From Practice to Research: NIHR fellowship exploring Child Disclosures of Caregiver-Perpetrated Physical Abuse

SIG Co-Chairs: Dr Claire Brown and Emma Clothier

Speaker: Kate Dawson, Safeguarding Lead, Redcar & Cleveland Council

In this online webinar , Kate Dawson will present her 12-month NIHR Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, and the developmental work undertaken to progress toward doctoral study. Drawing on her professional experience in safeguarding practice, Kate will reflect on the transition from frontline child protection to completion of predoctoral study.

The focus of her fellowship explored child disclosures of physical abuse perpetrated by a caregiver. The session will examine the complexities surrounding how, when, and under what conditions children disclose abuse within caregiving relationships, alongside the methodological, and practice considerations that informed the research foundation.

Key Areas Covered:

• Rationale for the research focus and its relevance to safeguarding practice
• The experience of undertaking an NIHR Pre-Doctoral Fellowship as a practitioner
• Early-stage research development, literature synthesis, and stakeholder engagement
• Foundations laid for progression to PhD study
• Implications for child protection professionals and multi-agency practice