Dr. Linda Cusworth

Dr. Linda Cusworth is a dedicated Research Fellow whose expertise lies at the intersection of social policy and family justice. With a background in the Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York, Linda brings over a decade of experience to her role. She joined Lancaster University in 2017 as a Senior Research Associate in the Centre for Child and Family Justice Research, where she has made significant contributions to various projects.

Linda's work spans a range of critical studies, including the Nuffield-funded national study of supervision orders and special guardianship. Collaborating with Professor Judith Harwin, she conducted in-depth analysis of local authority case files and administrative data, which contributed to the comprehensive final report. Additionally, Linda serves as a Co-Investigator on the Permanently Progressing project, a collaborative effort with the University of Stirling and Adoption and Fostering Alliance (Scotland). Her involvement in Phase One, which ran from 2014 to 2018, continued seamlessly into Phase Two, which commenced in December 2020.

Currently, Linda holds the role of Research Fellow and serves as Co-Investigator/lead researcher on the prestigious £2.2 million Nuffield-Funded Family Justice Observatory Data Partnership. Under the guidance of Professor Karen Broadhurst (Sociology, Lancaster University) and Professor David Ford (SAIL Databank, Swansea University), Linda plays a pivotal role in this groundbreaking initiative. Notably, she is also the co-author of the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory report titled "Uncovering private family law: how often do we hear the voice of the child?", highlighting her commitment to amplifying the voices of children within the family justice system.