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Nora Duckett

n.duckett@londonmet.ac.uk

I joined the university in June 2004 having worked in various social work settings since 1985 and with many service user groups. The majority of my experience has been with children and their families. I qualified as a social worker in 1994 and have worked in statutory and voluntary / independent sectors.

Practice and Research Interests

In 1999 I joined the NSPCC and worked to develop a service for young women sexually exploited through prostitution. I took up this post at the same time the Department of Health issued guidance on service responses to the issue. This London-wide service involved direct work with young women, outreach and evidence based research and practice, multi agency work with statutory services such as the Met police and voluntary services such as Centrepoint and Barnardos as well as consultation and training.

I went on to manage a central government funded strategy project for young people who run away from care and home. This was part of a youth homelessness organisation called Safe in the City which had a strong action research approach. Again the project linked with government guidance and research. The project began by researching existing service provision across 4 London boroughs (Greenwich, Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets) and producing a report 'Giving Young People a Chance' . Then, in consultation with services users and providers developed a multi agency protocol framework that was evaluated and is currently being adapted and adopted accross London. The work also resulted in the publication of an east London services directory.

I continued to be involved in the development of the runaways/missing young people strategy as a specialist project advisor to St Christopher's Fellowship who took over the project from Safe in the City. The project subsequently fed into the 2006 London Safeguarding Children Procedures. See Centrepoint's website for a history of Safe in the City's work and to access related documentation.

My practice and research interests are aligned to developing knowledge and skills in the areas of child sexual exploitation, young people who run away and youth homelessness.

Current Teaching

Critical Aspects of Human Growth and Development MSc
Planning Care / Safeguarding Children MSc / BSc
Foundation for Social Work Practice BSc
Family support and child protection BSc

Specific course responsibilities

Convenor for Continuing Professional Development (CPD): Consolidation of Practice (children and young people) for Newly Qualified Social Workers.

Service User and Carer Network Website

Education and academic qualifications

Advanced Diploma in Social Work Practice Teaching with GSCC Practice Teaching Award, Middlesex University, 2002.

PG Cert. Systems Approaches to Work with Families and Organisations, Tavistock and East London University, 1998

PG Cert. Using Art and Play in Therapeutic Work with Children, Roehampton, 1996

BSc (Hons) Sociology and Social Work and Diploma in Social Work, Bath, 1994

PG Cert in Learning and Teaching, London Metropolitian University 2007

Practice experience

Family care worker - (generic and specialist) - Westminster Social Services - 1985 to 1990

Part time relief/agency unqualified social worker (generic) - London wide - 1989 to 1995

Area social worker - (children and families) - London Borough of Harrow - 1994 to 1998

Residential support worker - (adults with learning difficulties) - Elfrida Society - 1997 to 2000

Hospital social worker - (children and families, children with disabilities) St Mary's Hospital, Paddington - 1998 to 1999

Development worker - (child sexual exploitation through prostitution) - NSPCC - London wide - 1999 to 2003

Project manager - (young runaways) Safe in the City - London wide - 2003 to 2004

Publications

East London Joint Protocol Framework for Agencies Supporting Children and Young People Who Run Away from Care and Home. (PDF)

East London Services Directory (PDF)

Consultation on the London Borough of Islington's Eligibility Criteria for Disabled Children. 2007

Evaluation Intensive Community Support Packages London Borough of Islington 2007 - 2008

Davies L and Duckett N (2008) Proactive Child Protection. Learning Matters

Current research activity

Combating Social Exclusion among Young Homeless People - A three-year (2008-11) comparative study of youth homelessness in 4 European countries. This project is looking specifically at young people born in and outside of the UK and involves training ex-homeless young people as co - researchers. See http://www.movisie.nl/118836/eng/

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contact: n.duckett@londonmet.ac.uk

Sexual Exploitation Practice Guidance, Research and Literature

Department of Health - Safeguarding Children Involved in Prostitution Supplementary Guidance to Working Together (PDF)

ECPAT - More Than One Chance! Young People Involved in prostitution speak out (PDF)

Young Runaways Guidance, Research and Literature

Social Exclusion Unit Summary Report Young Runaways (PDF)

Social Exclusion Unit Full Report Young Runaways (PDF)

Links

ACDS - Association of Directors of Children's Services

Asylum Support Information

Barnardo's