Brian Taylor

Brian Taylor is a Full Professor of Social Work at the School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences, Ulster University, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. He holds an ORCID identifier (0000-0002-3833-1986) and is based at the Magee Campus in Londonderry, United Kingdom. His research focuses on professional judgment, decision-making processes, risk assessment, and the integration of digital technologies into social work practice.

Research interests include evidence-based practice, interprofessional collaboration, and ethical implications of AI in social work. He has explored topics such as child protection systems, domestic violence intervention strategies, and the role of big data in welfare decision-making. His work emphasizes bridging theoretical frameworks with practical applications to improve service delivery and policy outcomes.

Publications span critical analyses of risk communication, cultural competency in assessments, and challenges in implementing predictive analytics. His recent work engages with emerging technologies like natural language processing (NLP) and artificial intelligence (AI), scrutinizing their potential to enhance—or disrupt—social work practice. A 2023 systematic review highlighted barriers to knowledge utilization in child welfare decisions, underscoring the need for improved interprofessional training and decision-support tools.

Award details are unspecified, though his prolific output (196+ publications) and h-index of 32 reflect significant academic contributions. He collaborates internationally, evidenced by conference presentations in Belfast, Amsterdam, and Zurich. Supervision of 4 doctoral students and involvement in research communities (e.g., Evidence into Practice SIG) further demonstrate his role in fostering scholarly networks.

Teaching interests include decision-making methodologies in social work education and practical applications of research in clinical settings. He has led courses on reflective practice, critical thinking, and the use of scaled tools for service quality assessment in healthcare and social care environments.