Dr Clive Diaz
Research Associate, CASCADE
- diazcp@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2251 0938
- sbarc|spark, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Overview
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I have over 17 years’ experience as a social worker, child protection conference chair, Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Manager, and Principal Social Worker. More recently I have held academic roles at a number of universities including the University of the West of England, the Open Univeristy and until recently I worked part time as a senior lecturer in social work at Oxford Brooks University. Over the last four years I have worked as a Research Associate for the Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE). I am currently leading three realist evaluations on parental advocacy, as well as a Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW)-funded study into the implementation of new CSE guidance in Wales. I have been the Principal Investigator for studies worth over £850k over the last four years and have authored over 20 publications on children’s social care. I published my first book on decision making in child and family social work with Policy Press in 2020. Throughout my career, I have combined direct practice with academic study, teaching, and research. My doctorate (awarded June 2018) in social work focused on how children could be supported to engage more meaningfully in children in care review meetings. I have also written extensively on how social work policy translates into practice. My work has enabled me to apply and expand my professional social care and policy knowledge to current concerns in children’s social care.
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Biography
I am a registered social worker who before becoming an academic worked in children's services and adults services for over a decade. I was the Principal Social Worker in two local authorities. I have also worked for the Emergency Duty Team in Avon and worked for a period as a mental health social worker. I have taught on various social work programmes since 2011 and I have worked as a lecturer in social work at various different universities including the University of the West of England, the Open University, the University of Gloucestershire and I currenlty work part time as a Senior Lecturer at Oxford Brooks University. I have also taught social work at Bath University and Bristol University.
Publications
2023
- Devine, R., Benson, K., Fitz-Symonds, S., Westlake, D., Campbell, K. and Diaz, C. 2023. Peer parental advocacy: A narrative review of the literature. Journal of Children's Services 18(3/4), pp. 244-260. (10.1108/JCS-08-2022-0020)
- Fitz-Symonds, S., Stabler, L. and Diaz, C. 2023. Understanding how advocacy services support care-experienced young people to participate in decision-making. Cardiff: What Works for Children's Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/CASCADE-Spark-advocacy-services-trial-protocol.pdf
- Fitz-Symonds, S., Evans, L., Tobis, D., Westlake, D. and Diaz, C. 2023. Mechanisms for support: A realist evaluation of peer parental advocacy in England. The British Journal of Social Work (10.1093/bjsw/bcad200)
- Webb, M., Forrester, D., Usubillaga Narvaez, J. and Diaz, C. 2023. Do new policies influence practice? A qualitative study of practice and change in relation to the new Welsh child sexual exploitation guidance. The British Journal of Social Work (10.1093/bjsw/bcad164)
- Usubillaga, J., Diaz, C. and Forrester, D. 2023. How are policies implemented in children's services? Developing an initial programme theory to evaluate the implementation of the new Child Sexual Exploitation guidance in Wales. Child and Family Social Work 28(1), pp. 268-278. (10.1111/cfs.12959)
- Diaz, C., Fitz-Symonds, S., Evans, L., Westlake, D., Devine, R., Mauri, D. and Davies, B. 2023. The perceived impact of peer parental advocacy on child protection practice: a mixed-methods evaluation. Project Report. [Online]. What Works for Early Intervention and Children’s Social Care. Available at: https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/The-perceived-impact-of-peer-parental-advocacy-on-child-protection-practice_FINAL-with-cover_16-Jan.pdf
2022
- Westlake, D., Corliss, C., Thompson, S., Meindl, M., Diaz, C., Talwar, R. and Folkes, L. 2022. Devolved budgets in Children’s Social Care: A logic model based on three pilot evaluations. British Journal of Social Work 52(7), pp. 3999-4020. (10.1093/bjsw/bcac019)
- Diaz, C. et al. 2022. A creative exploration of Children in Care Councils during the 2020-2021 Covid-19 pandemic. Blue Cabin. Available at: https://wearebluecabin.com/resource/the-compass-project-report/
