Staff profile

Following my first degree in Sociology, I went on to practice and then qualify as a social worker in 1980.  I worked as a Probation Officer, specialising in diversion with young offenders until 1988, when I went on to take up a policy role with The Children’s Society.  At the same time, I completed further postgraduate study, gaining my MPhil (on juvenile diversion) in 1989 and my PhD (on values and practice in child care) in 1995.

I moved to the University of Leicester in 2000, leading the social work qualifying masters programme there.  In 2006, I joined De Montfort University as Professor of Social Work Research, before coming to Durham University in 2012.

As a practitioner, educator and researcher, my primary area of interest has been young people and crime, on which I have published widely. I have also developed an interest in research methods in social work, particularly participatory approaches; the sociology of childhood; social work theory (notably around the subject of ‘power’); interprofessional learning; and working with people with learning difficulties.

Current areas of interest include:

a)      Participatory models of practice in youth justice

b)      Models of evaluation in interprofessional education

c)       Power, networks and their implications for social work

d)      Innovations in social work education

I have supervised a variety of Phd projects, including studies of children’s residential care, travellers and the care system, child care in Qatar, post adoption contact and decision-making in children’s services. I would welcome Phd proposals in any of my areas of interest, and in social work with children and young people more broadly.

Authored book

• Diversion in Youth Justice: What Can We Learn from Historical and Contemporary Practices?
  Smith, R. (2017). Diversion in Youth Justice: What Can We Learn from Historical and Contemporary Practices?. Taylor and Frnacis
• Criminology
  Case, S., Johnson, P., Manlow, D., Smith, R., & Williams, K. (2017). Criminology. (1). OUP
• Youth Justice: Ideas, Policy, Practice
  Smith, R. (2014). Youth Justice: Ideas, Policy, Practice. (3rd ed.). Routledge
• Doing Justice to Young People: Youth Crime and Social Justice
  Smith, R. (2011). Doing Justice to Young People: Youth Crime and Social Justice. Willan/Routledge
• A Universal Child?
  Smith, R. (2010). A Universal Child?. Palgrave Macmillan
• Doing Social Work Research
  Smith, R. (2009). Doing Social Work Research. McGraw Hill/Open University Press
• Social Work with Young People
  Smith, R. (2008). Social Work with Young People. Polity Press
• Social Work and Power
  Smith, R. (2008). Social Work and Power. Basingstoke

Chapter in book

• Social work as policy innovator: challenges and possibilities in the UK
  Smith, R. Social work as policy innovator: challenges and possibilities in the UK. In U. Klammer, S. Leiber, & S. Leitner (Eds.), Social Work and the Making of Social Policy (21 - 36). Bristol University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvhktj6v.7
• Universal Service Provision for Children and Young People: A Challenge for Policy Makers
  Smith, R. (2017). Universal Service Provision for Children and Young People: A Challenge for Policy Makers. In P. Dolan, & N. Frost (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Global Child Welfare (75-84). Routledge
• Acting as a Critical Friend: Developmental Evaluations, Service Users and the Role of the Researcher.
  Smith, R. (2016). Acting as a Critical Friend: Developmental Evaluations, Service Users and the Role of the Researcher. In L. Hardwick, R. Smith, & A. Worsley (Eds.), Innovations in Social Work Research: Using Methods Creatively (124-137). Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Troubled, Troubling or Troublesome? Troubled Families and the Changing Shape of Youth Justice
  Smith, R. (2015). Troubled, Troubling or Troublesome? Troubled Families and the Changing Shape of Youth Justice. In M. Wasink, & S. Santatzoglou (Eds.), The Management of Change in Criminal Justice (49-63). Palgrave Macmillan
• Social Work Research in the UK: Staking Our Claim
  Smith, R. (2014). Social Work Research in the UK: Staking Our Claim. In J. Hämäläinen, B. Littlechild, & M. Špiláčková (Eds.), Social work research across Europe : methodological positions and research practice. Part II (119-136). ERIS (European Research Institute for Social Work)
• Professionalism and practice-focused research
  Smith, R. (2013). Professionalism and practice-focused research. In J. Parker, & M. Doel (Eds.), Professional Social Work (116-131). Sage/Learning Matters
• Why participatory research? Exploring principles and practice
  Smith, R. (2012). Why participatory research? Exploring principles and practice. In J. Fleming, & T. Boeck (Eds.), Involving children and young people in health and social care research (28-37). Routledge
• Der einzige Weg zum Spiel? Sozialarbeit der Markt und ,die Gesellschaft'. Trends in der Sozialarbeit Grossbritaniens
  Smith, R. (2012). Der einzige Weg zum Spiel? Sozialarbeit der Markt und ,die Gesellschaft'. Trends in der Sozialarbeit Grossbritaniens. In H.-J. Dahme, & N. Wohlfahrt (Eds.), Produktionsbedingungen Sozialer Arbeit in Europa (33-50). Schneider Verlag Hohengehren
• Social work with young offenders
  Smith, R., & Littlechild, B. (2011). Social work with young offenders. In K. Wilson, G. Ruch, M. Lymbery, & A. Cooper (Eds.), Social Work: An introduction to contemporary practice (535-565). (2nd). Pearson Longman
• Young People, Crime and Justice
  Smith, R. (2010). Young People, Crime and Justice. In K. Hicham, B. Abdelhamid, C. Gaucher, & R. Smith (Eds.), Travail Social à l’Epreuve des Coopération Ouvertes et des Coopérations Fermées: Enjeu Capital pour le Développement Humain (99-128). Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah
• Childhood, Culture and Social Work
  Smith, R. (2010). Childhood, Culture and Social Work. In K. Hicham, B. Abdelhamid, C. Gaucher, & R. Smith (Eds.), Travail Social à l’Epreuve des Coopération Ouvertes et des Coopérations Fermées: Enjeu Capital pour le Développement Humain (79-98). Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah
• Inter-professional learning and multi-professional practice for PQ
  Smith, R. (2009). Inter-professional learning and multi-professional practice for PQ. In P. Higham (Ed.), Post-Qualifying Social Work Practice (135-147). SAGE Publications
• Social work with young offenders
  Smith, R., & Littlechild, B. (2008). Social work with young offenders. In K. Wilson, G. Ruch, M. Lymbery, & A. Cooper (Eds.), Social Work: An introduction to contemporary practice (512-536). Pearson Longman
• Interventions: Responsibility, Rights or Reconciliation?
  Smith, R. (2008). Interventions: Responsibility, Rights or Reconciliation?. In B. Stout, J. Yates, & B. Williams (Eds.), Applied Criminology (118-134). SAGE Publications
• From child protection to child safety
  Smith, R. (2008). From child protection to child safety. In M. Calder (Ed.), Contemporary Risk Assessment (3-14). Russell House Publishing

Edited book

• Innovations in Social Work Research
  Hardwick, L., Smith, R., & Worsley, A. (Eds.). (2016). Innovations in Social Work Research. Jessica Kinglsey
• Travail Social à l’Epreuve des Coopération Ouvertes et des Coopérations Fermées: Enjeu Capital pour le Développement Humain
  Hicham, K., Abdelhamid, B., Gaucher, C., & Smith, R. (Eds.). (2010). Travail Social à l’Epreuve des Coopération Ouvertes et des Coopérations Fermées: Enjeu Capital pour le Développement Humain. Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah

Journal Article

• Family Hubs and the vulnerable care ecologies of child and family welfare in austerity
  Disney, T., Crossley, S., King, H., Phillips, J., Robson, I., & Smith, R. (online). Family Hubs and the vulnerable care ecologies of child and family welfare in austerity. The Geographical Journal, https://doi.org/10.1111/geoj.12505
• Youth justice and social harm: Towards a ‘theory of the good’
  Gray, P., & Smith, R. (2024). Youth justice and social harm: Towards a ‘theory of the good’. Criminology & Criminal Justice, https://doi.org/10.1177/17488958241254446
• Evaluating Fast Track Social Work-Qualifying Programmes: Have We Learnt Anything?
  Smith, R. (2024). Evaluating Fast Track Social Work-Qualifying Programmes: Have We Learnt Anything?. The British Journal of Social Work, 54(3), 939-957. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad254
• Retention in statutory social work from fast-track child and family programs
  Scourfield, J., Carpenter, J., Warner, N., Maxwell, N., Venn, L., Stepanova, E., O’Donnell, C., Jones, R., Elliott, M., & Smith, R. (2023). Retention in statutory social work from fast-track child and family programs. Journal of Social Work, 23(6), 1022-1042. https://doi.org/10.1177/14680173231194432
• Children and Crime: In the Moment
  Haines, K., Case, S., Smith, R., Joe Laidler, K., Hughes, N., Webster, C., Goddard, T., Deakin, J., Johns, D., Richards, K., & Gray, P. (2021). Children and Crime: In the Moment. Youth Justice, 21(3), 275-298. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473225420923762
• Responsibility, resilience and symbolic power
  King, H., Crossley, S., & Smith, R. (2021). Responsibility, resilience and symbolic power. Sociological Review, 69(5), 920-936. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038026120986108
• Shifting Sands: The reconfiguration of neoliberal youth penality
  Gray, P., & Smith, R. (2021). Shifting Sands: The reconfiguration of neoliberal youth penality. Theoretical Criminology, 25(2), 304-324. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362480619872262
• Diversion, Rights and Social Justice
  Smith, R. (2021). Diversion, Rights and Social Justice. Youth Justice, 21(1), 18-32. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473225420902845
• The life course of delinquency: reflections on the meaning of trajectories, transitions and turning points in youth justice
  Case, S., & Smith, R. (2021). The life course of delinquency: reflections on the meaning of trajectories, transitions and turning points in youth justice. International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 45(4), 391-404. https://doi.org/10.1080/01924036.2020.1821728
• Behaviour Management or Institutionalised Repression? Children’s Experiences of Physical Restraint in Custody
  Shenton, F., & Smith, R. (2021). Behaviour Management or Institutionalised Repression? Children’s Experiences of Physical Restraint in Custody. Children & Society, 35(1), 159-175. https://doi.org/10.1111/chso.12410
• The Changing Shape of Youth Justice: Models of Practice
  Smith, R., & Gray, P. (2019). The Changing Shape of Youth Justice: Models of Practice. Criminology & Criminal Justice, 19(5), 554-571. https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895818781199
• 'Strivers', 'doers' and 'seekers': social workers and their commitment to the job
  Smith, R., Venn, L., Carpenter, J., Stepanova, E., & Patsios, D. (2019). 'Strivers', 'doers' and 'seekers': social workers and their commitment to the job. Child & Family Social Work, 24(4), 441-448. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12623
• Governance Through Diversion in Neoliberal Times and the Possibilities for Transformative Social Justice
  Gray, P., & Smith, R. (2019). Governance Through Diversion in Neoliberal Times and the Possibilities for Transformative Social Justice. Critical Criminology, 27, 575-590. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-019-09475-3
• Reconsidering value perspectives in child welfare
  Smith, R. (2018). Reconsidering value perspectives in child welfare. The British Journal of Social Work, 48(3), 616-632. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcx067
• Learning to be interprofessional through the use of reflective portfolios?
  Domac, S., Anderson, E., & Smith, R. (2016). Learning to be interprofessional through the use of reflective portfolios?. Social Work Education, 35(5), 530-546. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2016.1178717
• Evaluating an Interprofessional Education Curriculum: A theory-informed approach
  Anderson, E., Smith, R., & Hammick, M. (2016). Evaluating an Interprofessional Education Curriculum: A theory-informed approach. Medical Teacher, 38(4), 385-394. https://doi.org/10.3109/0142159x.2015.1047756
• Assessing interprofessional competence using a prospective reflective portfolio
  Domac, S., Anderson, E., O'Reilly, M., & Smith, R. (2015). Assessing interprofessional competence using a prospective reflective portfolio. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 29(3), 179-187. https://doi.org/10.3109/13561820.2014.983593
• Towards a 'welfare + rights' model in youth justice
  Smith, R. (2014). Towards a 'welfare + rights' model in youth justice. Critical and Radical Social Work, 2(3), 287-303. https://doi.org/10.1332/204986014x14096555906097
• Re-inventing Diversion
  Smith, R. (2014). Re-inventing Diversion. Youth Justice, 14(2), 109-121. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473225414537567
• Youth justice back at the crossroads
  Creaney, S., & Smith, R. (2014). Youth justice back at the crossroads. Safer Communities, 13(2), 83-87. https://doi.org/10.1108/sc-01-2014-0002
• Castells, Power and Social Work
  Smith, R. (2013). Castells, Power and Social Work. The British Journal of Social Work, 43(8), 1545-1561. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcs073
• Values, Practice and meaning in Social Work Research
  Smith, R. (2012). Values, Practice and meaning in Social Work Research. European Journal of Social Work, 15(4), 433-448. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2012.702308
• Developing restorative practice: contemporary lessons from an English juvenile diversion project of the 1980s
  Smith, R. (2011). Developing restorative practice: contemporary lessons from an English juvenile diversion project of the 1980s. Contemporary Justice Review, 14(4), 425-438. https://doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2011.616372
• Where Now for Youth Justice?
  Smith, R. (2011). Where Now for Youth Justice?. British Journal of Community Justice, 9(1/2), 69-80
• Children’s Rights and Youth Justice: 20 Years of No Progress
  Smith, R. (2010). Children’s Rights and Youth Justice: 20 Years of No Progress. Child Care in Practice, 16(1), 3-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/13575270903369301
• Social Work, Risk, Power
  Smith, R. (2010). Social Work, Risk, Power. Sociological Research Online, 15(1), https://doi.org/10.5153/sro.2101
• Learning from lives together: medical and social work students’ experiences of learning from people with disabilities in the community
  Smith, R., Anderson, L., & Thorpe, L. (2010). Learning from lives together: medical and social work students’ experiences of learning from people with disabilities in the community. Health and Social Care in the Community, 18(3), 229-240. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2524.2010.00921.x
• Childhood, Agency and Youth Justice
  Smith, R. (2009). Childhood, Agency and Youth Justice. Children & Society, 23(4), 252-264. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1099-0860.2008.00174.x
• Interprofessional learning: aspiration or achievement?
  Smith, R., & Anderson, L. (2008). Interprofessional learning: aspiration or achievement?. Social Work Education, 27(7), 759-776. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615470701708636

