Tel: 01482 311252

Leslie came to academic life after working in the field of residential child care. She has longstanding teaching and research interests in the areas of services for children and young people, child protection and the social inclusion of children and young people. Much of Leslie's work is underpinned by an interest in organisational dynamics. She is committed to the use of research in teaching and in practice-based settings. Leslie has worked extensively with many organisations to assist them in carrying out their own research and in devising dissemination and utilisation programmes.

Leslie teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, mainly in the areas of research methods and research-informed practice, child and adolescent well-being, and leadership and management.

Leslie’s current research, with colleagues at the University of Lincoln, focuses on looked after children and young people (LACYP) and their relationships with their communities. This links to her previous work about LACYP as well as her recent research about adolescent neglect, which she carried out in collaboration with the University of York, The Children’s Society and the NSPCC.

Selected publications

Rees, Gwyther and Stein, Mick and Hicks, Leslie and Gorin, Sarah (2011) Adolescent neglect: research, policy and practice. Safeguarding Children Across Services . Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London. ISBN 9781849051040

Hicks, Leslie and Stein, Mike (2010) Neglect matters: a multi-agency guide for professionals working together on behalf of teenagers. London. Department for Children, Schools and Families

Hicks, Leslie and Sinclair, Ian (2009) Residential care for social reasons. In: New Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199559923

Hicks, Leslie and Gibbs, Ian and Weatherly, Helen and Byford, Sarah (2009) Management, leadership and resources in children’s homes: what influences outcomes in residential child-care settings? The British Journal of Social Work, 39 (5). pp. 828-845. ISSN 0045-3102

Hicks, Leslie (2009) Management matters: a practice guide. London. NCB/NCERCC

Hicks, L. (2008) ‘The role of manager in children's homes: the process of managing and leading a well-functioning staff team’ Child and Family Social Work, 13 (3). pp. 241-251. ISSN 1356-7500

Hicks, L., Gibbs, I., Weatherly, H. and Byford, S. (2007) Managing Children's Homes: Developing Effective Leadership in Small Organisations, London: Jessica Kingsley.

Croucher, K., Hicks, L., Bevan, M., and Sanderson, D. (2007) Comparative Evaluation of Models of Housing with Care for Later Life. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation, http://www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/2134-housing-care-later-life.pdf

Croucher, K., Hicks, L. and Jackson, K. (2006) Housing with Care for Later Life. A Literature Review, York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Coles, B., Britton, L., Hicks, L. (2004) Building Better Connections: Interagency work and the Connexions Service, Bristol: The Policy Press in association with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation