Home > People > Julie Selwyn CBE

Julie Selwyn CBE

Professor of Education and Adoption

julie.selwyn@education.ox.ac.uk

About me

Julie is Professor of Education and Adoption. She leads the Hadley programme of research within the Rees Centre.

The research focuses on improving the outcomes for children looked after by the state and those who leave care on permanence orders such as adoption and special guardianship orders. For example, research on understanding the best ways to train and support those who are parenting children who have been maltreated or are traumatised by past experiences. Her research is ‘close to practice’, ensuring strong partnerships with social care agencies and the third sector.

Julie was awarded a CBE for her work in 2015.

Julie has contributed expert evidence to NICE reviews and is an academic advisor to UK and international governments. She has appeared as an expert witness in contested adoption hearings in the Supreme Court in Australia and in family courts in England.

Research

Books

Ottaway, H., & Selwyn, J. (2016). ’No-one told us it was going to be like this’. University of Bristol.
Selwyn, J., Meakings, S., & Wijedasa, D. (2015). Beyond the Adoption Order: challenges, intervention and disruption. BAAF.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beyond-the-adoption-order-challenges-intervention-disruption
Saunders, H., & Selwyn, J. (2013). Best practice in placing sibling groups. BAAF.
Turney, D., Platt, D., Selwyn, J., & Farmer, E. (2012). Improving Child and Family Assessments: Turning research into practice. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Saunders, H., & Selwyn, J. (2011). Adopting Large Sibling Groups. BAAF.
Selwyn, J., Quinton, D., Harris, P., Wijedasa, D., Nawaz, S., & Wood, M. (2010). Pathways to permanence for black, Asian and mixed ethnicity children. BAAF.
Selwyn, J., Quinton, D., Harris, P., Wijedasa, D., Nawaz, S., & Wood, M. (2010). Pathways to Permanence for Black, Asian and Mixed Ethnicity Children. London: BAAF.
Selwyn, J., Sturgess, W., Quinton, D., & Baxter, C. (2006). Costs and outcomes of non-infant adoptions. British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF).
Boushel, M., Fawcett, M., & Selwyn, J. (2000). Focus on Early Childhood: Principles and Realities. Blackwell Scientific Publications.

Book chapters

Selwyn, J. (2023). Outcomes for children adopted from care in the UK. In Research Handbook on Adoption Law (pp. 228-247).

https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800883260.00021
Selwyn, J. (2015). The home study and assessment of applicants: research evidence. In J. Alper & D. Howe (Eds.), Assessing adoptive and foster parents (pp. 37-62). Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
SELWYN, J. (2015). The home study and assessment of applicants: research evidence. In J. Alper & D. Howe (Eds.), Assessing adoptive and foster parents: Improving analysis and understanding of parenting capacity (pp. 37-62). Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Selwyn, J., & Wijedasa, D. (2009). The placement of looked after minority ethic children. In S. G. & J. Simmonds (Eds.), The Child Placement Handbook (pp. 363-381). London: BAAF.
Quinton, D., & Selwyn, J. (2006). Adoption in the UK: outcomes, influences and support. In C. McAuley, P. Pecora, & W. Rose (Eds.), Effective Interventions for Children and Families (pp. 253-265). Jessica Kingsley.
Selwyn, J. (2004). Placing Older Children in New Families:Changing Patterns of Contact. In E. Neil & D. Howe (Eds.), Contact in Adoption and Permanent Foster Care, Research Theory and Practice (pp. 144-164). London:BAAF Adoption and Fostering.
Selwyn, J., Sturgess, W., Quinton, D., & Baxter, C. (2004). Costs of Adoption. In C. null & A. L.Netten (Eds.), Unit Costs of Health and Social Care 2004 (pp. 11-17). Kent: PSSRU.
Selwyn, J. (2000). (i) Fetal development, (ii) Infancy and (iii) Technologies and environments: new freedoms, new constraints. In M. Boushel, M. Fawcett, & J. Selwyn (Eds.), Focus on early childhood: Principles and Realities (pp. 21-48). Blackwell Scientific Publications.
Selwyn, J. (1999). A for ever and ever family: siblings’ views as represented in reports for adoption hearings. In A. Mullender (Ed.), We Are Family: Sibling Relationships in Placement and Beyond (pp. 140-149). BAAF.
Selwyn, J. (1996). "Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who is the fairest of them all?" Involuntary childlessness and identity. In I. Butler & I. Shaw (Eds.), A case of Neglect? Children’s experiences and the sociology of childhood (pp. 37-55). Avebury.

