Dr Carl Purcell
Research Fellow
Biography
Carl is a researcher specialising in qualitative research in the field of health and social care.
Prior to completing his PhD and joining the Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce in 2017, he worked for eleven years in a variety of policy roles in local authority children’s services departments. Since joining the Unit Carl has been involved in a range of research projects across children’s and adult’s social care. He is a member of the steering committee for the Social Work History Network and a member of the Executive Board for the Lambeth Health Determinants Research and Evaluation Network (HDRC). Carl also organises the webinar series: Contemporary issues and debates in social work education, research and practice.
Carl is the author of The Politics of Children’s Services Reform: Re-examining Two Decades of Policy Change published by Policy Press in 2020 and co-author of Protecting and Safeguarding Children in Schools: A Multi-Agency Approach published by Policy Press in July 2022.
Carl Purcell: ORCID iD | Research Profile at King's | Posts by Carl on the Unit blog | Carl on Bluesky
Research
Evaluation of the International Recruitment Fund for adult social care 2024-25
The fund aims to increase the number of international recruits entering adult social care, improving ethical international recruitment & employment practice.
Project status: Ongoing
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
HEARTH study. Delivering primary health care to people who are homeless
An evaluation of the integration, effectiveness and costs of different models (2015–2019)
Project status: Completed
Words for All: Implementation and process evaluation
Evaluating a programme that provides additional literacy support to secondary school students.
Project status: Completed
The impact of regulation and registration on the residential childcare workforce: comparing England and Wales
A collaboration between Cardiff University and King's College London
Project status: Ongoing
Career Development in Adult Social Care
Exploring the current state of career development and progression in the social care workforce.
Project status: Ongoing
Lambeth Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC)
Lambeth HDRC is a place-based research and evaluation partnership hosted by Lambeth Council and funded by the NIHR.
Project status: Ongoing
News
Specialist doctors report
Nicole Steils, Carl Purcell, Ian Kessler and Annette Boaz
New in The British Journal of Social Work
Carl Purcell, Mary Baginsky & Nicole Steils on multi-agency working to keep children safe
The Unit Away Day and a look back at 2025
Staff gathered to discuss Unit strategy
At the International Conference on Evidence-based Policy in Long-Term Care
New Deputy Director among those from the Unit travelling to Bilbao
Transcripts from witness seminars on social worker registration and the Care Certificate published
Part of the Supporting Adult Social Care Innovation (SASCI) project
At the European Conference for Social Work Research
Research Fellow Carl Purcell was in Milan
Protecting and safeguarding children in schools
King's researchers Mary Baginsky and Carl Purcell led a dissemination event
Words for All - evaluation of literacy improvement programme
Unit researchers, Mary Baginsky and Carl Purcell, are co-authors of What Works report
Reaching the international research community at the 6th ILPN conference
The International Long-Term Care Policy Network conference was held 8-10 September
Protecting and Safeguarding Children in Schools
New book reports on the challenges of safeguarding in a changing policy environment
Events
Multi-agency working to improve information-sharing on men and keep children safe
Dr Mary Baginsky, Dr Carl Purcell and Dr Nicole Steils (King's College London)
Social work recruitment and retention in New Brunswick Canada: What can we learn from those who stay?
Dr Sara Carder; Dr Ian Rice; Laura Steeves
Please note: this event has passed.
The Sure Start programme: a crucial chapter in the history of UK family support
Naomi Eisenstadt CB; Dr Carl Purcell
Please note: this event has passed.
Safe Staffing in Older People Social Work: A Northern Ireland Study
Professor Paula McFadden (Ulster University)
Please note: this event has passed.
Evaluating Fast Track Social Work Qualifying Programmes: Have We Learnt Anything?
Professor Roger Smith (Durham University)
Please note: this event has passed.
Healthy social workers and sick social workers
Messages from their working conditions - Professor Pia Tham (University of Gävle, Sweden)
Please note: this event has passed.
The Social Work Public Perception Myth: A Genealogy of Discourse
Joe Hanley will analyse negative discourse around social work and offer suggestions about how this can be challenged.
Please note: this event has passed.
