Mark is both a care leaver and academic, currently researching outcomes for looked after children. As a young person he was in and out of residential care before experiencing a number of turbulent years as a teenager. In his twenties Mark’s own desire to achieve in life was supported and channelled into education by some key people and events.

Mark is now a PhD researcher and assistant lecturer at the University of Kent. His research, which is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), is investigating outcomes for looked after children with a focus on residential care - an area that we need to know so much more about.

Mark’s research is being explored through a social policy lens and will be one of the largest studies specifically focussing on care leavers to date. Mark also teaches the Social Work BA at the University of Kent.