Dr Fiona Factor

Head of School of Applied Social Sciences

University of Bedfordshire

My professional background is in youth work; in particular detached street-based work with vulnerable young people. I came to the University in 1995 to establish the youth and community professional JNC qualifying programme. During this period I developed numerous partnerships overseas, generated significant external business income for the university and undertook several research projects. In 2004, I left to establish my own consultancy business and worked with a range of statutory and voluntary organisations to improve how their services to children and young people were delivered.

I returned part time to the University in 2009 to teach multi-agency working and to develop two new MA programmes; one of which was delivered in partnership with universities in Finland and Estonia.

During 2011-13 I became a Senior Research Fellow and worked on a research project exploring 'Gang associated sexual exploitation and abuse'. During the project young people produced some films which can be viewed on the GASEV project page. Between 2013-15, I worked with a consortium of organisations called Beyond Youth Custody, researching the resettlement needs of young people leaving custody.

My recent research work has been on the Child Sexual Exploitation and Policing Knowledge Hub. This work brought together academics, young people and the police, along with other relevant professionals, to improve the use of evidence in police responses to young people affected by CSE, other forms of CSA and associated vulnerabilities.

I have managed a number of courses at both undergraduate and post graduate levels which focus on children and young people. The theme that ties all of my teaching and research together is my passion for ensuring that children and young people in need are supported by professionals around them to the highest standard possible and that young people have a say in these processes. I am an ardent advocate of children and young people's rights.

As the Head of the School of Applied Social Sciences (SASS), I oversee the provision of both undergraduate and postgraduate courses across our 5 campuses. My role is to manage the staff teams and to develop and maintain the School’s strategic direction in line with current trends across the higher education and employment sector. This involves embedding excellent teaching, learning and student experience activities, so that our students are equipped with the skills required to become our #SASS Changemakers and challenge societal injustices locally, nationally and internationally.

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Applied Social Studies - CNAA, 1985

• Postgraduate Diploma, Youth and Community Studies/JNC - Manchester Polytechnic, 1987

• MA Community Education - De Montfort University, 2002

• Professional Doctorate - University of Bedfordshire, 2016

Teaching Expertise

• Senior Fellow HEA

• Course leader for BA Child and Adolescent Studies and MA Childhood and Youth Applied Perspectives

• Member of Faculty Teaching Quality Standards Committee (FTQSC) and Teaching and Learning Group (TLAG)

• Short course coordinator Child sexual exploitation violence and trafficking

• Employability Lead SASS

Research Interests

• How practitioners develop and articulate their 'practice wisdom'

• Effective work with young people experiencing difficulties/disadvantage

• Design of appropriate and innovative research tools

• The ethical participation of young people to inform policy and practice

• Creative methods in teaching and learning

• Employability in higher education

Recent Publications

Factor, F & Ackerley, E (Forthcoming 2019) Young people and police making ‘Marginal Gains’: Climbing hills, building relationships and changing practice: lessons from a participatory project with young people and the police Climbing hills, building relationships and changing practice: lessons from a participatory project with young people and the police limbing fells, building relationships and changing police safeguarding practice. Journal of Children’s Services