'Should I Stay or Should I Go?' Study of Child and Family Social Workers
Professor Hugh McLaughlin will be presenting the findings of a longitudinal study of local authority child and family social workers
Please note: this event has passed.
The investigative turn and flaws in the child protection evidence base
Andy Bilson, University of Central Lancashire
Please note: this event has passed.
Towards ‘An Ordinary Life’
A witness seminar from the Supporting Adult Social Care Innovation (SASCI) programme
Please note: this event has passed.
Research
Evaluation of the International Recruitment Fund for adult social care 2024-25
The fund aims to increase the number of international recruits entering adult social care, improving ethical international recruitment & employment practice.
Project status: Ongoing
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
HEARTH study. Delivering primary health care to people who are homeless
An evaluation of the integration, effectiveness and costs of different models (2015–2019)
Project status: Completed
Words for All: Implementation and process evaluation
Evaluating a programme that provides additional literacy support to secondary school students.
Project status: Completed
The impact of regulation and registration on the residential childcare workforce: comparing England and Wales
A collaboration between Cardiff University and King's College London
Project status: Ongoing
Career Development in Adult Social Care
Exploring the current state of career development and progression in the social care workforce.
Project status: Ongoing
Lambeth Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC)
Lambeth HDRC is a place-based research and evaluation partnership hosted by Lambeth Council and funded by the NIHR.
Project status: Ongoing
News
Specialist doctors report
Nicole Steils, Carl Purcell, Ian Kessler and Annette Boaz
New in The British Journal of Social Work
Carl Purcell, Mary Baginsky & Nicole Steils on multi-agency working to keep children safe
The Unit Away Day and a look back at 2025
Staff gathered to discuss Unit strategy
At the International Conference on Evidence-based Policy in Long-Term Care
New Deputy Director among those from the Unit travelling to Bilbao
Transcripts from witness seminars on social worker registration and the Care Certificate published
Part of the Supporting Adult Social Care Innovation (SASCI) project
At the European Conference for Social Work Research
Research Fellow Carl Purcell was in Milan
Protecting and safeguarding children in schools
King's researchers Mary Baginsky and Carl Purcell led a dissemination event
Words for All - evaluation of literacy improvement programme
Unit researchers, Mary Baginsky and Carl Purcell, are co-authors of What Works report
Reaching the international research community at the 6th ILPN conference
The International Long-Term Care Policy Network conference was held 8-10 September
Protecting and Safeguarding Children in Schools
New book reports on the challenges of safeguarding in a changing policy environment
Events
Multi-agency working to improve information-sharing on men and keep children safe
Dr Mary Baginsky, Dr Carl Purcell and Dr Nicole Steils (King's College London)
Social work recruitment and retention in New Brunswick Canada: What can we learn from those who stay?
Dr Sara Carder; Dr Ian Rice; Laura Steeves
Please note: this event has passed.
The Sure Start programme: a crucial chapter in the history of UK family support
Naomi Eisenstadt CB; Dr Carl Purcell
Please note: this event has passed.
Safe Staffing in Older People Social Work: A Northern Ireland Study
Professor Paula McFadden (Ulster University)
Please note: this event has passed.
Evaluating Fast Track Social Work Qualifying Programmes: Have We Learnt Anything?
Professor Roger Smith (Durham University)
Please note: this event has passed.
Healthy social workers and sick social workers
Messages from their working conditions - Professor Pia Tham (University of Gävle, Sweden)
Please note: this event has passed.
The Social Work Public Perception Myth: A Genealogy of Discourse
Joe Hanley will analyse negative discourse around social work and offer suggestions about how this can be challenged.
Please note: this event has passed.
'Should I Stay or Should I Go?' Study of Child and Family Social Workers
Professor Hugh McLaughlin will be presenting the findings of a longitudinal study of local authority child and family social workers
Please note: this event has passed.
The investigative turn and flaws in the child protection evidence base
Andy Bilson, University of Central Lancashire
Please note: this event has passed.
Towards ‘An Ordinary Life’
A witness seminar from the Supporting Adult Social Care Innovation (SASCI) programme
Please note: this event has passed.