Dr Melanie Durowse

I began my Social Work career many moons ago with Criminal Justice Services as a Social Work Assistant before qualifying as a Social Worker. Whilst I was a student I worked in residential resources for both young people and older adults.

On qualifying I worked in a statutory child care setting before moving to a duty team, which allowed me to work in the community developing resources with families. I also worked in a foster care agency before moving to a child protection policy team. During this time I completed an MSc in Child Care and Protection with a dissertation around the journey through an HMIe Child Protection Inspection. 

A change in direction took me into an Adult Protection Committee, initially to develop the multi-agency adult protection training, which led to a quality assurance and evaluation role, developing multi agency audit processes. I then returned to practice as a Team Manager within Adult Services. 

I completed my PhD in 2021 with a thesis entitled Financial harm in the context of adult protection: the complexity of factors influencing decision making. I joined the University in April 2022, where I now work as a Lecturer in Social Work.

Education/Academic qualification

Doctor of Philosophy, Financial harm in the context of adult protection, University of Dundee

• Sept 2013 → May 2021
• Award Date: 1 May 2021

MSc Child Care and Protection, University of Dundee

• Jan 2009 → Jun 2012
• Award Date: 1 Jun 2012

BA Social Work

• Sept 1998 → Jun 1999
• Award Date: 1 Jun 1999

DipSW

• Sept 1996 → Jun 1998
• Award Date: 1 Jun 1998

External positions

Trustee

• Dec 2023

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions