Professor Ray Jones
Faculties, departments and locations
- Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
- Department of Social Work and Social Care
- School of Education, Midwifery and Social Work
- Kingston Hill
Emeritus Professor of Social Work
- Email:
- ray.jones1@hotmail.co.uk
About
Dr Ray Jones is an Emeritus Professor of Social Work at Kingston University and St. George's, University of London, and a registered social worker.
From 1992 to 2006, he was director of social services in Wiltshire. He was the first chief executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence and has been deputy chair and chair of the British Association of Social Workers. From 2008 to 2016, he was a professor of social work at Kingston University and St George's University of London.
He has been a visiting professor at the University of Exeter and the University of Bath and is an honorary fellow of the University of Gloucestershire. He has led inquiries following the deaths of children and adults, was chair of Bristol's Safeguarding Children Board from 2009 to 2013, and, from 2010 until 2016, oversaw child protection improvement in Salford, Torbay, the Isle of Wight, Sandwell, and Devon.
He is the author of eight books, including ‘The Story of Baby P: Setting the Record Straight', which was published in July 2014 and informed a BBC Television documentary and a second updated and expanded edition was published in February 2017; in 2019 ‘In Whose Interest? The Privatisation of Child Protection and Social Work' published by Policy Press; and in 2020 'A History of the Personal Social Services in England' (Palgrave Macmillan), which recognised and celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of a unified profession of social work across the United Kingdom and the formation of integrated personal social services.
Ray is a regular press columnist and media commentator. He has frequently given evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees, and in 2017, he received the Social Worker of the Year Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Social Work'. In 2021, he received an honorary doctorate in civil law from the University of East Anglia, and in 2022, he was appointed to undertake the independent review of children's social care in Northern Ireland.
Qualifications
- 1972 CSQW, BSc (1st Class Hons) Sociology and Social Work
- 1981 MSc Awarded for Published Research Studies in Social Work
- 1983 PhD A Study of Adolescents' Perceptions Social Workers
- 1984 FCMI
- 1992 FRSA
- 2002 AcSS
- 2002 RegSW
- 2022 Lead of Northern Ireland's independent review into children's social care
Domains
Past research has included studies of adolescents and social work, decision-making in child protection, and neighbourhood work with young people.
More recent studies have included:
- An evaluation of a pilot national training programme for GPs about carers (funded by the Department of Health).
- How different professional competencies and characteristics are identified and deployed in multi-professional health and social care teams (funded by the Academic Health and Social Care Network).
- The experiences of mental health and older people service users of personal budgets (funded by Wandsworth LINK).
- A history of the personal social services (funded by the Nuffield Foundation).
- The views of families and other agencies of a family intervention programme with troubled families (funded by Wandsworth Council).
- Serious Case Reviews: What Helps and What hinders Learning (funded by the Department for Education).
- Trends and Correlations in England's Children's Social Services Data Sets.
Media Highlights
Ray is an accomplished media commentator and has been interviewed extensively by the national press, both print and broadcast. He is also frequently asked to provide background briefings for journalists, including within international media. Coverage highlights include numerous appearances on Sky News, BBC News, ITN and Channel 4 News, as well as national and regional radio discussing significant child protection issues, including the tragic case of Baby P, the assaults by two brothers in Edlington, the sexual abuse of girls in Rochdale and elsewhere and the Saville disclosures.
He has also been interviewed extensively about the abuse of disabled adults at Winterbourne View and the impact of cuts on vulnerable children and families, disabled adults and older people. Ray is regularly invited to write for a range of specialist publications and frequently contributes to the Guardian newspaper's Society section.
Qualifications and Professional expertise
- Member of Leonard Cheshire's National Operations Committee (2006- 2010).
- Leading an inquiry following the killing of a man with a learning disability (2006).
- Serving as an expert witness and advisor to the police investigating an unlawful killing of a man with severe and multiple impairments (2008).
- Working with the Russian-European Trust for Welfare Reform with senior policy makers and social services directors across Russia on developing services for older people in rural areas (2006-continuing).
- Independent chair of Bristol's Safeguarding Children Board (2009 - 2013).
- Overseeing child protection improvement for Salford, Torbay, the Isle of Wight, Sandwell and Devon (2011-2016).
- Chair of Social Worker of the Year Awards Ltd (2014-continuing)
- Registered social worker, Health and Care Professions Council.
- Member, British Association of Social Workers
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Management, Fellow, Academy of Social Sciences.
Qualifications and expertise
- Baby P case
- Child Protection
- Safeguarding children
- Serious case reviews
- Social care
- Social services
- Social work
- Vulnerable adults
Publications
Social work with adolescents
(2022). Abingdon: (Routledge)
A history of the personal social services in England : feast, famine and the future
Jones, Ray (2020). Cham, Switzerland: (Palgrave Macmillan)
In whose interest? The privatisation of child protection and social work
Jones, Ray (2019). Bristol, U.K.: (Policy Press)
The story of Baby P : setting the record straight
Jones, Ray (2017). Bristol, U.K.: (Policy Press)
Skills for social work practice
(2016). London, U.K.: (Palgrave)
The story of Baby P: setting the record straight
Jones, Ray (2014). Bristol, U.K.: (Policy Press)
Like distant relatives: adolescents' perceptions of social work and social workers
Jones, Ray (1987). Hants, U.K.: (Gower)
Social work with adolescents
(1980). London, U.K.: (Routledge and Kegan Paul)
Fun and Therapy: Consumer and Social Worker Perceptions of Intermediate Treatment (IT papers)
Jones, Ray (1979). (National Youth Bureau)
Intermediate Treatment and Social Work
Jones, Ray and Kerslake, Andrew (1979). (Heinemann)
Social work in the 2010s : surviving a decade of austerity
Jones, Ray, 2024, Community Care
Social work in the 2000s : New Labour’s focus on performance management
Jones, Ray, 2024, Community Care
Social work across the decades : the birth of the adults’/children’s divide
Jones, Ray, 2024, Community Care
Social work across the decades : the Maria Colwell inquiry
Jones, Ray, 2024, Community Care
Recalling the impact and value of Sure Start should be seen as a resource
Jones, Ray, 2024
Seven lessons for practitioners from the review of children’s social care in Northern Ireland
Jones, Ray, 2023, Community Care
Perhaps it is time we started banging those saucepans again
Jones, Ray, 2023, View, 63, pp 24
Book Review of: 'Children’s charities in crisis : early intervention and the state' by Alison Body
Jones, Ray, 2022, The British Journal of Social Work (52), 5, pp 3054-3056
Patterns of demand and provision in English adult social care services
Hood, Rick, Goldacre, Allie, Abbott, Simon and Jones, Ray, 2022, The British Journal of Social Work, pp bcac011
Book Review of: 'Strengths-based child protection : firm, fair and friendly' by Carolyn Oliver
Jones, Ray, 2020, The British Journal of Social Work (50), 6, pp 1932-1934
How social work's '50th birthday' illustrates importance of practitioners shaping the profession
Jones, Ray, 2020, Community Care
Review of "De-Professionalism and Austerity : Challenges for the Public Sector"
Jones, Ray, 2020, The British Journal of Social Work, pp bcaa101
Half-century is an opportunity to hail social work's role in society's changes
Jones, Ray, 2020, The Guardian Social life blog
1970-2020 : a fifty year history the personal social services and social work in England and across the United Kingdom
Jones, Ray, 2020, Social Work and Social Sciences Review (21), 3
Jones, Ray, 2020, Professional Social Work (June), pp 32
Claims of 'revolution' grossly exaggerated
Jones, Ray, 2020, Professional Social Work (DecJan), pp 32-33
The welfare state is being unwound as services are wrenched from communities
Jones, Ray, 2020, Guardian Society
Four key ingredients of shared services
Jones, Ray, 2020, pp 32
Act heralded end of generic social work
Jones, Ray, 2019, pp 28
Outsourcing children's services isn't just wrong – it's a waste of money
Jones, Ray, 2019, Guardian Society
Council partnerships offer a different way forward for struggling children's services
Jones, Ray, 2019, Community Care
Boarding schools are likely to be overwhelming for most children in care
Jones, Ray, 2019, pp 11
How to turn a children’s social services crisis into a catastrophe
Jones, Ray, 2018, Policy Press Blog
Private firms are making big money out of children's social services
Jones, Ray, 2018, Guardian Society
In whose profit?
Jones, Ray, 2018, Professional Social Work (Nov), pp 19-20
Newly qualified social workers should be respected, not undermined
Jones, Ray, 2018, Guardian Society
The name, blame and shame game
Jones, Ray, 2018, Professional Social Work (April), pp 29
The UK child protection system is laudable. Why risk it with reform?
Jones, Ray, 2018, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
Now is not the time for Rome and fiddles or ostriches and sand – or children’s trusts
Jones, Ray, 2017, LGC : Local Government Chronicle
This targeting of social workers and managers echoes the reaction to Baby P
Jones, Ray, 2017, Community Care
More children than ever need our help. But they are being ignored.
Jones, Ray, 2017, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
The denial of austerity's impact on social services is truly shocking
Jones, Ray, 2017, Community Care
How Baby P case is shaping today's challenges in children's services
Jones, Ray, 2017, pp 10-11
‘Baby P’ 10 years on and the devastation of child protection
Jones, Ray, 2017, Policy Press Blog
Social work education is in crisis - we must act urgently.
Jones, Ray, 2017, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
Book Review of: 'All our welfare: towards participatory social policy' by Peter Beresford
Jones, Ray, 2017, Critical Social Policy (37), 2, pp 318-320
Reclaiming social work with adults
Jones, Ray, 2017, Professional Social Work (May), pp 17-18
Politicians are stealthily trying to take control of social work
Jones, Ray, 2017, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
How to avoid freefall in children's services
Jones, Ray, 2017, LGC : Local Government Chronicle
The handling of the Children and Social Work Bill has been shambolic
Jones, Ray, 2017, Community Care
Justine Greening should withdraw the disastrous children and social work bill
Jones, Ray, 2016, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
The NAO's analysis of child protection misses the bigger picture
Jones, Ray, 2016, Community Care
Outsourcing children's services is not a quick fix.
Jones, Ray, 2016, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
Munby is right - the care system is facing a crisis. Here's why...
Jones, Ray, 2016, Community Care
Giving power over social work to a cuts-obsessed government is a mistake
Jones, Ray, 2016, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
Six reasons to rethink moves to strip councils of children's services
Jones, Ray, 2016, Community Care
I'm wary of Le Grand's brave new world of 'turmoil'
Jones, Ray, 2016, Professional Social Work (Sep), pp 11
A study of performance indicators and Ofsted ratings in English child protection services
Hood, Rick, Grant, Robert, Jones, Ray and Goldacre, Allie, 2016, Children and Youth Services Review (67), pp 50-56
We must fight this shock therapy approach to social work reform.
Jones, Ray, 2016, Community Care
Why plans for government control of social work are dangerous.
Jones, Ray, 2016, Community Care
Exploring demand and provision in English child protection services
Hood, Rick, Goldacre, Allie, Grant, Robert and Jones, Ray, 2016, British Journal of Social Work (46), 4, pp 923-941
The government’s new legislation will strip social workers of our independence
Jones, Ray, 2016, Community Care
The conundrum of neglect
Jones, Ray, 2016, Professional Social Work (April), pp 22-23
Children's social services also face forced 'academisation'
Jones, Ray, 2016, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
Ray Jones on the academisation of children’s social work
Jones, Ray, 2016, WillisPalmer News
Damning inspections will continue to lead to a continuing demand for locum workers
Jones, Ray, 2016, Locum Today
Child protection cases have rocketed – Cameron's only answer is privatisation
Jones, Ray, 2015, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
Is ‘thought abuse’ about to become the fifth category of child abuse?
Jones, Ray, 2015, Community Care
The end game: The marketisation and privatisation of children's social work and child protection
Jones, Ray, 2015, Critical Social Policy (35), 4, pp 447-469
Cameron has child protection in his sights. Social workers should be worried.
Jones, Ray, 2015, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
Hedge funds have no place in children's services
Jones, Ray, 2015, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
Social work needs a strong independent voice at this time of rapid change.
Jones, Ray, 2015, Locum Today
In a time of adversity and austerity, social work has come of age.
Jones, Ray, 2015, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
Out of the ashes of the College of Social Work
Jones, Ray, 2015, The Social Workers Assembly Blog
If ever there was a time when social workers must be vigilant, it is now.
Jones, Ray, 2015, Community Care
Health and social care integration needs e-intelligence amongst the frenzy of change
Jones, Ray, 2015, Good Governance Institute Blog
If ever there was a time to celebrate the commitment of social workers, it is now.
Jones, Ray, 2015, Community Care
A dark day for social work
Jones, Ray, 2015, Community Care
Tory times
Jones, Ray, 2015, Professional Social Work (June), pp 18-19
Ofsted doesn’t recognise the practice chaos and professional carnage it leaves in its wake
Jones, Ray, 2015, Community Care
Opening children’s social work up to the market place will not generate stability or continuity
Jones, Ray, 2015, Community Care
Social work education is being shaped and changed by those with little understanding of social work
Jones, Ray, 2015, Community Care
I’ve seen the reclaiming social work model cause service implosion
Jones, Ray, 2015, Community Care
Wounded Ofsted is inadequate to inspect child sexual exploitation policies
Jones, Ray, 2015, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
The stealth privatisation of children’s services
Jones, Ray, 2015, Community Care
The marketisation and privatisation of children’s social work and child protection : integration or fragmentation?
Jones, Ray, 2015, Journal of Integrated Care (23), 6, pp 364-375
U-turn on children's services privatisation hides underlying problems
Jones, Ray, 2014, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
The mantra will be that publicly run children's services are failing and here comes the private sector cavalry
Jones, Ray, 2014, Community Care
How can inadequate child protection services be improved?
Jones, Ray, 2014, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
What are the causes of inadequate child protection services?
Jones, Ray, 2014, Guardian Professional Social Care Network
The best of times, the worst of times: social work and its moment
Jones, Ray, 2014, British Journal of Social Work (44), 3, pp 485-502
Early experiences in extending personal budgets in one local authority
Norrie, Caroline, Weinstein, Jenny, Jones, Ray, Hood, Rick and Bhanbro, Sadiq, 2014, Working with Older People (18), 4, pp 176-185
How to privatise child protection in six easy stages
Jones, Ray, 2013, The Guardian : Second thoughts
The definition and deployment of differential core professional competencies and characteristics in multiprofessional health and social care teams
Jones, Ray, Bhanbhro, Sadiq M, Grant, Robert and Hood, Rick, 2013, (21), 1, pp 47-58
Book Review of: 'Commissioning for health and well-being: an introduction' by Jon Glasby (ed.)
Jones, Ray, 2012, British Journal of Social Work (42), 4, pp 794-796
Charting our own course
Jones, Ray, 2012, Professional Social Work (April), pp 24-25
General practitioners, primary care and support for carers in England: can training make a difference?
Jones, Ray, Mackenzie, Ann, Greenwood, Nan, Atkins, Christine and Habibi, Ruth, 2012, (20), 2, pp 128-136
Social work and the three Rs
Jones, Ray, 2012, Social Work Matters, pp 20-21
Child protection, social work and the media: doing as well as being done to
Jones, Ray, 2012, Research, Policy and Planning (29), 2, pp 83-94
The leadership journey
Jones, Ray, 2012, The International Journal of Leadership in Public Services (8), 2, pp 77-82
Successful fostering needs support
Jones, Ray, 2011, Society Guardian, pp 9
Book review of: 'Social care management, strategy and business planning' by Hafford-Letchfield, T.
Jones, Ray, 2011, Health and Social Care in the Community (19), 3, pp 336-336
History and hindrance: the impact of change and churn on integrating health and social care
Jones, Ray, 2011, Research, Policy and Planning (28), 3, pp 199-206
General practitioners and carers: a questionnaire survey of attitudes, awareness of issues, barriers and enablers to provision of services
Greenwood, Nan, Mackenzie, Ann, Habibi, Ruth, Atkins, Christine and Jones, Ray, 2010, BMC Family Practice (11), 100
A 'liberated' NHS: intentions, impact and implications for local government
Jones, Ray, 2010, Journal of Integrated Care (18), 6, pp 35-40
Book Review of: leadership in social care by Zoe van Zwanenberg (ed.)
