Qualifications & background
AcSS, PhD., MA, B.Sc. C.Q.S.W.
Professor Michael Sheppard is an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences. He was a social worker and senior caseworker working in the field of mental health and child and family care before becoming an academic. He was formerly Visiting Professor and Fellow at the University of Exeter, 1997-2004 (Centre for Evidence Based Social Services). He is co-editor of the journal Social and Public Policy Review, has been co-editor of Issues in Social Work Education, and Associate Editor of Practice. He has also served on the Editorial Boards of the British Journal of Social Work, Social and Public Policy Review, Practice and the Journal of Social Work. He was a member of the Responsive Grant Committee of the National Health Service Executive, and has been a referee for major funders including the ESRC and Nuffield Foundation. He is a member of the Economic and Social Research Council College of Assessors. He is author of over 100 publications in the form of books, edited works and articles. He has been in receipt of a number of external grant awards including those from the Economic and Social Research Council, the Nuffield Foundation, and the National Health Service Executive. He has been advisor on High Court cases internationally, has been expert seminar leader to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Social Science and Social Policy (on policy directions in relation to child protection), and has had biographical listings in Who's Who in the World (United States) and the Cambridge Dictionary of International Biography. He was HEFCE Panel Specialist Advisor to the Research Assessment Exercise 2008
Professional membership
Teaching interests
Mental Health, Child Care, Social Work Theory and Concepts.
Research interests
Social Work Theory and Concepts.
Knowledge Forms in Social Work.
Prevention in Child and Family Care.
The interface between Mental Health and Child Care.
UoP Research group membership
Centre for Health and Social Care Innovation (CHeSCI)
Mental Health
Parenting and Child Welfare
Social and Public Policy
Social Exclusion, Diversity and Disadvantage
Publications
Selected Recent Publications.
Sheppard, M. (2011) 'An examination of the preventive process: a comparison of Behaviour and Education Support Team work with Children's Services', Child Abuse Review, forthcominng
Cooper, J (Sheppard, M. (2011) 'What's the score?' Community Care, 7th July, pp 20-22
Sheppard, M. (2011) 'Preventive orientations in children's centres: a study of centre managers', British Journal of Social Work, http://bjsw.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/06/07/bjsw.bcr066.full.pdf+html Advance access
Sheppard, M., McDonald, P. and Welbourne, P. (2010) ‘The Parent Concerns Questionnaire and Parenting Stress Index: comparison of two Common Assessment Framework-compatible assessment instruments’, Child and Family Social Work, 15, 3, pp 345-56
Sheppard, M. (2010) 'The Parent Concerns Questionnaire: A Reliable and Valid Common Assessment Framework for Child and Family Social Care' British Journal of Social Work, 40, pp 371-91
Sheppard, M. and Wilkinson, T. (2010) 'Assessing family problems: an evaluation of key elements of the Children's Review Schedule', Children and Society, 24, 2, pp 148-59
Huxley, P., Sheppard, M., and Webber, M. (2010) Mental Health Social Work’, in Shaw I., Briar-Lawson, B, Orme J and Ruckdeschel, R (eds) The Sage Handbook of Social Work Research, London, Thousand Oaks, California Sage.
Sheppard, M. (2009) 'Social Support Use as a Parental Coping Strategy: Its Impact on Outcome of Child and Parenting Problems—A Six-Month Follow-Up', British Journal of Social Work, 39, pp 1427-1446
Sheppard, M. (2009) ‘High thresholds and prevention in children’s services. The impact of mothers’ coping strategies on outcome of child and parenting problems: six month follow up’, British Journal of Social Work. 39, 46-63
Sheppard, M. (2009) Social Work and Social Care Research Contribution to the Health Agenda: Mental Health. London, Social Care Institute for Excellence. http://www.scie.org.uk/news/events/healthagenda09/index.asp
Sheppard, M. (2008) How Important is Prevention? High Thresholds and Outcomes for Applicants refused by Children’s Services: A Six Month Follow Up’, British Journal of Social Work, 38, pp 1268-1282
Sheppard, M. (2008 ) ‘Locus of control, coping and Proto prevention in Child and Family Care’, British Journal of Social Work 38, pp 308-321
Sheppard, M. (2008) ‘Social Exclusion’, Editorial Board: Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Philip Costanzo, Patrick L. Mason, Paula D. McClain, David Scott, Theresa Singleton International Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences, New York, Macmillan.
Sheppard, M., McDonald, P. and Welbourne, P (2008) ‘Service users as gatekeepers in children’s centres’, Child and Family Social Work, 13, pp 61-71
Clibbens, J. and Sheppard, M. (2007) ‘Are Children with Learning Disabilities Really ‘Children First’? A Needs and Outcome Evaluation of Policy’ Social and Public Policy Review, 1, 2.
Sheppard. M (2007) ‘Assessment’ in J. Lishman (ed) Handbook of Theory for Social Work Practice. London. Jessica Kingsley
Sheppard, M. (2006) Social Exclusion and Social Work: The Idea of Practice, Aldershot, Ashgate.
