Senior Lecturer
Social Work Colin Bell Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA
I work in the post-qualifying (CPD) team within the social work section of the School of Social Science. I am involved in designing and delivering the Certificate in Child Welfare and Protection, and the Module in Professional Supervision, as well as a range of short courses developed to meet the needs of practitioners. In 2014 In conjunction with Terres des Hommes(TdH) I worked alongside staff from TdH and the University of Tirana to develop a supervision module for child protection workers in Albania and Kosovo. I am External Examiner on the Postgraduate Certificate in Securing Children's Futures: Good Practice in Permanence Planning and Family Placement which is delivered by Adoption and Fostering Alliance (AFA) Scotland ( University of Strathclyde). I was part of the team which developed Key Capabilities in Child Care and Protection (2006). I am a registered social worker, qualifying in 1991. My practice background in child welfare and protection spanned statutory and voluntary sectors.
I am PI of the Permanently Progressing Outcomes research. Phase One brought together colleagues from University of York, Stirling and Lancaster along with AFA .This is a longitudinal study which investigates permanence, progress and outcomes for children in Scotland who are placed permanently away from their birth parents before the age of five.
I am interested in the role of direct work, and how to support practitioners to communicate and engage with children and young people in a way which is meaningful. My doctoral thesis (completed 2015) explored experiences of direct work from the perspectives of children, young people and social workers
Permanently Progressing? Phase Two: Middle Childhood
PI: Dr Helen Whincup
Funded by: The Nuffield Foundation and Donors (UK)
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Permanently progressing: Outcomes for children in Scotland accommodated before age 5
PI:
Funded by: British Association for Adoption & Fostering and Confidential Donor
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Development of a Supervision Practice Guide for Workers in Scotland's Social Services
PI:
Funded by: Scottish Social Services Council
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Project Report
Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children: Phase 2 Middle Childhood
Whincup H, Cusworth L, Grant M, Jacobs P, Hooper J, Critchley A, Hennessy A & Matthews B (2024) Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children: Phase 2 Middle Childhood. Nuffield Foundation. Stirling: University of Stirling. https://permanentlyprogressing.stir.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/PP-Phase-2-Final-Report-Web-Sept-2024.docx
Research Report
Born into care in Scotland: circumstances, recurrence and pathways
Cusworth L, Hooper J, Henderson G, Whincup H & Broadhurst K (2022) Born into care in Scotland: circumstances, recurrence and pathways. Scottish Government. https://www.gov.scot/publications/born-care-scotland-circumstances-recurrence-pathways/documents/
Policy Document
Decision Making for Looked After Children in Scotland. Insights for policymakers and practitioners
Whincup H, Grant M, Burgess C & Biehal N (2019) Decision Making for Looked After Children in Scotland. Insights for policymakers and practitioners. University of Stirling. Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children in Scotland. Stirling. https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/public-policy-hub/policy-briefings/
Policy Document
Hooper J, Cusworth L & Whincup H (2019) Linking administrative datasets about looked after children. Insights for policymakers and practitioners. University of Stirling. Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children in Scotland. Stirling. https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/public-policy-hub/policy-briefings/
Policy Document
Cusworth L, Bieha N, Whincup H, Grant M & Hennessy A (2019) Children looked after away from home aged five and under in Scotland: experiences, pathways and outcomes. Insights for policymakers and practitioners. University of Stirling. Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children in Scotland. Stirling. https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/public-policy-hub/policy-briefings/
Policy Document
Biehal N, Cusworth L, Hooper J, Whincup H & Shapira M (2019) Pathways to Permanence for children who become looked after in Scotland. Insights for policymakers and practitioners. University of Stirling. Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children in Scotland. Stirling. https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/public-policy-hub/policy-briefings/
Policy Document
Whincup H (2019) Perspectives on kinship care, foster care and adoption in Scotland. Insights for policymakers and practitioners. University of Stirling. Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children in Scotland. Stirling. https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/public-policy-hub/policy-briefings/