Jones, Ray, 2010, The British Journal of Social Work (40), 6, pp 2014-2015
Managing at a distance in social work and social care
Jones, Ray, 2010, Social Work and Social Sciences Review (14), 1, pp 59-75
Anticipating and capitalising on change: the General Election and health and social care partnerships
Jones, Ray, 2010, Journal of Integrated Care (18), 1, pp 20-26
Children's acts 1948-2008: the drivers for legislative change in England over 60 years
Jones, Ray, 2009, Journal of Children's Services (4), 4, pp 39-52
Self-directed support: watching out for the pitfalls
Jones, Ray, 2008, Journal of Integrated Care (16), 1, pp 44-47
A journey through the years: ageing and social care
Jones, Ray, 2007, Ageing horizons (6), pp 42-51
A sea change in the teacup!
Jones, Ray, 2005, Journal of Integrated Care (13), 4, pp 2-5
Bringing health and social care together for older people: Wiltshire's journey from independence to interdependence to integration
Jones, Ray, 2004, Journal of Integrated Care (12), 1, pp 27-32
Engagement and empowerment, research and relevance: comments on user controlled research
Evans, Claire and Jones, Ray, 2004, Research Policy and Planning (22), 2, pp 5-13
Delayering decisions
Jones, Ray, 2003, ADSS Inform (12), 2, pp 24-26
Disabled Parents: The Social Context of Impairment
Jones, Ray, Keep, John and Wates, Michelle, 2003, ADSS Inform (12), 1, pp 16-17
A question of trust: creating care trusts
Jones, Ray, 2000, Health Service Journal, pp 28-29
A two way process
Jones, Ray and Welch, Bob, 2000, Community Care, pp 26-27
Seize the Day
Jones, Ray, 1998, Community Care, pp 18-19
Bringing it all back together : integrating health and social care
Jones, Ray, 1997, Primary Care (10), 7, pp 7-8
Decision making in child protection
Jones, Ray, 1996, The British Journal of Social Work (26), 4, pp 509-522
A pathway through the disabilities maze
Jones, Ray, 1996, ADSS News (5), 5, pp 12
Spanning the divide: joint commissioning health and social services
Jones, Ray, 1995, Community Care Management and Planning (3), 4, pp 112-122
Living and working on the patch
Jones, Ray, 1983, Community Development Journal (18), 1, pp 10-19
Adolescents in care and their social workers: a research note
Jones, Ray, 1981, The British Journal of Social Work (11), 1, pp 217-222
Intermediate treatment: research and social policy
Jones, Ray, 1981, Journal of Adolescence (4), 4, pp 339-352
The preventative and the penal: a comment on two models of intermediate treatment
Jones, Ray, 1980, Journal of Adolescence (3), 4, pp 307-320
Intermediate treatment and adolescents' perceptions of social workers
Jones, Ray, 1978, British Journal of Social Work (8), 4, pp 425-438
From relationships and community to risk and compliance : reflections on fifty years of protecting children
Jones, Ray (2024). In: Clawson, Rachael, (eds.), Warwick, Lisa, (eds.) and Fyson, Rachel, (eds.), The child protection handbook. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier, pp 3-13
Disaster capitalism and those who benefit
Jones, Ray (2021). In: Watters, Dominic, (eds.) and Naqvi, Shahid, (eds.), Social distance in social work : covid capsule one. Social Distance Writers, pp 11-16
The impact and scandal and inquiries on social work and the personal social services
Jones, Ray (2020). In: Bamford, Terry, (eds.) and Bilton, Keith, (eds.), Social work : past, present and future. Bristol, U.K.: Policy Press, pp 191-212
The improvement journey
Jones, Ray (2017). In: iMPOWER, (ed.), Shining a light : inaugural children's services essay collection. iMPOWER, pp 10-11
Writing skills for social workers
Jones, Ray (2016). In: Davies, Keith, (eds.) and Jones, Ray, (eds.), Skills for social work practice. London, U.K.: Palgrave, pp 23-39
'Troubled families': a team around the family
Jones, Ray, Matczak, Anna, Davis, Keith and Byford, Ian (2015). In: Davies, Keith, (ed.), Social work with troubled families: a critical introduction. London, U.K.: Jessica Kingsley, pp 124-158
Child protection: 40 years of learning but where next?
