I joined UEL in March 2012 as Associate Dean-Social Work. After qualifying as a social worker, I spent a number of years as a local authority social worker and manager  in children's services. Following that, I became involved in social work education and spent ten years teaching undergraduate, postgraduate and post-qualifying students at Middlesex University. For four years I was also  Director of Social Work at Middlesex University before joining UEL.

As Associate Dean I am responsible for portfolio development, the social work field, income generation, partnerships and collaboration plus I am the school leader for quality assurance.

My interests include:

-interprofessional education

-social work practice with looked after children and young people leaving care 

-social work education: skills and knowledge for child and family social work practice  

Teaching on the BA and MA Social Work degree 

Cocker, C. & Allain, L. (2008) Social Work with Looked After Children. Exeter: Learning Matters

Hingley-Jones, H. & Allain, L. 2008, ‘Integrating Services for Disabled Children and their Families in two English Local Authorities’, Journal of Interprofessional Care, 22 (5)

Bell, L. and Allain, L.  (2011) ‘Exploring Professional Stereotypes and Learning for Inter-professional Practice: An Example from UK Qualifying Level Social Work Education’, Journal of Social Work Education, Vol. 30, pp266-280

Villadsen, A. Allain, L.  Bell, L. Hingley-Jones, H. (2011) ‘The Use of Role-Play and Drama in Interprofessional Education; An Evaluation of a Workshop with Students of Social Work, Midwifery, Early Years and Medicine'  Journal of Social Work Education, pp. 1-15

Cocker,  C. and Allain L. (2011) Advanced Social Work with Children and Families (eds) (Post Qualifying Social Work Practice) Exeter, Learning Matters

 Allain, L. Cosis-Brown, H. Danso, C. Dillon, J. Finnegan, P. Gadhoke, S. Shamash, M. & Whittaker F. (2006) User and Carer Involvement in Social Work Education- A University Case Study: Manipulation or Citizen Control? Social Work Education, Vol. 25, 4, 403-413

 Allain, L. (2007) An Investigation of how a group of social workers respond to the cultural needs of black, minority ethnic looked after children.  Practice, Vol. 19, p. 127-141   

   Registered with the General Social Care Council