About Me

I am a social work academic, researcher and practitioner with particular expertise in the area of pre-birth child protection and risk to infants.

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In 2019, I completed my ESRC funded PhD in social work at the University of Edinburgh. This research explored pre-birth child protection using ethnographic methods.

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I am currently a Lecturer in Social Work (Child Protection) at the University of Stirling. I lead the Applied Professional Studies Pathway for professionals seeking a post-qualifying award in child welfare. This role encompasses recruitment and admissions for the Child Welfare and Protection Certificate, and ensuring the smooth running of this popular programme, offered across Scotland. I am Module Co-ordinator for Assessment and Decision Making and teach across the programme, as well as contributing to qualifying education in Social Work. I can be contacted at Stirling via ariane.critchley@stir.ac.uk

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My background is in statutory social work with children and families and adoption work. I have a strong academic background in both social work and philosophy. I approach my practice, teaching and research from a social justice perspective. I am interested in creative approaches to social work with families. I particularly enjoy knowledge exchange and working in the spaces where social work research and practice meet.