Saul Becker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Research onYoung Carers,Social Work andSocial Policy |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | University of Nottingham |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Social Work andSocial Policy |
| Institutions | Manchester Metropolitan University |
Saul BeckerFAcSS (born 1960) is a British academic and social scientist renowned for his work onYoung Carers and considered as the pioneer and world leader in the field. He is author of author and editor of 18 books, includingYoung Carers and their families andResponding to Poverty.[1] He is currently (since 2023) thePro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the Faculty of Health and Education ofManchester Metropolitan University.
Becker is a former pupil ofRossall School and a graduate of theUniversity of Nottingham:BA (1981);MA (1983); and PhD (1987). His Doctorate was on the relationships between poverty and the use of social services. He is a Fellow of theAcademy of Social Sciences and theRoyal Society of Arts is a RegisteredSocial Worker RSW) with Social Work England.[2] He has practiced as a local authority social worker and senior welfare rights officer.
In May 2022 Becker was appointed Professor of Children and Families atManchester Metropolitan University.[3] Previous posts held include: Director of Research, & Andrew and Virginia Rudd Professor of Social Care Research and Education Practice, Faculty of Education,University of Cambridge; Provost and DeputyVice-Chancellor of theUniversity of Sussex, UK.;[4] Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Social Sciences,University of Birmingham;[5] AssistantPro-Vice-Chancellor (Internationalisation),University of Nottingham; Head of the School of Social Policy and Sociology,University of Nottingham; Director of Research, Institute of Applied Social Studies,University of Birmingham; Co-founder and associate director, Centre for Child and Family Research,Loughborough University.
Becker is known as a highly funded and impactful researcher and academic, with more than 50 externally funded research projects as Principal Investigator.[6]
His research impact has been recognised by theCarers Trust which appointed him as their first-ever Ambassador,[7] AccessHE which recognised him as a Role Model[8] andUniversities UK which named his as one of the Nation's Lifesavers.[9]
He was a member of the UKResearch Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 Social Work and Social Policy Sub-panel 22.[10]
Becker is a prolific author with over 350 publications (including 18 books) and over 240 conference papers, most as invited keynote speaker.[11]
He was also the chair of the UKSocial Policy Association and the founding series editor for thePolicy Press Understanding Welfare book series. He and his work have featured in nine television documentaries and hundreds of radio broadcasts.