I am qualified and registered social worker with 20 years’ experience in children and family social work, including long term, assessment, family centre work and adoption and fostering. Since leaving frontline practice I have worked as a Multi-agency child protection trainer and in Higher Education as a social work educator for 16 years.

With a keen interest in the application of law in children and family social worker, I obtained a Masters in Child Care Law and Practice (with distinction) from Keele University. Also with Keele I completed a Professional Doctorate in Social Work looking at who Children and Family Social Workers are and how and why they do what they do.

During my time in Higher Education, I have led and developed safeguarding pathways to develop inter-professional learning and multi-agency platforms. I have carried out several leadership roles including the development and delivery of one of the first Step Up to Social Work programmes in the North West as well as mainstream BA and MA programme leadership roles.
I have been commissioned by key children and family voluntary agencies to develop and deliver safeguarding and reflective practice models to support practitioners in their work with children and families. Keen to maintain links with thresholds and decision making in practice I remain involved with consultancy and decision making forums. and as such have been an Independant Panel Member with Adoption in Merseyside.

My teaching interests are Social Justice, Social Policy and Children and Family Social Work and Child Care Law

Degrees

2018, Keele University, United Kingdom, Professional Doctorate
2007, Keele University, United Kingdom, Masters Child Care Law and Practice

Certifications

1985, Liverpool Polytechnic, Certificate of Qualification in Social Work

Academic appointments

Senior Lecturer, Social Work, Liverpool John Moores, 2019 - present
Senior Lecturer, Social Work, Edge Hill University, 2017 - 2019
Senior Lecturer, Social Work, University of Keele, 2012 - 2017
Senior Lecturer, Social Work, University of Chester, 2004 - 2012

Postgraduate training

Post Graduate Award in Higher Education, United Kingdom, Chester University, 2004 - 2005