Connie Smith is a Policy and Research Analyst at the University of Edinburgh/NSPCC Centre for UK-wide Learning in Child Protection (CLICP). Based at the School of Education, CLICP is a policy and research centre, with a remit to conduct detailed policy analysis of child protection developments at a UK-wide level; in particular in the context of devolution.

The Centre is a joint University of Edinburgh/NSPCC Centre, jointly funded with NSPCC as the major funder.

Key Research Interests

Child protection in organised sport
Review of child death/significant abuse inquiries
Vetting and barring arrangements of people working with children
Children and young people experiencing domestic violence
Therapeutic services for sexually abused children
Child protection in Scotland – 1968 - present

Current Research Interests

Vetting and Barring of People to work with children: Analysis of developments and consequences across the UK

Over the past two decades new systems for the vetting and barring of people working with children have been introduced, with more due to be implemented. Many of the developments in vetting and barring has occurred post-devolution in the UK. As a result devolved jurisdictions can and are addressing this in different ways, whist aiming to have a system that functions across the UK. The purpose of this research is to provide an understanding of the developments of the vetting and barring regimes in the individual jurisdictions of the UK and the UK as a whole and the consequences of these developments. It will include an analysis of the background and policy; an assessment of the impact on safeguarding children and other consequences of these developments.