Sarah Gorin

Sarah joins the Rees Centre as a Senior Research Fellow, working on the Children’s Information Project.

Her interests lie in qualitative research and the use of participatory and co-productive approaches with children, young people, families and professionals working with them. Sarah’s previous research has primarily been focused on the child protection, care and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system. She is interested in undertaking research that amplifies the voice of families, addresses system inequalities and informs policy and practice change.

Sarah has a PhD in social work (fostering), a postgraduate diploma in research methods and a degree in sociology. She was a Senior Research Officer at the NSPCC for ten years (2001-2011) and managed a programme of research, including leading externally funded research projects in partnership with academic institutions on safeguarding young people, adolescent neglect, poverty and parenting. She has also worked on research projects at the Universities of Southampton, Kingston, for an inner London local authority in children’s services, as a respite care worker with children with disabilities and was a Lay Member of the Independent Review Mechanism for Adoption.

Before coming to the Rees Centre, Sarah worked at the University of Warwick where she was Assistant Professor on a Department of Education funded programme (2022-2025), What Works in SEND. Here she undertook qualitative research projects to improve services for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This included research across education, social care and health, looking at: Alternative Provision outreach to schools; intervention in local areas when SEND systems have serious weaknesses; middle leadership in SEND systems; improving delivery of services for children with SEND; and improving inclusion of children and young people in schools.

Books:

• Rees, G. Stein, M. Hicks, L and Gorin, S. (2011) Adolescent neglect: research, policy and practice. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
• Cleaver, H. Cawson, P. Gorin, S and Walker, S. (eds) (2009) Safeguarding children – a shared responsibility. Wiley: Chichester
• Gorin, S. (2004) Understanding what children say: Children’s experiences of domestic violence, parental substance misuse and parental health problems. National Children’s Bureau for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
• Hayden, C. Goddard, J. Gorin, S. And Van Der Spek, N. (1999) State Child Care Practice: Looking After Children? Jessica Kingsley Publishers: London.

Book chapters:

• Edwards, R., Gillies, V. and Gorin, S. (2022). Do parents trust how data about their family is linked together? In, Livingstone, S. and Pothong, Kruakae (eds.) Education Data Futures: Critical, Regulatory and Practical Reflections. 5Rights Foundation.
• Gorin, S. (2016) Learning from young people about neglect. In Gardner, R. Tackling child neglect: research, policy and practice. Jessica Kingsley Publishers: London.

Research Reports:

Forthcoming:

• Grindle, C. et al (forthcoming) Special units and classes in mainstream schools: A systematic review of effectiveness, cost effectiveness, and stakeholder perspectives. Commissioned by the Department for Education as a part of the What Works in SEND programme.
• Thompson, P. et al (forthcoming) Workforce supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities in mainstream primary and secondary schools in England: School survey. Commissioned by the Department for Education as a part of the What Works in SEND programme.

Published:

• Currie, G. Gorin, S., Smith, P., (2025) Learning Synthesis: Lessons Learned from What Works in SEND Research Studies. Commissioned by the RISE partnership on behalf of the Department for Education.
• Currie, G. Gorin, S., Smith, P., Grindle, C., and Hastings, R. (2025) Delivery of services for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Commissioned by the RISE partnership on behalf of the Department for Education.
• Currie, G. Gorin, S., Smith, P., Grindle, C., and Hastings, R. (2024) Inclusion of Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Schools – how can local areas support schools? Commissioned by the RISE partnership on behalf of the Department for Education.
• Currie, G. Smith, P. and Gorin, S. (2024) Roles and responsibilities within local SEND and Alternative Provision Partnerships: Leadership in the ‘middle’. Commissioned by the RISE partnership on behalf of the Department for Education.
• Currie, G. Gorin, S. and Smith, P. (2024) Intervention in local areas when delivery of services for Children and Young People with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) have serious weaknesses. A report commissioned by the RISE partnership on behalf of the Department of Education.
• Currie, G. Smith, P. and Gorin, S. (2024) Alternative Provision: exploring the effectiveness of outreach services. A report commissioned by the RISE partnership on behalf of the Department of Education.
• Currie, G. Smith, P. and Gorin, S. (2023) Ingredients for improving delivery of services for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities drawing on the experiences of the Delivering Better Outcomes Programme. A report commissioned by the RISE partnership on behalf of the Department of Education.
• Hood, R. Goldacre, A. Gorin, S., Bywaters, P. and Webb, C. (2022) Identifying and understanding the link between system conditions and welfare inequalities in children’s social care services. Report to the Nuffield Foundation.
• Baginsky, M., Gorin, S. and Sands, C. (2017) The fostering system in England: Evidence review. The Department for Education: London.
• Moriarty, J., Baginsky, W., Sarah Gorin., Baginsky, M. and Manthorpe, J. (2016) Mapping mental health services for looked after children in London aged 0-5 year olds. Kings College, London and the NSPCC.
• Rees, G., and Gorin, S., and Jobe, A., and Stein, M., and Medforth, R., and Goswami, H. (2010) Safeguarding young people: responding to young people aged 11 to 17 who are maltreated. [London], Children’s Society.
• Hooper, C. A., Gorin, S., Cabral, C. and Dyson, C. (2007) Living with hardship 24/7: the diverse experiences of families in poverty in England, London: The Frank Buttle Trust.
• Gorin, S. (2002) A pilot study of child protection, physical punishment and family characteristics. Report to the NSPCC and the Local Authority.
• Gorin, S. (1997) Time to Listen? Views and Experiences of Family Placement. Report no.36, SSRIU Portsmouth University.