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In Conversation with… Professor Carlene Firmin MBE


Author, activist and founder of Contextual Safeguarding – the pioneering concept which grounds approaches to child protection in the extra-familial contexts of the child.

Currently Professor of Social Work at Durham University, Carlene is concerned with safeguarding young people, social justice and inequality, with particular expertise in social care responses to abuse between young people and harm in extra-familial spaces and places. Her ongoing work includes enhancing practice and policy on contextual safeguarding.

The Nuffield FJO young people’s project is working with young people, families and professionals from across children’s services, family justice and youth justice to identify better ways to support and achieve justice for young people. Find out more. 

Nuffield FJO’s new ‘In conversation with…’ series will bring you leading thinkers, experts, practitioners and those with lived experience for frank discussions on a variety of themes related to children and families in the family justice system. Questions from the audience are welcomed before and during the discussions.

Watch the discussion


Speakers
  • Carlene Firmin
    Professor of Social Work
    Durham University
  • Headshot of Lisa Harker.
    Director
    Nuffield Family Justice Observatory
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Residential family assessment centres: Data trends and questions

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Child-focused, data-driven: Learning from youth justice to improve family justice data

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Young people | 2025

Towards a child-first family justice data strategy: Six key insights from youth justice

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Recurrent care proceedings: five key areas for reflection from the research (update)

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Newborn babies | 2025

Newborn babies in urgent care proceedings in England and Wales: An update

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Newborn babies | 2025

What are the experiences of parents with learning disabilities or difficulties in care proceedings?

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Data | 2025

Improving lives – the power of better data in the family justice system

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Young people | 2025

This is what we think:  Perspectives on being cared for from older children and young people – including those on deprivation of liberty orders

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Newborn babies | 2025

Babies in care proceedings: What do we know about parents with learning disabilities or difficulties?

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Young people | 2025

What are the routes into care for young people in Wales?

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Private law | 2025

Uncovering private family law: how often do we hear the voice of the child? 

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Newborn babies | 2025

Understanding care pathways and placement stability for babies in Wales

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Profile