Journal articles

Carter, B., Shelton, K., Holmes, L., Sprecher, E., Javed, M., Macleod, J., Park, J., Selwyn, J., Siraj, I., Robinson, C., & Hiller, R. (2025). The mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced young people during early and later adolescence. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 13591045251333028.

https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045251333028
Maryam, J., Sprecher, E., Carter, B., Hiller, R., Holmes, L., Selwyn, J., & Siraj, I. (2025). A systematic review of ethnic representation in UK research involving children and young people living in care. British Journal of Social Work.

https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcaf066 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:fbeb4ff1-d9a2-4926-9b87-584c7b1993f0
Selwyn, J. (2025). The mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced young people during early and later adolescence. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045251333028
McGrane, J., Baker, C., & Selwyn, J. (2024). The development and psychometric validation of a survey to measure the subjective well-being of care leavers. Children and Youth Services Review, 158.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107462 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:51f49ba3-2feb-4ae5-93c3-ed2ea1f41cb6
Selwyn, J., & Lewis, S. (2023). Keeping in Touch: looked after children and young people’s views on their contact arrangements. Adoption and Fostering, 47(2), 120-137.

https://doi.org/10.1177/03085759231170879 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:73b1f220-5c0f-4bc1-b575-31ebf4182e8f
Suh, E., & Selwyn, J. (2022). Exploring local authority variation in looked after young people’s subjective well-being. British Journal of Social Work, 53(1), 177-197.

https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcac117 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:f45c4d79-053b-4d93-9675-a26468986cfc
Selwyn, J., & Lewis, S. (2023). Keeping in touch: looked after children and young people’s views on their contact arrangements. Adoption and Fostering.
Selwyn, J., & Staines, J. (2020). “I wish someone would explain why I am in care”: The impact of children and young people’s lack of understanding of why they are in out-of-home care on their well-being and felt security. Child and Family Social Work, 25(S1), 97-106.

https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12721 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:2ff8f705-093a-4f7b-a898-2c07e05e69b7
Zhang, M., & Selwyn, J. (2019). The subjective well-being of children and young people in out of home care: psychometric analyses of the “Your Life, Your Care” survey. Child Indicators Research, 13(5), 1549-1572.

https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:fc2ff4c0-8192-4fb2-8079-3d4c839813e0
Staines, J., Golding, K., & Selwyn, J. (2019). Nurturing attachments parenting program: The relationship between adopters’ parental reflective functioning and perception of their children’s difficulties. Developmental Child Welfare, 1(2), 143-158.

https://doi.org/10.1177/2516103219829861
Palacios, J., Adroher, S., Brodzinsky, D., Grotevant, H., Johnson, D., Juffer, F., Martínez-Mora, L., Muhamedrahimov, R., Selwyn, J., Simmonds, J., & Tarren-Sweeney, M. (2019). Adoption in the service of child protection: an international interdisciplinary perspective. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 25(2), 57-72.

https://doi.org/10.1037/law0000192 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:e909987c-43c0-4abf-bd92-06b5a4a35a6a
Wood, M., & Selwyn, J. (2019). Looked after children and young people’s views on what matters to their subjective well-being. Adoption and Fostering, 41(1), 20-34.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0308575916686034 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:7d9d9db9-8eb5-4ca4-a3fc-698d30fb4db4
Palacios, J., Rolock, N., Selwyn, J., & Barbosa-Ducharne, M. (2018). Adoption breakdown: Concept, research, and implications. Research on Social Work Practice, 29(2), 130-142.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731518783852 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:fbaa1efe-019d-411a-89cd-38ac91371031
Selwyn, J. (2018). Sibling relationships in adoptive families that disrupted or were in crisis. Research on Social Work Practice.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731518783859 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:6be9670e-b64b-4db6-bee1-cb6dce4c090c
Selwyn, J. (2017). The adoption of looked after maltreated children in England: Challenges, opportunities and outcomes. Developing Practice: The Child Youth and Family Work Journal.
Selwyn, J. (2017). The adoption of looked after maltreated children in England: challenges, opportunities and outcomes. Developing Practice: The Child, Youth and Family Work Journal.

