Prior to moving into academia, I was a Social Work Practitioner on a Hospital Discharge Team and prior to that an Adult Learning Disabilities Team.
I am also a qualified Practice Educator and Deafblind Assessor.
In July 2020 I took up a post as Consultant Social Worker for the West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership on a secondment linking with a wide range of employer partners and Higher Education Institutes across the West Midlands. Supporting the delivery of University of Staffordshire's Train to Teach Programme inspired my interest in academia and led to my first teaching post.
In addition to my role as Level 4 lead supporting new cohorts as the transition to higher education I also coordinate placements and preparatory modules across all our Social Work programmes and support the increasing role of simulation on our courses.
Professional memberships and activities
Registered Social Worker (Social Work England)
Academic qualifications
- BA (Hons) Social Work 2011
- Practice Educator Award (Level 1 & 2), 2018, Staffordshire University
- Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) , Staffordshire University - to conclude in January 2023
- Deafblind Assessor (2019)
- Foundations of Simulation (2021)
Expertise
- Social work with adults
- Hospital Discharge
- DeafBlindness
- Mental Capacity Act
- Placement Coordination
- Simulation
Research interests
I have a keen interest in the use of simulation in teaching on the Social Work degree with particular focus on stress inoculation and preparation for practice I recently presented at the HE Advance Conference in Northumbria (2022)
Teaching
As a Lecturer in Practice Learning I will be supporting with lectures specifically relating to Placements including
- Psychology for Social Work (BA L4)
- Evidence Informed Practice with Adults (BA L5)
- Working with risk and complexity (BA L6)
I will also support, where necessary, with teaching across the Social Work Courses including the BA, MA and Apprenticeship programmes.