Simon Gittins

Simon Gittins is a Lecturer and Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Social Work programme at the University of the West of Scotland. Previously, he worked at Glasgow Caledonian University as a social work lecturer. His career spans practice in Scottish local authority justice departments, focusing on rehabilitation and risk management of individuals convicted of serious harm, including sexual and violent offending. He contributed to national standards for MAPPA Level 1 processes in Scotland. As an External Examiner for social work programmes, he ensures academic rigor across institutions.

His research interests center on restorative justice, sexual offending, and public protection, with a current PhD exploring restorative justice responses to sexual offending in Scotland. He is affiliated with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, and National Organisation for the Treatment of Abuse (NOTA). His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to justice and safety.