Emeritus Professor Peter Marsh

An education in applied sociology and social work, and Peter's practice as a social worker in North Kensington in London, led to a joint appointment in 1980 between Sheffield City Council Social Services and the University of Sheffield as a lecturer/practitioner in a community-based team. This ten year project formed a basis for a continuing interest in the development, application and dissemination of applied research within public services.

Since 1980, along with colleagues at Sheffield and elsewhere, Peter has been engaged in applied policy-related research which has often examined new solutions to long-standing problems, and has usually featured a close collaboration between practitioners, policy makers and the research team. Research projects have included a national study of social work education and training and its inter-connection with the first year of practice, the experiences of young people leaving the care system and their links with extended family, an evaluation of the pilot youth offending teams, an evaluation within child welfare services of a family decision-making model called Family Group Conferences and studies of the research infrastructure.

Throughout this period Peter has been engaged in the development and evaluation of task-centred practice, jointly with practice colleagues and Professor Mark Doel. Twenty years of practice development work has resulted in continuing refinement of a systematic model of partnership and evidence based practice. From 2003-6 he worked as part of the Primary Care Research and Development Unit, engaged in knowledge transfer within General Practice teams.

Evidence-based practice and policy in child welfare social work

Peter's research in this area has provided a sociological perspective on the effectiveness of the child welfare policy system, especially as viewed through the eyes of the families involved. It has been internationally recognised, and played a role in the partnership emphasis of major legislation, including the Children Act 1989. His knowledge transfer work has included many publications in `findings´ form, and other innovative modes, and heading up the northern unit of the largest research implementation project in the UK `Research in Practice´ which has over 100 UK partner service organisations. From 2004 Peter has been engaged in a series of papers and studies of the evidence base for social work practice with colleague Professor Mike Fisher, and he has led the resources group of the national social work research strategy.

Partnership-based social work practice with children and families

A second focus for Peter's research has been the nature of the social exchange involved between professionals and users in social care. He is one of the leading international research authorities on the development, use and outcomes of Family Group Conferences.

In the late 1980´s Peter co-directed an experimental ten year project in the Crookes area of Sheffield, working as a social worker to link research and local services. From 2003-6 he worked on a knowledge transfer project within a Primary Care Research and Development Unit.

Professional education and professional development in health and social care

Developing in part out of his interest in policy implementation, the third theme of Peter's research has been the nature of professionalism within health and social care services.

In 1986 Peter initiated, with a colleague from the University of Edinburgh, a national debate on the need for research and evaluation into professional training, and our national evaluation of social work education has had a major influence, especially on post qualifying work in child care.