Research Report
Whincup H, Grant M, Burgess C & Biehal N (2019) Decision making for children. Commissioned by an anonymous donor. Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children in Scotland. Stirling: University of Stirling. https://afascotland.com/learning-zone/permanently-progressing
Project Report
Cusworth L, Biehal N, Whincup H, Grant M & Hennessy A (2019) Children looked after away from home aged five and under in Scotland: experiences, pathways and outcomes. Commissioned by an anonymous donor. Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children in Scotland. Stirling: University of Stirling. https://afascotland.com/learning-zone/permanently-progressing
Research Report
Hooper J, Cusworth L & Whincup H (2019) Linking two administrative datasets about looked after children: testing feasibility and enhancing understanding. Commissioned by anonymous donor. Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children in Scotland. Stirling: University of Stirling. https://afascotland.com/learning-zone/permanently-progressing
Research Report
Pathways to permanence for children who become looked after in Scotland
Biehal N, Cusworth L, Hooper J, Whincup H & Shapira M (2019) Pathways to permanence for children who become looked after in Scotland. Commissioned by an anonymous donor. Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children in Scotland. Stirling: University of Stirling. https://afascotland.com/learning-zone/permanently-progressing
Research Report
Grant M, Whincup H & Burgess C (2019) Perspectives on kinship care, foster care and adoption: the voices of children, carers and adoptive parents. University of Stirling. Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children in Scotland. Stirling. https://www.stir.ac.uk/media/stirling/services/faculties/social-sciences/research/documents/permanently-progressing/Children-Carers-and-Adoptive-Parents--Final-Report.pdf
Book Chapter
Patterson F & Whincup H (2019) Making the transition from practitioner to supervisor: reflections on the contribution made by a post-qualifying supervisory course. In: Hafford-Letchfield T & Engelbrecht L (eds.) Contemporary Practices in Social Work Supervision Time for New Paradigms?. Abingdon: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Contemporary-Practices-in-Social-Work-Supervision-Time-for-New-Paradigms/Hafford-Letchfield-Engelbrecht/p/book/9780367190538
Article
Patterson F & Whincup H (2018) Making the transition from practitioner to supervisor: reflections on the contribution made by a post-qualifying supervisory course. European Journal of Social Work, 21 (3), pp. 415-427. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2017.1318833
Conference Abstract
Cusworth L, Hooper J, Biehal N, Shapira M & Whincup H (2018) Permanently Progressing? Building Secure Futures for Children in Scotland: Pathways and outcomes for looked after children. International Conference for Administrative Data Research, Queen's University Belfast. International Journal of Population Data Science, 3 (2), Art. No.: 031. https://doi.org/10.23889/ijpds.v3i2.500
Conference Abstract
Hooper J, Cusworth L & Whincup H (2018) Permanently Progressing? Building Secure Futures for Children in Scotland: Pathways and outcomes for looked after children. International Conference for Administrative Data Research, Queen's University Belfast. International Journal of Population Data Science, 3 (2), Art. No.: 030. https://doi.org/10.23889/ijpds.v3i2.499
Other
Permanently Progressing? Summary 2017
Whincup H & Grant M (2017) Permanently Progressing? Summary 2017 [Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children in Scotland]. [Project update]. Scotland.
Article
What do social workers and children do when they are together? A typology of direct work
Whincup H (2017) What do social workers and children do when they are together? A typology of direct work. Child and Family Social Work, 22 (2), pp. 972-980. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12317
Research Report
Whincup H, Rothwell B & Patterson F (2016) Supervision Learning Resource. Scottish Social Services Council. Scottish Social Services Council. http://www.stepintoleadership.info/supervision.html
Manual / Guide
Daniel B, Scott J, Taylor J, Barlow J, Collins V, Helm D & Whincup H (2013) in collaboration with Action for Children, 'Childhood Neglect: Improving Outcomes for Children – adaptation for Scottish Context' (Training Resources). Edinburgh: Scottish Government. http://withscotland.org/exchanging-training-resources
Manual / Guide
Daniel B, Scott J, Taylor J, Barlow J, Collins V, Helm D & Whincup H (2012) in collaboration with Action for Children, 'Childhood Neglect: Improving Outcomes for Children' (Training Resources). London: Department for Education. http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/safeguardingchildren/childhoodneglect
Research Report
Key Capabilities in Child Care and Protection
Daniel B, Whincup H, Bruce M & Walker L (2007) Key Capabilities in Child Care and Protection. Scottish Executive. Scottish Executive. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/12/13102807/0