Staff profile

I am a Research Associate in the School of Applied Social Sciences currently working on two projects, namely Longitudinal Evaluation of the Step Up to Social Work Programme (also see https://www.facebook.com/CareersinSocialWork) and Think Ahead Social Work Qualifying Programme Evaluation.

I joined the School of Applied Social Sciences in 2010 when I was awarded a Durham Doctoral Studentship and successfully defended my PhD thesis in 2014. Prior to studying in Durham University, I graduated from Saint-Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance in Russia.

Between 2006 and 2008 I participated in a social project which developed social advertising for looked after children as well as promoted the practice of adoption in a children’s home in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. Since 2009 I have been an active member of the two largest Non-Governmental Organizations in Saint-Petersburg called Petersburg’s Parents and Step Forward, both work very closely with looked after children.

• Research with looked after children and care leavers
• Residential care for children
• Child development
• Interventions with children and young people
• Participatory research
• Child maltreatment

Journal Article

• Chechel, E. (online). Socialization of Care Leavers
• Hope, S., Stepanova, E., Lloyd-Houldey, O., Hillier-Brown, F., Hargreaves, D., Nicholls, D., Summerbell, C., Viner, R. M., Dedat, Z., Owen, E. C., & Scott, S. (2023). This needs to be a journey that we’re actually on together’—the introduction of integrated care systems for children and young people in England: a qualitative study of the views of local system stakeholders during winter 2021/22. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1), Article 1448. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10442-6
• Scourfield, J., Carpenter, J., Warner, N., Maxwell, N., Venn, L., Stepanova, E., O’Donnell, C., Jones, R., Elliott, M., & Smith, R. (2023). Retention in statutory social work from fast-track child and family programs. Journal of Social Work, 23(6), 1022-1042. https://doi.org/10.1177/14680173231194432
• Dedat, Z., Hope, S., Hargreaves, D., Lloyd-Houldey, O., Nicholls, D., Scott, S., Stepanova, E., Summerbell, C., Viner, R. M., & Hillier-Brown, F. (2023). Measurement Instruments for Integration within Children and Young People Healthcare Systems and Networks: A Rapid Review of the International Literature. International Journal of Integrated Care, 23(2), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.7028
• Stepanova, E., & Hackett, S. (2014). Understanding Care Leavers in Russia: Young People's Experiences of Institutionalisation. Australian Social Work, 67(1), 118-134. https://doi.org/10.1080/0312407x.2013.868011
• Chechel, E. (2010). Institutionalization of Looked After Children

Report

• Kong, S., Noone, C., Quintana, A., Pharoah, C., Wills, D., Shears, J., Sildatke, K., Roberts, W., Thanki, V., Stepanova, E., Charnley, H., Smith, R., Banks, S., & Hawkes, S. (2021). Social Work During Covid-19: Learning for the Future Challenges, Best Practice and Professional Transformation. British Association of Social Workers