https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:40af397f-e55d-44df-ade4-e665bf8460fc
Wijedasa, D., & Selwyn, J. (2017). Examining rates and risk factors for post-order adoption disruption in England and Wales through survival analyses. Children and Youth Services Review, 83, 179-189.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.10.005 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:b53f0ad3-6259-4da8-821f-5b2264bc5653
Meakings, S., & Selwyn, J. (2016). ‘She was a foster mother who said she didn’t give cuddles’: The adverse early foster care experiences of children who later struggle with adoptive family life. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 21(4), 509-519.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104516631608 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:97e9b536-a0fb-4f90-a841-a55a9428d90c
Selwyn, J., Wood, M., & Newman, T. (2016). Looked after children and young people in England: Developing measures of subjective well-being. Child Indicators Research, 10(2), 363-380.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-016-9375-1 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:b50ff6c8-b5b7-4b71-9c73-0d15a43929c6
Selwyn, J., & Meakings, S. (2015). ‘She just didn’t smell right!’ Odour and adoptive family life. Adoption & Fostering, 39(4), 294-302.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0308575915612617
Selwyn, J., & Meakings, S. (2015). Adolescent-to-parent violence in adoptive families. British Journal of Social Work, 46(5), 1224-1240.

https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcv072 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:0d04c817-06cc-4591-8c4b-a7894e81c4e7
SELWYN, J., & Masson, J. (2014). Adoption, special guardianship and residence orders: a comparison of disruption rates. Family Law Journal, 44, 1709-1714.

http://www.familylaw.co.uk/news_and_comment/adoption-special-guardianship-and-residence-orders-a-comparison-of-disruption-rates
Selwyn, J., Wijedasa, D., & Meakings, S. (2014). Report: Beyond the Adoption Order: Challenges, Interventions and Adoption Disruption. Children and Young People Now, 2014(15), 28-28.

https://doi.org/10.12968/cypn.2014.15.28
Nandy, S., & Selwyn, J. (2014). Report: Kinship Care and Poverty: Using Census Data to Examine Kinship Care. Children and Young People Now, 2014(4), 28-28.

https://doi.org/10.12968/cypn.2014.4.28
Selwyn, J., & Nandy, S. (2014). Kinship care in the UK: using census data to estimate the extent of formal and informal care by relatives. Child & Family Social Work, 19(1), 44-54.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2012.00879.x
Nandy, S., & Selwyn, J. (2013). Kinship Care and Poverty: Using Census Data to Examine the Extent and Nature of Kinship Care in the UK. The British Journal of Social Work, 43(8), 1649-1666.

https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcs057
Farmer, E., Selwyn, J., & Meakings, S. (2013). ‘Other children say you’re not normal because you don’t live with your parents’. Children’s views of living with informal kinship carers: social networks, stigma and attachment to carers. Child & Family Social Work, 18(1), 25-34.

https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12030
Farmer, E., Selwyn, J., & Meakings, S. (2013). ’Other children say you’re not normal because you don’t live with your parents’. Child and Family Social Work.
Selwyn, J., & Nandy, S. (2012). Sibling kinship carers in England: Evidence from the 2001 UK population census. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(1), 194-199.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.09.015
Selwyn, J., & Wijedesa, D. (2011). Pathways to adoption for minority ethnic children in England – reasons for entry to care. Child & Family Social Work, 16(3), 276-286.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2010.00739.x
Selwyn, J., & Sempik, J. (2011). Recruiting Adoptive Families: The Costs of Family Finding and the Failure of the Inter-Agency Fee. The British Journal of Social Work, 41(3), 415-431.

https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcq075
Staines, J., Farmer, E., & Selwyn, J. (2011). Implementing a Therapeutic Team Parenting Approach to Fostering: The Experiences of One Independent Foster-Care Agency. The British Journal of Social Work, 41(2), 314-332.

https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcq043
Selwyn, J. (2010). The Challenges in Planning for Permanency. Adoption & Fostering, 34(3), 32-37.

https://doi.org/10.1177/030857591003400306
Selwyn, J., Saunders, H., & Farmer, E. (2010). The Views of Children and Young People on Being Cared For by an Independent Foster-Care Provider. The British Journal of Social Work, 40(3), 696-713.

https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcn117
Quinton, D., & Selwyn, J. (2009). Adoption as a solution to intractable parenting problems: Evidence from two English studies. Children and Youth Services Review, 31(10), 1119-1126.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2009.07.008
Rees, C., & Selwyn, J. (2009). Non-infant adoption from care: lessons for safeguarding children. Child: Care, Health and Development, 35(4), 561-567.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2009.00978.x
Selwyn, J., del Tufo, S., & Frazer, L. (2009). It’s a Piece of Cake?: An evaluation of an Adopter Training Programme. Adoption & Fostering, 33(1), 30-43.

