Mandi’s research is dedicated to children and young people in state care and adopted from care, and to supporting the families of children in need. Her work focuses on: assessing and enhancing parenting capacity; the experience of family life in permanent placements; post-adoption contact; adoptive parenthood; and kinship care.

She has expertise in interpretative qualitative research methods. Mandi has many years’ experience as a social worker in child welfare services, and now works alongside practitioners to translate her research into innovative practice solutions to benefit children and families.