SASS Staff

Professor Simon Hackett

Professor in the School of Applied Social Sciences

How to contact me

My phone number in St Mary's College: +44 191 334 5946
My phone number in my SASS office: +44 191 334 1472
Email: simon.hackett@dur.ac.uk
For all International Social Work Journal enquiries: isw@dur.ac.uk
Follow me on twitter: @simonjhackett
Follow St Mary's College on twitter: @StMarysOfficial
Follow International Social Work on twitter: @intsocialwork
International Social Work's facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Social-Work/145638255489875

Biography

Current post

I am Principal of St Mary's College and I am Professor of Applied Social Sciences in SASS. I am a member of University Research Committee.

As Principal of St Mary's College, I am responsible for overall direction and management of the College. St Mary's is Durham's third oldest college and comprises a community of approximately 750 undergraduates and 100 postgraduates from all disciplines. See the College website at: https://www.dur.ac.uk/st-marys.college/

I am a Trustee and Agency Decision Maker for DFW Adoption, a local adoption charity. See www.dfw.org.uk

I am also Vice Chair of NOTA, a major European professional association which promotes work with offenders as a way of safeguarding children, see www.nota.co.uk

In SASS, I teach primarily on the MSW Programme as well as the MSc in Criminology. I also have a cohort of research students under my supervision on areas of my research (see below).

Previous posts

In 2011, I was Deputy Head of Faculty (Research) in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health at Durham and, in 2008-2011 was Head of SASS. In my Faculty role, I had responsibilities for the management of research across the Faculty and chaired the Faculty Research and Ethics Committees. As Head of SASS, I had overall responsibility for the running of the School, its degree programmes, research, budget and academic community.

I rejoined the University in September 2006 having been Professor of Child Welfare at the University of Bedfordshire and, before that, Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at Durham. I also taught previously at the University of Manchester.

Prior to working in a university setting, I was a practitioner in the child welfare field. I was Programme Director and co-founder of G-MAP one of the UK’s leading organisations working with children and young people with harmful sexual behaviours. I was a Child Protection Officer with the NSPCC in Manchester for seven years and I was part of a team set up to investigate allegations of institutional abuse arising from the North Wales Child Abuse Inquiry. I also worked for several local authorities in both youth justice and child protection teams.

My research and interests

My work relates largely to child maltreatment in its various forms and to professional responses designed to safeguard children’s welfare. With Professor Helen Masson of the University of Huddersfield, I am currently working on a large scale ESRC funded study of the outcomes of professional interventions with children and young people. My previous research has focused on service provision, policy and user perspectives in relation to the young people involved in the child welfare system. I have recently completed an evaluation with Professor John Carpenter of the University of Bristol into the impact of training in safeguarding children. With Dr Chris Jones of Edinburgh University, I have recently worked on a study of successful adoptive family life.

I am Co-Editor in Chief of 'International Social Work' which is an official Journal of the International Federation of Social Workers and the International Association of Schools of Social Work. I am a member of the ESRC's Grant Assessment Panel 'B'. I was research advisor to the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC). I have previously advised the UK on policy development relating to adolescent sexual offending and was Special Adviser to the Department of Health/ NIMHE Violence and Victims of Violence and Abuse Prevention Programme.

Collaborations and PhD student enquiries

I am keen to collaborate with other researchers who share my interests from across the world. If you are interested in undertaking a PhD under my supervision, I would be delighted to hear from you directly about your ideas and to discuss opportunities to work with you at Durham. I have extensive supervisory experiences and an outstanding record of PhD completions.

A list of my current PhD supervisees is included below (see section entitled 'supervises'). Their projects are diverse and range from work on gender and child neglect in the UK, masculinity and the Youth Justice System in England and Wales, institutional care of children in Russia and fostering in South Korea. I have a group of four further research students undertaking work relating to child sexual abuse, including projects on internet sexual offending, interventions with parents of children with sexual behaviour problems and standards of residential care for juveniles with harmful sexual behaviours.

Research students who have recently successfully completed their PhDs under my supervision include: Dr Chris Jones on adoptive family life; Dr Nashmi Al-Anazi on the physical punishment of children in Saudi Arabia; Dr Lukman Mohamad on child prostitution in Malaysia; Dr Abi Taylor on professional decision making and the DH Assessment Framework; and, Dr Helen McIlveen on models of sexual health service provision. It is a privilege to have worked with such talented individuals who have made an enormous contribution to their fields.

Read what some previous PhD students say about being supervised by me in SASS

Recent and forthcoming conference presentations

Recent conference presentations:

25th November 2010. I presented an invited plenary session on the impact of pornography on children's development at the CEOP Visa sponsored international conference 'A Changing World: Young people and risk in the online environment' (Bucharest). Download a copy of my presentation here.

