I started at the University of East London in September 2007 to train and teach on the MA in Social Work. I was the MA in Social Work Programme Leader from 2009 - 2012. The desire to move into Higher Education became part of my long term career path during the time I was engaged in my D(Phil) Social Work in the mid 1990’s when I specialised in gestalt play therapy within a social work context. I qualified as a social worker in the 80’s and my first years of social work practise before embarking on the D(Phil) included working within the voluntary and statutory sector of children’s service, this included safeguarding, foster care, running of various groups for children and their families and involvement in various community engagement and development initiatives, in South Africa.

I emigrated to the UK in 1997, where for several years I continued to broaden my understanding of gestalt theory by engaging in training both in San Diego and Manchester. This also provided me with the time and space to embrace one of the most challenges experiences of my life – emigration! In this country I have been the Manager of a Leaving Care Team during the implementation of the New Care Leavers Act 2000. I went on to gain experience in two particular areas of interest; working with bereaved children and their families which was then followed by joining a Barnardo’s Project where the emphasis was in supporting families with disabled children – my particular interest was obtaining an in-depth understanding of Autism.

Trust, this is a professional qualifying programme for graduates wanting to become social workers. My responsibilities overall management of the programme, admissions; teaching on various modules, along with academic and personal tutor for both year groups students which includes supporting them in their practice learning opportunities over the course of the degree. 

I am also a member of supervision team supporting a Doctorate student with her research in ‘An Exploration of the Process of the Supportive Music and Imagery Therapy and of Its Foundation in Psychological Theory: A study of Supportive Music and Imagery therapy conducted in South Korea’.

• Supporting graduate students in their journey in becoming a qualified social work
• The role of the Academic and professional tutor
• Gestalt therapy
• Play therapy, which includes, sand work, working with creative mediums, puppets; story telling; biblio-therapy; drama and music therapy
• Diversity and Difference in a multi-cultural society
• Exploring the contact boundary between self and other
• Values and Ethic relating particularly to our cultural and belief systems
• Developing the awareness of self
• Involvement in research areas which address areas of difference and diversity
• Interpersonal and inter-professional training

• BA in Social Work
• Practice Educators Training with specific emphasis on social work theory and anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory practice.
• UEL link tutor for the Tavistock Centre for Couple Relations
• Social Work representative for CASS School Curriculum School Development

• Preparation for Social Work Practice
• Values and Ethic’s in Social Work
• Linking theory to practice
• Interpersonal and Interprofessional skills
• Communication Skills
• Dissertation

I was a member of External Independent Evaluation Team for the safeguarding Initiative where there are issues of spirit possession or witch craft, Funded by London City Trust.

International Presentations

• International Conferences in Pretoria and Cape Town,  South Africa
  Conference Title: Contact Boundaries in work with children
• Keynote Speaker International Childhood trauma Conference in Cape Town, South Africa
  Keynote address:  The body bears the burden

International Teaching

• Huggenote College, Wellington South Africa   4 days on the Masters Programme for Play therapy       
• Diak, Helsinki, Finland:  On the  BA and MA Social Work programme: Understanding the contact boundary

National Presentation

• JSWEC 11^th UK Joint Social Work Education Conference:
  Workshop: “ Involving carers as co-educators in interprofessional education: three years of an interprofessional programme with   Nursing, speech and language and social work students

Publications

Co-author of a chapter with Robert Johns ‘The lived experience of older people in Britian today: Demographics and diversity’. In John, R. (2011). Social work, social policy and older people. Learning Matters: Exeter