Gary Norton

Overview

Gary specialises in safeguarding and socio-legal studies. He is the unit lead for the law and safeguarding modules on the Masters Degree in Social Work and the BNurse CPD Safeguarding module for children and families. He is also the Admissions Officer for the MA programme. Gary''s main areas of teaching include, safeguarding and child protection, neglect, domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation, trafficking and child radicalisation. He has expertise, in family law related to public law proceedings. He has a research background in social and organisational psychology focussing on groups and how they respond to criticism.

Biography

Gary achieved his BSc (Honours) Degree in Psychology from Hull University in 1992, before qualifying as a social worker from Cardiff University in 1995. He worked as a children and families social worker before moving into management and developing services for children in local authorities. Next he became a reviewing officer quality assuring child protection and safeguarding services.

Gary completed his Masters'' Degree in Child Care and Child Mental Health in 2001 and was awarded the Advanced Award in social work by the Social Care Council. Gary went on to work for CAFCASS (The Children and Families Court Advisory Support Service) in 2003 where he continued to specialise in safeguarding children involved in public law proceedings. Whilst here, Gary completed his MBA. Gary has experience of working in a number of court settings ranging from the Magistrate Court to the High Court and the Court of Appeal in London. He has more than 20 years experience of working in safeguarding and child protection. 

Gary was seconded from CAFCASS to Manchester University as an Honorary Teaching Fellow in 2011 and became a full-time lecturer in social work in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work in 2013. Gary has also developed models for conflict resolution in organisations and he currently contributes to education research in the use of mobile technologies in social care training and practice.  

On the 9th January 2017, Gary appeared on BBC North West Tonight to give his expert opinion on protecting disabled children from abuse.