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Mary Baginsky

Dr Mary Baginsky

Reader in Social Care

Biography

Dr Mary Baginsky was a Visiting Senior Research Fellow in the Unit from 2013-2017, joining the Unit in 2017. She became Reader in Social Care at the Unit in 2023. 

​ During her time in HSCWRU she has led:

  • an evaluation of a fast-track programme for training social workers
  • the evaluation of three projects in the Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme – MTM’s Signs of Safety project (Stages 1 and 2) across ten English local authorities and the introduction of the New Orleans Intervention Model into a London Borough.
  • a scoping review of fostering research commissioned by the Department for Education to inform its fostering stocktake.
  • an ESRC funded project on Decision-making and Multiagency Working
  • an evaluation of the West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership.
  • a series of projects during the pandemic looking at the impact of COVID-19 on social work practice
  • research into the operation and impact of Care Act Easements during COVID-19
  • various evaluations of reorganisations in local authorities

She is currently:

  • leading a research project on the role of adult social care when children are removed following child care proceedings from parents with learning disabilities (NIHR SSCR funded)
  • working with University of Cardiff on regulation of social care workforce (NIHR funded)
  • examining the impact of training for the social work profession during the pandemic in partnership with University of Winchester
  • a member of the senior management team on SOCRATES project - an NIHR funded project supporting Social Care Rapid Evaluations

She is:

  • a member of NIHR Policy Research Programme Committee
  • an expert member of the Social Care Research Ethics Committee
  • Visiting Research Fellow, University of Winchester
  • a member of ESRC Peer Review College

In the past five years she has presented papers at conferences in the UK, Belgium, Italy, Hong Kong and Denmark. She convenes the Contemporary Issues and Debates in Social Work Education, Research and Practice seminar series and is a convenor of the Decisions, Assessment and Risk Special Interest Group (DARSIG) of the European Social Work Research Association.

She is currently supporting practice development work in Denmark and working with the Danish Association of Social Workers to look at workforce issues in the two countries. She is also working with a group of researchers from Australia, Israel and Japan to explore the literature on social work identity and work towards the development of a new measure.

Mary has held positions in academic, public, voluntary and independent and private sectors. She has worked in and with government departments and agencies in the United Kingdom and overseas, local authorities and partnerships, higher education institutions, charities and service providers.

Before coming to the Unit Dr Baginsky was:

  • Professional Adviser on Research and Evaluation at Department for Education
  • Assistant Director at Children’s Workforce Development Council
  • Head of Research at Children’s Workforce Development Council
  • Senior Consultant at GHK Consulting
  • Senior Research Officer at NSPCC

She has also had periods of secondments to:

  • Department for Education and Skills to conduct the evaluation of the role of Investigation and Referral Support Consultants
  • Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London to work on strategic options
  • Department for Children, Schools and Families to support the work of the Social Work Task Force.

Dr Baginsky was a 2013 Churchill Fellow examining approaches to social work training in USA, Canada and Europe.

Dr Baginsky spoke on the Social Work Research Podcast (22 August 2022) about parents' views of social workers.

Mary Baginsky: ORCID iD | Research Profile at King's | Posts by Mary on the Unit blog

    Research

    Easements-780-border
    The operation of easements under the Coronavirus Act 2020 to England’s Care Act 2014

    We investigate the impact, if any, of the Coronavirus Act 2020 easements on social care practice.

    Project status: Completed

    signs of safety-1-780-border
    Signs of Safety evaluation: Phase 1

    Evaluation for the Department for Education.

    Project status: Completed

    signs of safety-2-780-border
    Signs of Safety evaluation: Phase 2

    The implementation of Signs of Safety varied markedly across local authorities, as did use of its components.

    Project status: Completed

    pexels-lukas-296308
    Supporting and engaging schools in decision-making and multi-agency working for the protection and safeguarding of children

    New evidence to inform local practice and generate recommendations for policy reform at the national level.

    Project status: Completed

    firstline-780-border
    Evaluation of the Firstline Leadership Programme

    We evaluated a new leadership programme for managers in children’s services.

    Project status: Completed

    fdac-780
    Family Drug and Alcohol Court: Post-proceedings support pilot evaluation

    Examining a post-proceedings support intervention developed in Gloucestershire.

