Metadata
Title
Paul McCafferty
Category
undergraduate
UUID
1d09f8ddfb754fc4b8ff688143284cc3
Source URL
https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/
Parent URL
https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/social-work-relevant-degree-entry-bs...
Crawl Time
2026-03-23T18:54:21+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown 
# Paul McCafferty

**Source**: https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/
**Parent**: https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/social-work-relevant-degree-entry-bsw-l501/

- [Paul McCafferty public CV](https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/cv/35fbc57f-ead2-41a1-905a-cb1659fe5752?locale=en_GB)

[View Scopus Profile](https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55392334000)

# Paul McCafferty

Dr

- Reader, [School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/organisations/school-of-social-sciences-education-and-social-work/)
- [Centre for Technological Innovation, Mental Health and Education (TIME)](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/organisations/centre-for-technological-innovation-mental-health-and-education-t/)
- [Centre for Children's Rights](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/organisations/centre-for-childrens-rights/)

[https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4324-995X](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4324-995X "Orcid")

- Phone+44 (0)28 9097 5988
- Email[P.McCafferty@qub.ac.uk](#)

Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

Children's rights in child welfare (protection, prevention and participation specifically).\
Issues in child welfare.\
Decision making in child welfare.\
Practice teaching in social work education.\
Supervision in child welfare.

2003Research output 2003: 2Research output 2004: 2Research output 2005: 1Research output 2006: 2Research output 2008: 1Research output 2009: 1Research output 2012: 1Research output 2016: 7Research output 2017: 5Research output 2018: 7Research output 2019: 3Research output 2020: 4Research output 2021: 6Research output 2022: 4Research output 2023: 6Research output 2024: 9Research output 2025: 7Research output 2026: 32026

Research activity per year

## Personal profile

### Research Focus

I qualified as a social worker in 1994.  For 13 years I worked in child protection as a practitioner and manager specialising in work with children and families.  I then moved to education and learning where I worked for 15 years in several different organisations both in the statutory and voluntary sectors as an educator and manager.  Since 2016, I have worked in the university sector.  My research interests are primarily in children’s rights, decision-making, knowledge acquisition and utilisation, and child welfare, and I have published in these areas.  I currently lead the European Social Work Research Association’s Special Interest Group, Children’s Rights in Practice.   My teaching interests are in child welfare and research methods.  I am taking PhD applications on issues connected with children’s rights, decision-making and child welfare.

## Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics where Paul McCafferty is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

- [11](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/similar/)
  Similar Profiles

- Children
  Psychology
- Child Welfare
  Social Sciences
- Social Work
  Social Sciences
- Decision
  Social Sciences
- Child
  Social Sciences
- Qualitative Research
  Psychology
- Groups
  Social Sciences
- Professional Personnel
  Social Sciences

[View full fingerprint](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/fingerprints/)

## Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or Select a country/territory from the list\

# Dive into details

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[Explore network further](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/network/)

## Research output

- [25](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontoconference%2Fpaper)
  Paper
- [19](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Farticle)
  Article
- [5](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fothercontribution%2Fprotocol)
  Protocol
- [3](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontobookanthology%2Fpeerreviewedchapter)
  Chapter (peer-reviewed)
- 12
  More

  - [**3** Other contribution](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fothercontribution%2Fother)
  - [**2** Editorial](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Feditorial)
  - [**1** Edited book](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fbookanthology%2Fedited_collections)
  - [**1** Other report](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fbookanthology%2Fother)
  - [**1** Scholarly edition](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fbookanthology%2Fscholarly)
  - [**1** Conference contribution](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontobookanthology%2Fconference)
  - [**1** Other contribution to conference](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontoconference%2Fother)
  - [**1** Poster](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontoconference%2Fposter)
  - [**1** Book/Film/Article review](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Fbook)
  - [**1** Review article](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Fsystematicreview)

- ### [Children's rights in social work practice. Theory, protection, participation and provision](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/childrens-rights-in-social-work-practice-theory-protection-partic/)

  [McCafferty, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/) (Editor), Mercado Garcia , E. (Editor), [Hayes, D.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/davy-hayes/) (Editor) & [Marshall, G.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/gerry-marshall/) (Editor), 03 Feb 2026, (Accepted) [Routledge](#).

  Research output: Book/Report › Edited book › peer-review
- ### [Keeping the promise: workforce retention as a children’s rights obligation](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/keeping-the-promise-workforce-retention-as-a-childrens-rights-obl/)

  [Tanner, E.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/elizabeth-tanner/), [McCafferty, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/) & [Hayes, D.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/davy-hayes/), 03 Feb 2026, (Accepted) *Children's rights in social work practice: theory, protection, participation and provision.* McCafferty, P., Mercado Garcia, E., Hayes, D. & Marshall, G. (eds.). [Routledge](#)

  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
- ### [Participatory research with children and young people: a systematic umbrella review](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/participatory-research-with-children-and-young-people-a-systemati/)

  [McCafferty, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/), [Crowe, A.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/ashleen-crowe-2/), [Schubotz, D.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/dirk-schubotz/) & [Miller, S.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/sarah-miller/), 19 Jan 2026, (Early online date) In: [Child Care in Practice.](#) 19 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  - Participatory Research
  - Participatory Action Research
  - Umbrella Review
  - Review
  - Social Connectedness

  2
  Downloads
  (Pure)
- ### [A systematic review of the experiences and perceived impacts of advocacy support for Looked After Children and Young People within child welfare services](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/a-systematic-review-of-the-experiences-and-perceived-impacts-of-a/)

  [Lunn, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/james-lunn/), [McCafferty, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/) & [Hayes, D.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/davy-hayes/), 01 Mar 2025, 14 p.