1st December 2010. I gave a keynote address at the Community Care event 'Sexually Harmful Behaviour in Children and Young People' (London). (Delivered by video link due to the exceptionally adverse weather and travel conditions!) Download a copy of my presentation here.

10th February 2011. I led an international practice seminar on behalf of CEOP London on young people with harmful sexual behaviours and delivered three linked presentations. View here: CEOP on Prezi

Forthcoming conference presentations:

16th March 2011. I am presenting a plenary address at the Infocus conference entitled 'Child Sexual Abuse: Learning Lessons, Changing Practice' (Gateshead). See: http://infocus-safeguardingtraining.co.uk

8th June 2011. I am giving a keynote address at the NOTA/ CJSW Centre for Scotland conference 'Balancing Risk and Need' (Edinburgh). See: www.nota.co.uk/training

Selected Publications

Books: authored

Hackett, S. (2004). What works for children and young people with harmful sexual behaviours?. Barkingside: Barnardo's.
Hackett, S. (2001). Facing the Future. A guide for parents of young people who have sexually abused. Lyme Regis: Russell House Publishing.

Books: edited

Calder, M. & Hackett, S. (2003). Assessment in Child Care. Using and developing frameworks for practice. Lyme Regis: Russell House Publishing.

Books: sections

Hackett, S. (2012). The place that theory plays in child protection social work. In Social Work with Children and Families. Davies, M. Palgrave MacMillan. 121-134.
Hackett, S. (2010). Children, young people and sexual violence. In Children Behaving Badly: Exploring peer violence between children and young people. Barter, C. & Berridge, D. London: Blackwell Wiley.
Hackett, S. & Taylor, A. (2008). School Responses to Children with Harmful Sexual Behaviours. In Safeguarding Children and Schools. Baginsky, M. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Hackett, S. (2007). Just how different are they? Diversity and the treatment of young people with harmful sexual behaviours. In Children and young people who sexually abuse: taking the field forward. Calder, M. Lyme Regis: Russell House Publishing.
Hackett, S. (2006). A resilience based approach to young people who have sexually abused others. In Children and Young People who Sexually Abused Others: Challenges and Responses. Erooga, M. & Masson, H. London: Brunner Routledge.
Hackett, S. (2006). The personal and professional context to work with children and young people who have sexually abused. In Children and Young People who Sexually Abused Others: Challenges and Responses. Erooga, M. & Masson, H. London: Brunner Routledge.