Jones, Ray (2014). In: Blyth, Maggie, (ed.), Moving on from Munro: improving children's services. Bristol, U.K.: Policy Press, pp 27-55
Managing at a distance in social work and social care
Jones, Ray (2013). In: Hafford-Letchfield, Trish, (eds.) and Lawler, John, (eds.), Perspectives on management and leadership in social work. London, U.K.:, pp 84-104
Working with the media
Jones, Ray (2013). In: Parker, Jonathan, (eds.) and Doel, Mark, (eds.), Professional social work. London, U.K.: Learning Matters, pp 171-187
Changing patterns of service user involvement, 1990-2010
Evans, Clare and Jones, Ray (2012). In: Barnes, Marian, (eds.) and Cotterell, Phil, (eds.), Critical Perspectives on User Involvement. Bristol, U.K.: The Policy Press, pp 89-99
Protecting children: looking forward
Jones, Ray (2010). In: Waterman, Chris, (ed.), Take heed Mr Gove. Prestwood, U.K.: Inklink Ltd., pp 29-33
Social work and management
Jones, Ray (2008). In: Barnard, Adam, (eds.), Horner, Nigel, (eds.) and Wild, Jim, (eds.), The value base of social work and social care: an active learning handbook. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press, pp 145-164
Really making it happen in Wiltshire: the experience of service users evaluating social care
Evans, Clare and Jones, Ray (2005). In: Lowes, Lesley, (eds.) and Hulatt, Ian, (eds.), Involving service users in health and social care research. Abingdon, U.K.: Routledge, pp 132-139
Realising the potential
Jones, Ray (1997). In: Iles, Valerie, (eds.) and Meads, Geoff, (eds.), Health and Social Services in Primary Care: An Effective Combination?. London, U.K.: Financial Times Health Care, pp 9-13
Swimming together: the tidal change for statutory agencies and the voluntary sector
Jones, Ray (1996). In: Hanvey, Chris, (eds.) and Philpott, Terry, (eds.), Sweet charity: the role and workings of voluntary organisations. London, U.K.: Routledge, pp 39-57
Disability, discrmination and local authority social services 1: the social services context
Jones, Ray (1995). In: Zarb, Gerry, (ed.), Removing disabling barriers. London, U.K.: Policy Studies Institute, pp 108-115
Justice, social work and statutory supervision
Jones, Ray (1983). In: Morris, Allison, (eds.) and Filler, Henri, (eds.), Providing criminal justice for children. London, U.K.: Edward Arnold, pp 89-108
The Northern Ireland review of children’s social care report
Jones, Ray (2023). Belfast, U.K.: (Department of Finance)
Study to investigate the barriers to learning from Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) and identify ways of overcoming these barriers
Rawlings, Anne, Paliokosta, Paty, Maisey, Daryl, Johnson, Jessica, Capstick, Jenny and Jones, Ray (2014). Manchester, U.K.: (Department for Education)
Evaluating the experience of older people and people with mental health issues of being assessed for and receiving a personal budget in Wandsworth
Weinstein, Jenny, Ellison, Sarah, Hood, Rick and Jones, Ray (2012). London, U.K.: (Wandsworth Local Involvement Network)
Evaluation of the pilot GP training programme on carers
Jones, Ray, Mackenzie, Ann, Greenwood, Nan, Atkins, Christine and Habibi, Ruth (2010). London: (Kingston University and St. George's, University of London)
From resident to community worker: A longitudinal case study of an indigenous neighbourhood worker
Jones, Ray (1982). Norwich, U.K.: (University of East Anglia in association with Social Work Today)