- Wilson, N., Diaz, C. and Usubillaga, J. 2022. Implementing the contextual safeguarding approach: a study in one local authority. Journal of Children's Services 17(3), pp. 221-236. (10.1108/JCS-10-2021-0043)
2021
- Hill, L. and Diaz, C. 2021. An exploration of how gender stereotypes influence how practitioners identify and respond to victims (or those at risk) of child sexual exploitation. Child and Family Social Work 26(4), pp. 642-651. (10.1111/cfs.12845)
- Roberts, L., Rees, A., Mannay, D., Bayfield, H., Corliss, C., Diaz, C. and Vaughan, R. 2021. Corporate parenting in a pandemic: Considering the delivery and receipt of support to care leavers in Wales during Covid-19. Children and Youth Services Review 128, article number: 106155. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106155)
- Roberts, L., Mannay, D., Rees, A., Bayfield, H., Corliss, C., Diaz, C. and Vaughan, R. 2021. ‘It’s been a massive struggle’: Exploring the experiences of young people leaving care during COVID-19. Young 29(4S), pp. S81-S99. (10.1177/11033088211025949)
- Diaz, C., Westlake, D. and Evans, L. 2021. The perceived impact of peer parental advocacy on child protection practice: a pilot evaluation. What Works for Children's Social Care. Available at: http://whatworks-csc.org.uk/research-project/the-perceived-impact-of-peer-parental-advocacy-on-child-protection-practice-a-pilot-evaluation/
2020
- Roberts, L., Rees, A., Bayfield, H., Corliss, C., Diaz, C., Mannay, D. and Vaughan, R. 2020. Young people leaving care, practitioners and the coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic: experiences, support, and lessons for the future. Project Report. CASCADE/Cardiff University.
- Diaz, C. 2020. Decision making in child and family social work: perspectives on participation. Policy Press.
- Diaz, C., Pert, H., Aylward, T., Neill, D. and Hill, L. 2020. Barriers children face complaining about social work practice: A study in one English local authority. Child and Family Social Work 25(2), pp. 460-468. (10.1111/cfs.12702)
- 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
- Solem, L., Diaz, C. and Hill, L. 2020. A study of serious case reviews between 2016-2018: what are the key barriers for social workers in identifying and responding to child neglect?. Journal of Children's Services 15(1), pp. 1-14. (10.1108/JCS-04-2019-0024)
2019
- Diaz, C., Pert, H. and Thomas, N. P. 2019. Independent Reviewing Officers' and social workers' perceptions of children's participation in Children in Care Reviews. Journal of Children's Services 14(3), pp. 162-173. (10.1108/JCS-01-2019-0003)
- Diaz, C. and Aylward, T. 2019. A study on senior managers' views of participation in one local authority.. A case of wilful blindness?. British Journal of Social Work 49(5), pp. 1333-1349. (10.1093/bjsw/bcy101)
- Witt, L. and Diaz, C. 2019. Social workers' attitudes towards female victims of domestic violence: A study in one English local authority. Child and Family Social Work 24(2), pp. 209-217. (10.1111/cfs.12604)
- Diaz, C. and Hill, L. 2019. A critical evaluation of the extent to which the reform and modernisation agenda has impacted on the professionalisation of social work in England. Child Care in Practice 26, pp. 272-284. (10.1080/13575279.2018.1555138)
- Stabler, L., O'Donnell, C., Forrester, D., Diaz, C., Willis, S. and Brand, S. 2019. Shared decision-making: What is good practice in delivering meetings? Involving families meaningfully in decision-making to keep children safely at home: A rapid realist review. Technical Report.
2018
- Diaz, C., Pert, H. and Thomas, N. 2018. 'Just another person in the room': young people's views on their participation in Child in Care Reviews. Adoption and Fostering 42(4), pp. 369-382. (10.1177/0308575918801663)
- Diaz, C. 2018. A study into children and young people’s participation in their Child in Care Reviews. , Cardiff University.
2017
- Pert, H., Diaz, C. and Thomas, N. 2017. Children's participation in LAC reviews: a study in one English local authority.. Child and Family Social Work 22(S2), pp. 1-10. (10.1111/cfs.12194)
2016
- Muench, K., Diaz, C. and Wright, R. 2016. Children and parent participation in child protection conferences: a study in one English local authority. Child Care in Practice 23(1), pp. 29-63. (10.1080/13575279.2015.1126227)
My research has covered various aspects of child and family social work including the extent to which young people and parents play a role in decsion making. I have also carried out research on domesic violence and extra familial harm and my current research study is considering how new child sexual exploitation guidance is being implemented in practice in Wales.