Alinka Gearon

Biography

Prior to joining University of Bath in 2017 I have been practicing as a qualified social worker working with children and families. I have considerable practice experience in the statutory sector, spanning 16 years. My expertise is in front-line social work practice, specialising in child protection, child abuse and exploitation. My experience in child protection social work, coupled with an interest in listening to how children are affected by social issues, informed my PhD research into ‘Child Trafficking’, exploring the experiences of separated children on the move. I explored children’s experiences of separation, migration and child abuse. This research uniquely listened to, and gave voice to, children’s experiences of their childhood, of child abuse and exploitation first hand. The research also facilitated understanding in how children experience domestic child protection systems. My research interests lie in qualitative and child-focused research exploring children’s worlds, child protection and children’s rights. I have an interest in developing increased participation of children in social work research and practice.

Research Interest

Research interests Child protection Child trafficking Child rights Lived experiences of childhoods Social work education