  Research output: Other contribution › Protocol

  Open Access

  File

  10
  Downloads
  (Pure)
- ### [Children’s participation in social work research. A secondary data analysis of an umbrella review of children’s participation in child welfare](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/childrens-participation-in-social-work-research-a-secondary-data-/)

  [McCafferty, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/) & Mercado García, E., Jun 2025, In: [British Journal of Social Work.](#) 55, 4, p. 1574-1597 24 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  - Children's Rights
  - Child Welfare
  - Work Research
  - Umbrella Review
  - Research Process

  [2](https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105009653244#tab=citedBy)
  Citations
  (Scopus)

  71
  Downloads
  (Pure)

[View all 71 research outputs](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/publications/)

## Prizes

- ### [Engaged Research Seed Award](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/prizes/engaged-research-seed-award/)

  [Best, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-best/) (Recipient), [McCafferty, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/) (Recipient) & Meireles, M. (Recipient), 31 May 2019

  Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)

  - Research
  - Mental Health Service
  - Child and Adolescent Mental Health
- ### [Professional Practice Innovation Award](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/prizes/professional-practice-innovation-award/)

  [McCafferty, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/) (Recipient), 30 Nov 2021

  Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)

  - Education
  - Universities
  - Professional Personnel
  - Innovation
  - Awards
- ### [Queen's University Belfast Teaching Award](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/prizes/queens-university-belfast-teaching-award-3/)

  [McCafferty, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/) (Recipient), 15 Jun 2023

  Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)

  - Queen
  - Universities
  - Belfast
  - Awards
  - Stars

## Activities

- [12](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Feditorialwork%2Feditorial)
  Editorial activity
- [10](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Ftalk%2Finvited_talk)
  Invited talk
- [7](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fattendance%2Fworkshopseminarcourseparticipation)
  Participation in workshop, seminar, course
- [7](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fmembership%2Fnetwork)
  Membership of network
- 31
  More

  - [**5** Hosting of external, non-academic visitor](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fhostvisitor%2Fhosting_of_external_non_academic_visitor)
  - [**5** Membership of national or international committees and working groups](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fmembership%2Fmembership_of_national_or_international_committees_and_working_groups)
  - [**4** Other](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fotheractivity%2Fother_activity)
  - [**3** Participation in conference](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fattendance%2Fconferenceparticipation)
  - [**3** Hosting an academic visitor](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fhostvisitor%2Fhostvisitor)
  - [**3** Oral presentation](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Ftalk%2Foral_presentation)
  - [**2** Publication peer-review](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Feditorialwork%2Fpublicationpeerreview)
  - [**2** Membership of external research organisation](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fmembership%2Fcouncil)
  - [**2** Research and Teaching at External Organisation](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fvisitother%2Fresearch_and_teaching_at_external_organisation)
  - [**1** Participation in Festival/Exhibition](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fattendance%2Fparticipation_in_festival_exhibition)
  - [**1** Work on advisory panel to industry or government or non-government organisation](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fconsultancy%2Fwork_on_advisory_panel_to_industry_or_government_or_non_government_organisation_)
  - [**1** Other examination](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fexamination%2Fother_examination)
  - [**1** PGT external examination](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fexamination%2Fpgt_external_examination)
  - [**1** Membership of board](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fmembership%2Fboard)

- ### [UKRI Funding Service (Publisher)](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/ukri-funding-service-publisher/)

  [McCafferty, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/) (Peer reviewer)

  16 Mar 2026

  Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Publication peer-review
- ### [National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) (Publisher)](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/national-institute-for-health-and-care-research-nihr-publisher-4/)

  [Hayes, D.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/davy-hayes/) (Peer reviewer) & [McCafferty, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/) (Peer reviewer)

  11 Mar 2026

  Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Publication peer-review
- ### [NISCC 13th Annual social work and social care conference 2026](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/niscc-13th-annual-social-work-and-social-care-conference-2026/)

  [Lunn, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/james-lunn/) (Presenter), [McCafferty, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/) (Contributor) & [Hayes, D.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/davy-hayes/) (Contributor)

  11 Mar 2026

  Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
- ### [SSESW annual school conference](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/ssesw-annual-school-conference/)

  [Lunn, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/james-lunn/) (Presenter), [McCafferty, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/) (Contributor) & [Hayes, D.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/davy-hayes/) (Contributor)

  23 May 2025

  Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
- ### [Special Interest Group Children's Rights in Social Work Practice online seminar with Professor Laura Lundy.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/special-interest-group-childrens-rights-in-social-work-practice-o/)

  [McCafferty, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/) (Organiser)

  08 May 2025

  Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course

[View all 74 activities](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/activities/)

## Thesis

- ### [What knowledge do social workers use to inform their decision regarding permanency for Looked after Children?](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/what-knowledge-do-social-workers-use-to-inform-their-decision-reg/)

  [McCafferty, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-mccafferty-2/) (Author), [Duffy, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/joe-duffy/) (Supervisor) & [Hayes, D.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/davy-hayes/) (Supervisor), Dec 2019

  Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctorate in Childhood Studies

  File