Journal papers: academic

Hackett, S., Masson, H. Balfe, M. & Phillips, J. (2013). Community reactions to young people who have sexually abused and their families: a Shotgun blast, not a rifle shot. Children and Society
Hackett, S. & Taylor, A. (2013). Decision Making in Social Work with Children and Families: The Use of Experiential and Analytical Cognitive Processes. The British Journal of Social Work (Advance Access ): 1-18.
Hackett, S., Masson, H., Balfe, M. & Phillips, J. (2013). Individual, Family and Abuse Characteristics of 700 British Child and Adolescent Sexual Abusers. Child Abuse Review
Masson, H., Hackett, S., Phillips, J. & Balfe, M. (2013). Looking Back on the Long-Term Fostering and Adoption of Children with Harmful Sexual Behaviours: Carers’ Reflections on Their Experiences. British Journal of Social Work (Advance Access ): 1-18.
Masson, H., Balfe, M., Hackett, S. & Phillips, J. (2013). Lost without a Trace? Social Networking and Social Research with a Hard-to-Reach Population. British Journal of Social Work 43(1): 24-40.
Masson, H., Hackett, S., Phillips, J. & Balfe, M. (2012). Developmental markers of risk or vulnerability? Young females who sexually abuse: characteristics, backgrounds, behaviours and outcomes. Child and Family Social Work
Hackett, S., Balfe, M., Masson, H. & Phillips, J. (2012). Family responses to young people who have sexually abused: anger, ambivalence and acceptance. Children and Society
Balfe, M., Gallagher, B., Balfe, S., Hackett, S., Masson, H. & Phillips, J. (2012). Hand covers bruise: what we know about Internet child sex offenders’ concerns about online security and their use of identity protection technologies. Child Abuse and Neglect
Hackett, S., Carpenter, J., Patsios, D. & Szilassy, E. (2012). Interprofessional and interagency training for working with young people with harmful sexual behaviours: An evaluation of outcomes. Journal of Sexual Aggression
Jones, C. & Hackett. S. (2012). Redefining Family Relationships Following Adoption: Adoptive Parents' Perspectives on the Changing Nature of Kinship between Adoptees and Birth Relatives. British Journal of Social Work 42(2): 283-299.
Carpenter, J., Patsios, D., Szilassy, E. & Hackett, S. (2011). Outcomes of Short Course Interprofessional Education in Parental Mental Illness and Child Protection: Self-Efficacy, Attitudes and Knowledge. Social Work Education 30(2): 195-206.
Jones, C. & Hackett, S. (2011). Redefining Family Relationships Following Adoption: Adoptive Parents' Perspectives on the Changing Nature of Kinship between Adoptees and Birth Relatives. British Journal of Social Work
Jones, C. & Hackett, S. (2011). The Role of 'Family Practices' and 'Displays of Family' in the Creation of Adoptive Kinship. British Journal of Social Work 41(1): 40-56.
Buschman, J., Wilcox, D., Krapohl, D., Oelrich, M. & Hackett, S. (2010). Cybersex Offender Risk Assessment: An explorative study. Journal of Sexual Aggression: An international, interdisciplinary forum for research, theory and practice 16(2): 197-209.
Carpenter, J., Patsios, D., Szilassy, E. & Hackett, S. (2010). Outcomes of short course interprofessional training in parental mental illness and child protection safeguarding children: self-efficacy, attitudes and knowledge. Social Work Education in press.
Vosmer, S., Hackett, S. & Callanan, M. (2009). 'Normal' and 'inappropriate' childhood sexual behaviours; findings from a Delphi study of professionals in the United Kingdom. Journal of Sexual Aggression 15(3): 275 - 288
Jones, C. & Hackett, S. (2007). Communicative Openness Within Adoptive Families: Adoptive Parents' Narrative Accounts of the Challenges of Adoption Talk and the Approaches Used to Manage these Challenges. Adoption Quarterly 10(3/4): 157-178.
Hackett, S., Masson, H. & Phillips, S. (2006). Exploring Consensus in Practice with Youth Who Are Sexually Abusive: Findings from a Delphi Study of Practitioner Views in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Child Maltreatment 11(2): 146-156.
Hackett, S. & Masson, H. (2006). Young people who have sexually abused: what do they (and their parents) want from professionals?. Children & Society 20(3): 183-195.
Masson, H. & Hackett. S. (2005). The extent and nature of work with adolescents who have sexaully abused others: Results of a survey of Youth Offending Teams in England and Wales. Youth Justice 4(3): 160-177.
Hackett. S., Matthies, A-L. & (Guest Editors) (2005). Towards research-oriented social work education in Europe. European Journal of Social Work 8(3): 245-246.
Masson, H. & Hackett, S. (2003). A decade on from the NCH report (1992): adolescent sexual aggression, policy and service delivery across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Journal of Sexual Aggression 9(2): 1-22.
Hackett, S., Kuronen, M., Matthies, A. & Kresal, B. (2003). The motivation, professional development and identity of social work students in four European countries. European Journal of Social Work 6(2): 163-178.

Other publications: research

Carpenter, John., Patsios, Demi., Szilassy, Eszter. & Hackett, Simon. (2011). Connect, share and learn. Evaluating the outcomes of inter-agency training to safeguard children. Toolkit. London: NSPCC for PIAT.
Carpenter, John., Hackett, Simon., Patsios, Demi. & Szilassy, Eszter. (2010). Outcomes of Interagency Training to Safeguard Children: Final Report to the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Health. Department for Children, Schools and Families. 188.
Hackett. S. & Uprichard, E. (2007). Animal abuse and child maltreatment: a review of literature and findings from a UK study links between animal and child maltreatment. London: NSPCC.
Hackett, S., Masson, H. & Phillips, S. (2005). Services for Young People Who Sexually Abuse. A report on mapping and exploring services for young people who have sexually abused others. London: Youth Justice Board.

Show all publications

Research Interests

International comparative social welfare
International social work
Child maltreatment and safeguarding children
Children and young people with harmful sexual behaviours
Sexual abuse and sexual offending
Child development
Risk and resilience
Therapeutic interventions with children
User participation in social welfare
Parenting interventions
Assessment in social welfare
Adoption

Research Groups

Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse
Crime, Deviance and Culture Research
Policy, Professions and Communities

Research Projects

Teaching Areas

Child development
Child maltreatment
Intervention theories, methods and skills
Research Methods
Risk and resilience

Supervises

Grants Awarded

2008: RECIDIVISM, DESISTANCE AND LIFE COURSE (£199816.60 from Esrc)
2006: The Outcomes of Interprofessional Training (£6136.00 from DFES)
2004: NSPCC LITERATURE REVIEW (£10000.00 from NSPCC)
2003: ANIMAL AND CHILD MALTREATMENT (£17425.00 from NSPCC)
2001: MAPPING AND EXPLORING SERVICES (£77367.00 from NSPCC)

Media Contacts

Available for media contact about:

Aggression: Sex offenders
Public policy, health and well-being: Child development and welfare
Social work: Adoption and parenting
Aggression: Interpersonal violence
Social work: International social work
Social work: Child abuse and child protection
Criminology: Youth crime and juvenile offenders