Connie Smith

Research & Policy Analyst

Phone no: 0131 651 4032
Email: connie.smith@ed.ac.uk

Work experience

Connie arrived at CLiCP in 2007 from the Scottish Parlaiment Information Centre where she was a Senior Research Specialist with responsibility for the Social Justice Policy portfolio.  She produced briefings for MSPs on the Prostitution bill, fostering policy and institutional child abuse.  In 2005 she was seconded to the Scottish Executive as the Senior Researcher to the Review of Social Work in Scotland. 

Prior to this Connie was Senior Policy & Research Officer at the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations for four years.  She was responsible for policy analysis on funding and charity law and carried out research on survivors of sexual abuse.  She also worked at CHILDREN 1st where her interest in child protection policy developed. 

In the Centre, Connie is leading on analysis and research on the protection of children in community settings. This is currently focused on the mechanisms and arrangements for vetting adults working with children and barring unsuitable people from such positions. This involves analysis of the current systems and reform of these due in 2010 under the safeguarding vulnerable groups Act 2006 and protection of vulnerable groups (Scotland) Act 2007.  Connie's research also includes analysis of devolution in the UK with regard to child protection policy and central and local government relations.

Current Research:

• Vetting and Barring of People to Work with Children: Analysis of Developments and Consequences Across the UK
• Developing relationships between central and local government in Scotland

Selected Publications

Smith, C., (2009) Working with Children: Vetting and Barring - Legislation and Policy in Scotland. CLiCP Briefing Number 6. Available at:

Smith, C., (2006) Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Bill.
Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) Research Paper (06/69) Edinburgh.  Scottish Parliament. Available at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/research/briefings-06/SB06-69.pdf

Smith, C., (2006) Equal Opportunities Scottish Executive Policy: Gender.
Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) Research Paper (06/87) Edinburgh.  Scottish Parliament. Available at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/research/briefings-06/SB06-87.pdf

Smith, C., (2004) Abuse of Children and Young People in Residential Care. Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) Research Briefing (04/85) Edinburgh.  Scottish Parliament. Available at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/research/briefings-04/sb04-85.pdf