Sarah Dennis

Sarah Dennis is a Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University's Faculty of Health and Education. She holds a part-time PhD funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (White Rose studentship), focusing on improving wellbeing for families in child protection court cases. Her research explores court culture reform and ethical approval processes in family court studies. She has extensive practice experience in social work, including roles with Cafcass and local authorities, and has authored over 200 court-related reports. Her co-authored book chapter on child protection will appear in The Child Protection Handbook (4th Ed.) (2024).

Education: Currently pursuing a part-time PhD at Manchester Metropolitan University. Professional qualifications include registration with Social Work England.

Research Interests: Family court dynamics, child protection systems, social work methodologies, and the application of arts-based approaches in research. Recent writing includes explorations of ethical challenges in court-related research.

Grants: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) White Rose studentship supporting her PhD research.

Professional Background: Over 16 years in social work roles, including children’s guardian at Cafcass, independent assessment work, and fostering assessments. Emphasizes building trust with families in high-stakes legal contexts.