https://doi.org/10.1177/030857590903300104
Saunders, H., & Selwyn, J. (2008). Supporting Informal Kinship Care. Adoption & Fostering, 32(2), 31-42.

https://doi.org/10.1177/030857590803200205
Sturgess, W., & Selwyn, J. (2007). Supporting the placements of children adopted out of care. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 12(1), 13-28.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104507071051 https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:8771c584-b4e4-435a-98ca-378702fc8a42
Quinton, D., & Selwyn, J. (2006). Adoption: research, policy and practice. Child and Family Law Quarterly, 18 (4), 459-477.
Selwyn, J., Frazer, L., & Wrighton, P. (2006). More Than Just a Letter: Service User Perspectives on One Local Authority’s Adoption postbox service. Adoption & Fostering, 30(2), 6-17.

https://doi.org/10.1177/030857590603000203
Selwyn, J., Frazer, L., & Quinton, D. (2006). Paved with Good Intentions: The Pathway to Adoption and the Costs of Delay. The British Journal of Social Work, 36(4), 561-576.

https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bch272
Selwyn, J. (2006). Understanding Pathways to Permanence: Adoption and minority ethnic children. ChildRIGHT (The Childrens Legal Centre), cR223, 14-17.
Selwyn, J. (2006). More than just a letter. Adoption and Fostering, 30, 6-17.
Frazer, L., & Selwyn, J. (2005). Why are we waiting? The demography of adoption for children of black, Asian and black mixed parentage in England. Child & Family Social Work, 10(2), 135-147.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2005.00341.x
Selwyn, J., & Quinton, D. (2004). Stability, Permanence, Outcomes and Support: Foster Care and Adoption Compared. Adoption & Fostering, 28(4), 6-15.

https://doi.org/10.1177/030857590402800403
Selwyn, J. (2004). Adoption: Changing Families, Changing Time. Child & Family Social Work, 9(1), 125-126.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2004.t01-6-00317.x
Selwyn, J., & Sturgess, W. (2002). Achieving Permanency through Adoption: Following in US Footsteps?. Adoption & Fostering, 26(3), 40-49.

https://doi.org/10.1177/030857590202600307
Rose, S., & Selwyn, J. (2000). Child neglect. International Social Work, 43(2), 179-192.

https://doi.org/10.1177/002087280004300204
Quinton, D., Selwyn, J., Rushton, A., & Dance, C. (1999). Contact between Children Placed Away from Home and their Birth Parents: Ryburn’s ‘Reanalysis’ Analysed. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 4(4), 519-531.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104599004004008
Quinton, D., Selwyn, J., Rushton, A., & Dance, C. (1999). Contact between children placed away from home and their birth parents. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 4, 519-532.
Quinton, D., Selwyn, J., Rushton, A., & Dance, C. (1998). Contact with birth parents in adoption: a response to Ryburn. Child and Family Law Quarterly, 10, 349-361.
Selwyn, J. (1996). Ascertaining Children’s Wishes and Feelings in Relation to Adoption. Adoption & Fostering, 20(3), 14-20.

https://doi.org/10.1177/030857599602000305
Selwyn, J. (1994). Spies, Informers and double agents:Adoption assessments and role ambiguity. Adoption and Fostering, 18.4.

Reports

Feinstein, L., Peck, S., Wigley, M., Duckworth, K., Selwyn, J., McIntosh, S., & Robson, J. (2025). Pathways into and through higher education for young people with experience of children’s social care. TASO.

https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:969b74f0-d9ac-42f8-abdb-37ceb6d5968d
SELWYN, J., & Lewis, S. (2021). The views and experiences of approved adopters in 5 regional adoption agencies. Department for Education.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-regional-adoption-agencies
SELWYN, J., & Lewis, S. (2021). Supporting adoptive families: the views of adoptive parents in 4 regional adoption agencies. Department for Education.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-regional-adoption-agencies
Briheim, L., Michelmore, O., Baker, C., Oluwanifemi, O., Taylor, S., & SELWYN, J. (2020). Bright Spots report (2020) What makes life good? Care leavers’ views on their wellbeing. Coram Voice.