Other (Print)

• Evaluation of Step Up to Social Work, Cohorts 1 and 2: 3-years and 5-years on
  Smith, R., Stepanova, E., Venn, L., Carpenter, J., & Patsios, D. (2018). Evaluation of Step Up to Social Work, Cohorts 1 and 2: 3-years and 5-years on

Report

• A country that works for all children and young people: An evidence-based plan for building the foundations of a new "Sure Start" in and around education settings
  Todd, L., Pini, S., Mathai, M., Wood, M., & et al. (2024). A country that works for all children and young people: An evidence-based plan for building the foundations of a new "Sure Start" in and around education settings. Child of the North and Centre for Young Lives
• Step Up to Social Work Programme Evaluation 2012: The Regional Partnerships and Employers Perspectives
  Smith, R., McLenachan, J., Venn, L., Weich, H., & Anthony, D. (2013). Step Up to Social Work Programme Evaluation 2012: The Regional Partnerships and Employers Perspectives. [No known commissioning body]
• Embedding Participation: UR Boss 2nd Interim Evaluation Report
  Smith, R., Hine, J., & Fleming, J. (2012). Embedding Participation: UR Boss 2nd Interim Evaluation Report. [No known commissioning body]
• Raising Your Game: Context and Implementation
  Smith, R., McIntosh, B., & Mattingly, M. (2011). Raising Your Game: Context and Implementation. [No known commissioning body]
• Report of the Second Spring Institute: Open and Closed Co-operation in Social Work
  Smith, R., Khabbache, H., Berdai, A., & Gaucher, C. (2011). Report of the Second Spring Institute: Open and Closed Co-operation in Social Work. [No known commissioning body]
• UR Boss Legal Service: Interim Evaluation Report
  Smith, R., & Fleming, J. (2011). UR Boss Legal Service: Interim Evaluation Report. [No known commissioning body]
• Evaluation of Derby Youth Crime Prevention Initiative
  Smith, R., & Welford, J. (2010). Evaluation of Derby Youth Crime Prevention Initiative. [No known commissioning body]
• Volunteering and Faith Communities in England
  Smith, R., Boeck, T., Fleming, J., & Thorp, L. (2009). Volunteering and Faith Communities in England. [No known commissioning body]
• An Audit of Funding for Social Work Research,
  Smith, R., Marsh, P., & Forrester, D. (2008). An Audit of Funding for Social Work Research,. [No known commissioning body]