Message for the attention of SPA members
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One of the current co-editors of the journal Social Policy and Society (Dr Ruby Chau) will complete her very successful term of office at the end of December 2025. The Editorial Board is seeking to appoint a new co-editor in November 2025, and it is hoped that they will work alongside the current co-editors from then, before formally joining them as fellow co-editor – alongside Alessio D’Angelo – from the 1st of January 2026. The appointment is normally for a period of five years.
Social Policy and Society (SPS) is a long-established international journal, published by Cambridge University Press and sponsored by the Social Policy Association (SPA). Its current two-year impact factor is 2.0. In 2024 it was ranked 11/94 in the category of Social Work (Q1), and 25/68 in Social Issues (Q2). The journal welcomes stimulating original articles that draw upon contemporary policy-related research and associated developments in the social sciences at the national, regional and international level. The journal welcomes scholarly papers – both theoretical and empirical – which analyse any aspect of social policy and its relationships with society from different angles. Contributions on teaching and learning issues within the discipline are also welcome. Each issue contains peer reviewed articles reflecting topical debates and issues within social policy and uniquely, a themed section, edited by Guest Editors. Every themed section includes an introductory piece, a set of peer reviewed articles, a selected review of the key literature, plus a guide to key sources in the area. Co-editorship thus represents an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the development of Social Policy as a subject and to the work of the Social Policy Association more widely. In recent years SPS has also become increasingly active in organising seminars and academic events, most notably the Social Policy Annual Event, which brings together leading scholars on a specific topic.
The role requires a broad knowledge of social policy both within the UK and internationally. It also calls for methodological breadth, and an openness to new ideas and approaches. It is necessary for the editorial team to be members of the SPA and to remain so throughout the lifetime of their editorship. Cambridge University Press, the journal’s publisher, provides funds for secretarial support and for a small honorarium for each of the co-editors. One of the existing co-editors (Alessio D’Angelo) will continue in post for a further two and half years and as such will be able to support the new editor. (After that, a new co-editor will be appointed for a 5-year period, continuing with a staggered rotation of editors).
The Board has established an Editorial Search Committee, the members of which are: Professor Peter Matthews (Chair of SPS Editorial Board); Ann-Marie Gray (Chair of SPA, Ulster University) Professor Alessio D’Angelo (Current Co-Editor of SPS); Janice Tripney (SPA publications portfolio holder, University College London); Jamie Davidson (Publisher, HSS Journals, Cambridge University Press).
Members of the SPA who wish to be considered for appointment are invited to contact any member of the Search Committee in the first instance. We would also be grateful to receive suggestions on who we may wish to approach regarding this important post.
Formal applications should be submitted by 20th October 2025 to Professor Peter Matthews at the email address below. Applications should take the form of a letter from the prospective co-editor which sets out an evidenced account of: their academic and editing experience, with emphasis on the latter; their experience in working in scholarly teams; and how they can demonstrate capacity to work constructively with the existing co-editors on journal content and strategy. The application should be accompanied by a full CV.
The central requirement is that a co-editor has a broad knowledge of the subject area and of the social policy community. The Search Committee welcomes applications particularly from quantitative researchers, and from women in order to ensure gender balance among the editorial team. In general, however, the Search Committee will be particularly interested to hear from colleagues with a clear commitment to the Social Policy Association and its goals and values, and who have a track record of successful academic editorial experience. Finally, the Committee will also seek assurances that applicants would have the support of their institution and department were they to undertake what is an important and demanding task. The journal receives over 150 manuscript submissions annually.
The closing date for receipt of applications, sent to:
peter.matthews@stir.ac.uk (cc spseditors@cambridge.org) is 20 October 2025.