https://coramvoice.org.uk/for-professionals/bright-spots/bright-spots-publications/
Selwyn, J. (2017). Post-adoption support and interventions for adoptive families: Best practice approaches. German Research Center on Adoption (EFZA).

https://www.dji.de/medien-und-kommunikation/publikationen/detailansicht/literatur/24896-post-adoption-support-and-interventions-for-adoptive-families-best-practice-approaches.html
Selwyn, J., & Briheim-Crookall, L. (2017). Our Lives, Our Care. School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol.
Ottaway, H., & Selwyn, J. (2016). "No-one told us it was going to be like this". Fostering Attachments Ltd.

https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.33955.45606
Selwyn, J., Golding, K., Joanne, A., Gurney Smith, B., & Hewitt, O. (2016). A quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the Nurturing Attachments Group Programme. Adoptionplus.
Selwyn, J., & Meakings, S. (2015). Beyond the adoption order (Wales): Discord and disruption in adoptive families. Welsh Assembly Government.
Selwyn, J., & Wood, M. (2015). Measuring Well-Being. University of Bristol.
Wood, M., & Selwyn, J. (2015). Children and Young People’s views of being in care. University of Bristol.
Selwyn, J., Wijedasa, D., & Meakings, S. (2014). Beyond the adoption order: challenges, intervention, disruption . Department for Education.

https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:2f2cfd06-0aa8-4cc8-9f38-74662ceaf7bf
Selwyn, J., Farmer, E., Meakings, S., & Vaisey, P. (2013). The Poor Relations? Children and Informal Kinship Carers Speak Out. School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol.
Turney, D., Platt, D., Selwyn, J., & Farmer, E. (2011). Social Work Assessment of Children in Need: What do we know? Messages from research. Department for Education.
Wijedasa, D., & Selwyn, J. (2011). Transition to adulthood for adopted young people:Secondary analyses of data from the longitudinal study of young people in England (LSYPE). Hadley Trust.
Selwyn, J., Sempik, J., Wijedasa, D., & Thurston, P. (2010). Adoption and the inter-agency fee Research Report DCSF-RR149. DCSF.
Jenkins, S., Chindoroy, R., Selwyn, J., & Saunders, H. (2009). Foster Carer Payments Schedule and Fees Framework. Welsh Assembly Government.
Selwyn, J., Sempik, J., Wijedasa, D., & Thurston, P. (2009). Adoption and the inter-agency fee. DCSF.
Saunders, H., Selwyn, J., & Wales, L. (2009). Foster Carer Payments Schedule and Fees Framework. Welsh Assembly Government.
Selwyn, J., & Wijedasa, D. (2009). An evaluation of a new model for providing adoption services. DCSF.
Hutchinson, B., & Selwyn, J. (2009). Independent assessment process in relation to the Sexual Orientation regulations and their impact on faith based adoption and fostering agencies. Prime Minister’s Office and Government Equalities Office.
Selwyn, J., Harris, P., Quinton, D., Wijedasa, D., Nawaz, S., & Wood, M. (2008). Pathways to Permanence for Black, Asian and Mixed Ethnicity Children: Dilemmas, Decision Making and Outcomes - Research Brief. The Department for Children, Schools and Families.
Saunders, H., Wijedasa, D., & Selwyn, J. (2008). Educational Support Services provided by Independent Foster Care Providers (IFPs). DCSF.
Selwyn, J., & Misca, G. (2006). Could it be you? A national survey of Barnardo’s adopters, foster carers and short break carers. Barnardo’s.
Selwyn, J., Frazer, L., & Fitzgerald, A. (2004). Finding Adoptive Families for Black, Asian and Black Mixed Parentage Children: Agency Policy and Practice. Bristol: NCH and Hadley Centre for Adoption and Foster Care Studies.
SELWYN, J., & Briheim-Crookall, L. (n.d.). OUR LIVES OUR CARE Looked after children’s views on their well-being.
TAH, P., & SELWYN, J. (n.d.). Raised by Relatives: the experiences of Black and Asian kinship carers in England.

Current Doctoral Students

Funded Research Projects

Bright Spots: understanding the subjective well-being of children in care and care experienced adults. A partnership with Coram Voice (a children’s rights charity).

Funders: Hadley Trust and individual local authorities

Start date: 2013

Family Routes: growing up in adoptive and Special Guardianship families

Funder: Department for Education

2022-2025

Rethink: the shaping of mental health and the mechanisms leading to (un) successful transitions for care experienced young people

Funder: Medical Research Council

2022-2026