lives: Children and Adults in Conversation. Basingstoke: Palgrave Pivot, pp. 82-93. http://www.palgrave.com/page/detail/participation,-citizenship-and-intergenerational-relations-in-children-and-young-people's-lives-joanne-westwood/?sf1=barcode&st1=9781137379702

Conference Paper (unpublished)

The regulation of child language brokering in a social work context

Lucas S (2014) The regulation of child language brokering in a social work context. 2nd International Conference on Non-Professional Interpreting and Translation, Germersheim, Germany, 29.05.2014-31.05.2014. http://www.fb06.uni-mainz.de/ikk/Dateien/NPIT2_Programme.pdf

Conference Paper (published)

Children that interpret: a small tragedy in a larger social work space?

Lucas S (2013) Children that interpret: a small tragedy in a larger social work space?. In: British Sociological Association Annual Conference 2013: Engaging Sociology Conference Programme and Abstract Book. British Sociological Association Annual Conference, London, 03.04.2013-05.04.2013. Durham: British Sociological Association, p. 95. http://www.britsoc.co.uk/media/50981/AC2013_Full_Prog_Web2.pdf?1425305963872

Presentation / Talk

Child Interpreting in Social Work - perspectives from the UK

Lucas SE (2012) Child Interpreting in Social Work - perspectives from the UK. The University of Tallinn, Social Work Summer School, Tallinn, Estonia, 03.08.2012-03.08.2012. http://summerschool.tlu.ee/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/SS-programm-2012.pdf

Presentation / Talk

The peculiarities of fieldwork: Zumba, Coffee and Sweets

Lucas S (2012) The peculiarities of fieldwork: Zumba, Coffee and Sweets. Celebrating Research Day, University of Salford, Manchester, 07.12.2012-07.12.2012. https://prezi.com/uvqvutj-0-xs/the-peculiarities-of-research-coffee-sweets-zumba/

Presentation / Talk

Multilingualism: social work perspectives

Lucas S (2012) Multilingualism: social work perspectives. The South West Doctoral Social Work Research Day 2012, Cardiff, 26.01.2012-26.01.2012.

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Getting the Balance Right: Developing a Cost Evaluation Tool for "Team around the Family" approaches in Wales

Lucas S (2011) Getting the Balance Right: Developing a Cost Evaluation Tool for "Team around the Family" approaches in Wales. TiSSA 2011: 9th Conference of the International "Social Work Society" Academy (TiSSA): Politics of Identity - The Changing Face of Social Work, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, 24.08.2011-26.08.2011. https://www.tissa.net/archive/7#tab_abstracts

Presentation / Talk

Respectful and Beneficial Research with Minority Groups

Lucas S (2011) Respectful and Beneficial Research with Minority Groups [S.E (2011) ‘’, British Sociological Association Annual Conference, 60 Years of Sociology, London.]. British Sociological Society Annual Conference 2011 - 60 Years of Sociology, London, 06.04.2011-08.04.2011. http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1ri7h/BSAAnnualConference2/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yudu.com%2Fitem%2Fdetails%2F306351%2FBSA-Annual-Conference-2011---Full-Programme

Teaching

I teach on the qualifying social work programmes (BA (Hons) and MSc/PG Diploma, SCQF levels 9-10).

Research programmes

Research centres/groups

Research themes