Melissa Meindl
Research Assistant, CASCADE
- meindlm@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2251 0953
- 1-3 Museum Place, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 3BD
Overview
I am a Research Assistant in the Children's Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE) and my current research focuses on how to improve the accuracy of social worker’s decision-making abilities for the What Works Centre for Children's Social Care.
My educational background is in psychology and neuroscience and I previously worked in Australia as a practitioner in the homelessness sector, providing Enhanced Case Management and specialist support to children and youth with a background of homelessness, trauma, family violence, substance misuse and poor mental health.
I am experienced in working across multiple disciplines and have a wide range of research interests. I'm currently interested in child and adolescent mental health, the influence of cognitive biases on social workers, individual and social work practice characteristics that can break the cyclical nature of families involved in Children's Social Care, and the relationship between therapeutic techniques (yoga, mindfulness) and wider individual/family outcomes.
Biography
Academic Positions
- 2018-Present: Research Assistant, Cardiff University
Education and Qualifications
- 2013: B.Sc. Psychological Science (Minor in Behavioural Neuroscience), LaTrobe University, Australia.
Honours and awards
- 2011, 2012 & 2013: Deans Honours List- Outstanding Academic Performance in the Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering. Latrobe University, Australia.
Publications
2021
- Wilkins, D. and Meindl, M. 2021. A randomised controlled trial of a ‘checklist’ intervention to mitigate confirmation bias and improve forecasting accuracy in social work. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/research-report/a-randomised-controlled-trial-of-a-checklist-intervention-to-mitigate-confirmation-bias-and-improve-forecasting-accuracy-in-social-work/
2020
- Westlake, D.et al. 2020. Social workers in schools: an evaluation of pilots in three local authorities in England. Project Report. [Online]. London: What Works Centre for Children's Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/WWCSC_Social-Workers-in-Schools_pilot-study_full-report_May-2020.pdf
- Westlake, D.et al. 2020. Devolved budgets: an evaluation of pilots in three local authorities in England. Project Report. [Online]. London: What Works Centre for Children's Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/WWCSC_Devolved_Budgets_Full_Report_March_2020_FINAL.pdf
2019
- Meindl, M.et al. 2019. How do family drug and alcohol courts work with parents to safely reduce the number of children in care? A rapid realist review. Project Report. [Online]. London: What Works Centre for Children's Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/WWCSC_FDAC_rapid_realist_review_Oct2019.pdf
2018
- Brand, S.et al. 2018. Mapping the evidence about what works to safely reduce the number of children and young people in statutory care: A systematic scoping review. Technical Report.
Since August 2018 I have been working on a programme of work for the What Works Centre for Children's Social Care. This has involved contributing to a number of qualitative and quantitative research projects including:
- A scoping review mapping the evidence about what works to safely reduce the number of children and young people in statutory care. https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Reducing_care_main_report_proof_amends.pdf
- A series of realist reviews using the EMMIE framework, including leading a rapid realist review on Family Drug and Alochol Court. https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/WWCSC_FDAC_rapid_realist_review_Oct2019.pdf
- An evaluation of devolved bugets. https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/WWCSC_Devolved_Budgets_Full_Report_March_2020_FINAL.pdf
- An evaluation of social Workers in schools. https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/WWCSC_Social-Workers-in-Schools_pilot-study_full-report_May-2020.pdf
- A realist evaluation of child and family involved in child protection shared decision making meetings.
- A series of projects on social work decision-making, including a randomised controlled trial of interventions that mitigate the effects of cognitive bias.