    Project status: Completed

    words for all-780
    Words for All: Implementation and process evaluation

    Evaluating a programme that provides additional literacy support to secondary school students.

    Project status: Completed

    child-protection-conf-780
    Child protection conference practice during COVID-19

    A rapid consultation that aimed to explore how practice changed during the pandemic.

    Project status: Completed

    managing through covid-780
    Managing through COVID-19: Local authorities and child protection

    Local authority arrangements and protocols during lockdown.

    Project status: Completed

    keeping children safe-780
    Keeping children safe under COVID-19

    Were multi-agency arrangements, of which schools are a part, sufficiently robust during the first months of the pandemic?

    Project status: Completed

    News

    At the NIHR School for Social Care Research Conference 2024

    The Unit was a strong presence at the annual conference in Birmingham

    Researchers and colleagues at a conference

    Strengthening knowledge and awareness in family services of domestic abuse

    Mary Baginsky and Nicole Steils are co-authors of new SKAFADA study report

    couple clasping hands

    Post-Proceedings Support in Gloucestershire's Family Drug and Alcohol Court

    Report from Unit researchers' pilot evaluation now out

    Map of Gloucestershire

    King's in partnership to address workforce challenges in child and family social work

    Dr Mary Baginsky will work with Research in Practice and Essex County Council

    children on the floor with adults overseeing them

    Reporting the Unit's Family Drug and Alcohol Court evaluation

    Mary Baginsky was at the International Society of Family Law 18th World Conference in Antwerp

    Antwerp

    Latest article from Unit's easements study

    Why did some local authorities choose not to use easements to the Care Act 2014?

    Coronavirus Act 2020

    A local lens on children's social care

    The London Borough of Lewisham’s responses to COVID-19 and its legacy

    Computer keyboard, mask and mobile phone on table

    Exploring local adult social care evidence needs

    Unit researchers a strong presence at an event that employed World Café methodology

    Person giving a presentation to a group of people sitting at tables

    At the NIHR School for Social Care Research annual conference

    Unit researchers presented findings at the conference – held at The Law Society

    Stained glass window and ornate lighting

    Protecting and safeguarding children in schools

    King's researchers Mary Baginsky and Carl Purcell led a dissemination event

    A group of children with backs to the camera

    Events

    16Mayabstract-1846853_1920

    Decision making in child protection – heuristics, law and organisation

    Idamarie Leth Svendsen and Frank Ebsen (Copenhagen) with reflections from Rick Hood (Kingston University)

    Please note: this event has passed.

    28Marabstract-1846853_1920

    Children in foster care – their perspectives on participation

    Dr Kresta M. Sørensen, University of Copenhagen

    Please note: this event has passed.

    07Marabstract-1846853_1920

    Protecting and safeguarding children in schools

    Dr Mary Baginsky and Dr Carl Purcell, King's College London

    Please note: this event has passed.

    17Janabstract-1846853_1920

    Kinship care and listening to children's voices: Finding out what matters

    Dr Paul Shuttleworth, University of Sussex

    Please note: this event has passed.

    22Novabstract-1846853_1920

    Facilitators and barriers to providing a whole family response to domestic abuse: findings from a UK evaluation

    Invitation-only seminar

    Please note: this event has passed.

    03Mayabstract-1846853_1920

    Permanency decisions in child welfare: A qualitative study

    Invitation-only seminar

    Please note: this event has passed.

    22Febabstract-1846853_1920
    22Marabstract-1846853_1920

    Violence prevention in schools: Starting early

    Invitation-only seminar

    Please note: this event has passed.

    18Jansws-780

    The legal tail and the social work dog: Has the focus on legal proceedings damaged social work practice?

    Have prescriptive and time-limited rules governing social work applications for care and placement orders skewed social work away from welfare considerations...

    Please note: this event has passed.

      Research

      Easements-780-border
      The operation of easements under the Coronavirus Act 2020 to England’s Care Act 2014

      We investigate the impact, if any, of the Coronavirus Act 2020 easements on social care practice.

      Project status: Completed

      signs of safety-1-780-border
      Signs of Safety evaluation: Phase 1

      Evaluation for the Department for Education.

      Project status: Completed

      signs of safety-2-780-border
      Signs of Safety evaluation: Phase 2

      The implementation of Signs of Safety varied markedly across local authorities, as did use of its components.

