Social work
We produce high-quality, impactful social work research that helps individuals, practitioners and policymakers to address the real world challenges that people experience throughout their lives.
Social Work at the University of York has a long tradition as a leading voice for social reform and social cohesion. Our applied research generates theory, evidence and impact for social justice, human rights and wellbeing. Our approach is collaborative and designed to capture the diverse voices of individuals and communities with lived experience, and practitioners, in a meaningful way.
Working alongside a diverse range of research partners, we work at local, regional, national and international levels to maximise the impact of what we do. We attract funding from a range of funding bodies, charitable institutions and Government agencies including the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and the Wellcome Trust. We also have a strong track record of conducting funded programme evaluations for various public and voluntary sector organisations and are an evaluation partner with Foundations, the national What Works Centre for Children & Families.
We regularly collaborate in interdisciplinary projects and our researchers are members of a range of research centres and networks.
Research Highlights
• Mental Health Social Care Research Centre
• Child Welfare Research Group
• The Curiosity Partnership
• Social work and social care professions and workforce development
• Building inclusive communities
• Creative approaches to community engagement, co-production and participatory research
• Evaluation research
Group leadership
- Ms Polly Sykes, Head of Group
- Professor Martin Webber, Director of the Mental Health Social Care Research Centre
- Dr Jenny Threlfall, Research Seminar Coordinator