We are delighted to announce new professorships for two of our outstanding CASCADE academics, David Wilkins and Clive Diaz.
David Wilkins has been with CASCADE and the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University since 2018, where he joined as a Senior Lecturer and progressed to Reader. He has been promoted to Professor of Social Work and we are delighted he is staying with us here in Cardiff.
In David’s early years with CASCADE, he was involved in several research projects associated with the What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care. In particular, David was pivotal in the study of Schwartz Rounds, which is a well-being intervention for social care workers. As Schwartz Rounds were introduced into several local authorities in England, David and the team explored what difference they made for emotional and social well-being. David says “I think the intervention itself is really good and nurturing – and unique, because it’s an organisational intervention, rather than an individual intervention. It’s been great to see several more local authorities introduce Schwartz Rounds following our study, including in Wales.”
David has also particularly enjoyed the research CASCADE has been doing on good judgement in social work, comparing the accuracy of judgements made by different social workers, working individually or in groups, and of social workers versus ChatGPT. David will continue to balance his CASCADE research with teaching in the University.
Clive Diaz also joined CASCADE in July 2018, initially as a lecturer on the Social Work Masters Programme. A year later, Clive moved full-time to CASCADE as a Research Associate, then became a Research Fellow in 2023. The experiences Clive has gained and the relationships he has built here have been pivotal in his career. He now moves to the School of Medicine at Swansea University to be a Professor of Social Work.
Clive says “During my time at CASCADE, I led five research studies on parental advocacy across Wales, Ireland, and England. This work has highlighted the potential for parental advocacy to transform the child protection system, making it more supportive for parents and ultimately more helpful for children and families. Our studies have shown that parental advocacy can foster better communication and relationships between social workers and parents, leading to more open discussions about family needs and concerns. Parental advocacy also supports parents to have more of a say and a stronger voice in decision making about their and children’s lives”.
Collaborating with CASCADE Director Donald Forrester and many talented academics at the research centre, Clive has also enjoyed leading a study about how new Welsh guidance on child sexual exploitation (CSE) has been implemented in practice across Wales. This research provided practical insights to policymakers and senior managers about effective policy implementation, a critical aspect of positive change in child protection.
“I feel immensely grateful to have worked alongside an exceptional team, including CASCADE’s parents’ group and dedicated researchers. Working with senior academics, including my PhD supervisors, has been invaluable. The support and expertise of this community has helped ensure our studies are robust and impactful”.
As Clive steps into his new role at Swansea, he looks forward to teaching and supervising PhD students, collaborating on grant proposals, and continuing his work with CASCADE, particularly on the ongoing Nuffield-funded parental advocacy project. Clive notes “It’s exciting to have the chance to bridge connections between Swansea’s social work team, CASCADE, and CARE, ensuring that our research continues to influence meaningful, positive change for children and families.”
David concurs with Clive that his academic journey to date with CASCADE has been immensely rewarding. David concludes “From my very first day, CASCADE has always been welcoming and supportive, while also challenging me to develop my skills and knowledge. I am incredibly grateful to all my colleagues and especially to Donald Forrester as my line-manager for helping me achieve a personal chair.”