      Project status: Completed

      pexels-lukas-296308
      Supporting and engaging schools in decision-making and multi-agency working for the protection and safeguarding of children

      New evidence to inform local practice and generate recommendations for policy reform at the national level.

      Project status: Completed

      firstline-780-border
      Evaluation of the Firstline Leadership Programme

      We evaluated a new leadership programme for managers in children’s services.

      Project status: Completed

      fdac-780
      Family Drug and Alcohol Court: Post-proceedings support pilot evaluation

      Examining a post-proceedings support intervention developed in Gloucestershire.

      Project status: Completed

      words for all-780
      Words for All: Implementation and process evaluation

      Evaluating a programme that provides additional literacy support to secondary school students.

      Project status: Completed

      child-protection-conf-780
      Child protection conference practice during COVID-19

      A rapid consultation that aimed to explore how practice changed during the pandemic.

      Project status: Completed

      managing through covid-780
      Managing through COVID-19: Local authorities and child protection

      Local authority arrangements and protocols during lockdown.

      Project status: Completed

      keeping children safe-780
      Keeping children safe under COVID-19

      Were multi-agency arrangements, of which schools are a part, sufficiently robust during the first months of the pandemic?

      Project status: Completed

      News

      At the NIHR School for Social Care Research Conference 2024

      The Unit was a strong presence at the annual conference in Birmingham

      Researchers and colleagues at a conference

      Strengthening knowledge and awareness in family services of domestic abuse

      Mary Baginsky and Nicole Steils are co-authors of new SKAFADA study report

      couple clasping hands

      Post-Proceedings Support in Gloucestershire's Family Drug and Alcohol Court

      Report from Unit researchers' pilot evaluation now out

      Map of Gloucestershire

      King's in partnership to address workforce challenges in child and family social work

      Dr Mary Baginsky will work with Research in Practice and Essex County Council

      children on the floor with adults overseeing them

      Reporting the Unit's Family Drug and Alcohol Court evaluation

      Mary Baginsky was at the International Society of Family Law 18th World Conference in Antwerp

      Antwerp

      Latest article from Unit's easements study

      Why did some local authorities choose not to use easements to the Care Act 2014?

      Coronavirus Act 2020

      A local lens on children's social care

      The London Borough of Lewisham’s responses to COVID-19 and its legacy

      Computer keyboard, mask and mobile phone on table

      Exploring local adult social care evidence needs

      Unit researchers a strong presence at an event that employed World Café methodology

      Person giving a presentation to a group of people sitting at tables

      At the NIHR School for Social Care Research annual conference

      Unit researchers presented findings at the conference – held at The Law Society

      Stained glass window and ornate lighting

      Protecting and safeguarding children in schools

      King's researchers Mary Baginsky and Carl Purcell led a dissemination event

      A group of children with backs to the camera

      Events

      16Mayabstract-1846853_1920

      Decision making in child protection – heuristics, law and organisation

      Idamarie Leth Svendsen and Frank Ebsen (Copenhagen) with reflections from Rick Hood (Kingston University)

      Please note: this event has passed.

      28Marabstract-1846853_1920

      Children in foster care – their perspectives on participation

      Dr Kresta M. Sørensen, University of Copenhagen

      Please note: this event has passed.

      07Marabstract-1846853_1920

      Protecting and safeguarding children in schools

      Dr Mary Baginsky and Dr Carl Purcell, King's College London

      Please note: this event has passed.

      17Janabstract-1846853_1920

      Kinship care and listening to children's voices: Finding out what matters

      Dr Paul Shuttleworth, University of Sussex

      Please note: this event has passed.

      22Novabstract-1846853_1920

      Facilitators and barriers to providing a whole family response to domestic abuse: findings from a UK evaluation

      Invitation-only seminar

      Please note: this event has passed.

      03Mayabstract-1846853_1920

      Permanency decisions in child welfare: A qualitative study

      Invitation-only seminar

      Please note: this event has passed.

      22Febabstract-1846853_1920
      22Marabstract-1846853_1920

      Violence prevention in schools: Starting early

      Invitation-only seminar

      Please note: this event has passed.

      18Jansws-780

      The legal tail and the social work dog: Has the focus on legal proceedings damaged social work practice?

      Have prescriptive and time-limited rules governing social work applications for care and placement orders skewed social work away from welfare considerations...

      Please note: this event has passed.