Martin is a Registered Social Worker with experience of working with adults with mental health problems in a community mental health team and adults with a learning disability in supported living environments. He is currently a Reader in Social Work at the University of York where he is also Director of the International Centre for Mental Health Social Research and academic lead for Making Research Count (York). He collaborates with researchers in Australia, the US, India and Europe to design and evaluate social interventions for people with mental health problems which aim to improve social connectivity and well-being. He draws upon his research in his teaching with social work students and qualified practitioners undertaking post-qualifying awards. He is committed to improving the quality and rigour of social work research to produce better evidence to inform practitioners and improve outcomes for the people they work with. He is also passionate about ensuring that social work practice and research remain closely connected.