Dr Tom Disney

I am a Social Geographer and my research interests centre on families and children experiencing interventions of the state, with a conceptual focus on care and control across a variety of institutions. I explore how these interventions break or facilitate cycles of marginalisation of children, young people and families. My work lies at the intersection of Geography and Childhood Studies.

My previous research has focussed on residential care settings in Russia and I have also conducted research into family visits to prison in the UK. I have recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship on a major ESRC-funded longitudinal, ethnographic study of child protection work in the UK. This interdisciplinary research explored how social workers establish and sustain relationships with families in order to keep children safe.

More recently, I have completed a project titled ‘Young People Leaving Care in the Russian Federation’, funded through a British Academy Small Grant. The project critically explores the forms of transition and aftercare services available to care leavers in Russia. In the UK, I am currently conducting participatory research into the needs  of families accessing early help and social care services, in collaboration with local government. I am interested in developing collaborative research proposals to further develop cross-disciplinary dialogues between Social Work and Geography.

• Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
• Family Hubs and the vulnerable care ecologies of child and family welfare in austerity, Disney, T., Crossley, S., King, H., Phillips, J., Robson, I., Smith, R. 1 Sep 2025, In: The Geographical Journal
• Gender, resilience and recognition: masculinities and transitions out of care in Russia., Walker, C., Disney, T. 18 Feb 2025, In: Journal of Youth Studies
• Care and Coronavirus: Perspectives on Childhood, Youth and Family, Disney, T., Grimshaw, L. 2 Dec 2024
• Caring and Schooling in the Time of COVID-19, Disney, T., Grimshaw, L., Thomas, J. 2 Nov 2024, Care and Coronavirus: Perspectives on Childhood, Youth and Family, Leeds, Emerald
• Introduction: Care, Childhood, Youth and Family in the context of Coronavirus, Disney, T., Grimshaw, L. 2 Nov 2024, Care and Coronavirus: Perspectives on Childhood, Youth and Family, Leeds, Emerald
• The power of relationship-based supervision in supporting social work retention: A case study from long-term ethnographic research in child protection , Warwick, L., Beddoe, L., Leigh, J., Disney, T., Ferguson, H., Cooner, T. 1 Sep 2023, In: Qualitative Social Work
• Young people leaving care and institutionalised vulnerability in the Russian Federation, Disney, T., Walker, C. 1 Dec 2023, In: Children and Youth Services Review
• Child Protection Practice, Disney, T. 30 Sep 2022, Encyclopedia of Mobilities, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar
• Relationship-based practice and the creation of therapeutic change in long-term work: Social work as a holding relationship, Ferguson, H., Warwick, L., Disney, T., Leigh, J., Cooner, T., Beddoe, L. 17 Feb 2022, In: Social Work Education
• Schools and Safeguarding: Thinking Through Spaces and Contexts of Vulnerability and Harm, Lloyd, J., Disney, T. 17 Jun 2022, Understanding Safeguarding for Children and their Educational Experiences, Bingley, Emerald

• Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
• Half Day CPD event, McGovern, W. (Principal Investigator), Disney, T. (Co Investigator), Newcastle City Council, 27/11/23 - 27/11/23, £2,744.00

• Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
• Organising a conference, workshop, ...: Supporting care experienced students journeys into HE. 1 day training event delivered by Become The National Charity for Care Leavers 2025
• Other: A qualititative evaluation of Become The National Charity for Care Leavers Uni Rewady Programme 2024

Fiona Ranson Finding home: Identifying ‘best interests’ provision for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children Start Date: 18/01/2021

• PhD
• PGCert
• MA
• MA (Hons)
• Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society FRGS
• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy SFHEA