Robert joined UEL in 2003 as Head of Social Work and then Field Leader but since taking phased retirement in 2010 has worked as a 0.3 senior lecturer specialising in social work law. He has over 30 years' experience of statutory social work across the full range: youth justice, childcare, mental health, vulnerable adults and also as an independent children's guardian. With degree qualifications in social policy, law and social work he has taught applied social work law and social policy in higher education since 1986 on both professional qualifying and post-qualifying courses. He was a Teacher Fellow at De Montfort University and at UEL led the development of the MA in Social Work taught jointly with the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. At Post-Qualifying level he has been involved in teaching and externally examining a range of programmes in the fields of child care, mental health, and safeguarding adults.

Teaching social work law at all levels on social work qualifying programmes.

Masters dissertations supervision on MA Social Work programme and MA in International Social Work and Community Development programme

Qualified social workers' staff development programmes including Best Interest Assessor Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards courses commissioned by employers.

Social work law, social work practice in statutory agencies particularly in a court context.

Protection of children and vulnerable adults.

Mental capacity and mental health.

History of social work, especially residential care for young people.

Providing consultantcy for advocates for people seeking redress for past actions of social workers (as, for example,  social work expert in court proceedgins).

• BA (Hons) Social Work
• MA Social Work
• Short Course: Best Interest Assessor: Deprivation of Liberty training

• SK1302 Social Work Law 1
• SK2302 Social Work Law 2
• SKM402 Law and Social Justice

Books

• Johns R.; 2011; Using the Law in Social Work (fifth edition). Learning Matters; Exeter. ISBN 978 0857254054
• Johns R.; 2010; Social Work, Social Policy and Older People. Learning Matters; Exeter. ISBN 978 1844453498

Chapters In Books

• Johns R.; 2010; Vulnerability, Autonomy, Capacity and Consent in The Law and Social Work: Contemporary Issues for Practice: Long, L-A, Roche J. and Stringer, D. [eds.]; Palgrave: Basingstoke ISBN 9780 230 543034

Books

• Braye S and Preston-Shoot M, with Cull L-A., Johns R. and Roche J.; 2005; Teaching, learning and assessment of law in social work education. Social Care Institute for Excellence / Policy Press; London. ISBN 1904812201
• Johns R. and Sedgwick A.; 1998; Law for Social Work Practice: Working with Vulnerable Adults. Macmillan; Basingstoke
• Johns R. and Ruegger, M.; 1997; Using Theories in Social Work: Systems Theory. Open Learning Foundation; London

Chapters in Books

• Johns R.; 2007; Teaching social work law in Social Work: A Companion to Learning: Lymbery, M. and Postle, K. [ed.]; Sage; London. ISBN 9781412920025
• Johns R.; 2001; Promoting quality parenting in Working with Children and their Families (Open University K204 course text): Tucker, S. [ed.]; Sage; London

Refereed Articles

• Johns R.; and Saito, Y; 2008; Japanese students’ perceptions of international perspectives in social work. International Social Work 52(1): 60–71
• Johns R.; 2007; Who Decides Now? Protecting and Empowering Vulnerable Adults Who Lose the Capacity to Make Decisions for Themselves. British Journal of Social Work 37(3), April 2007, pp.557-564.
• Johns R. and Robson P.; 2006; Strengthening Partnership. Social Work Education 25(4) ISSN  0261-5479
• Braye S., Preston-Shoot M. and Johns R., 2006; Lost in translation? Teaching law to non-lawyers: reviewing the evidence from social work Law Teacher 40(2): 131-150
• Johns R., Braye S. and Preston-Shoot M.; 2005; Law in Social Work Education: Reviewing the Evidence on Teaching, Learning and Assessment Social Work Education 24(5) ISSN 0261-5479
• Johns R.; 2004; Of unsound mind? Mental health social work and the European Convention on Human Rights. Practice 16(4)
• Johns R.; 2004; Of unsound mind? Mental health social work and the European Convention on Human Rights. Practice 16(4)
• Johns R.; 2003; Web based learning in social work law. Social Work Education 22(5)
• ISSN  0261-5479

• Registered Social Worker - GSCC
• Fellow of Higher Education Academy
• External examiner for social work programmes at: Leeds University, Essex University, Goldsmiths College University of London

Using the law in Social Work

Since launching in 2003, Transforming Social Work Practice has become the market-leading series for social work students and practitioners.

Law is a core topic in social work degree courses. It is vital therefore that students understand the complexities of the law and how the law interacts and helps to define social work practice. This best-selling law book is an accessible guide for social work students and will help to guide them through some difficult pieces of legislation such as the Mental Health Act 2007, new guidance on the Children Act 1989, the Heath and Social Care Act 2008 and the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.

Now in its fifth edition, Using the Law in Social Work uses case studies and practical activities to help students develop critical knowledge and understanding of how law impacts upon practice. More than just a guide to legislation, the author offers insights into intervention, assessment and how the law operates with regard to individual service user groups.

Social Work, Social Policy and Older People

Thinking Through Social Work is a new series of texts designed and written specifically for those social work students entering the second or final phase of their degree course. Structured around sets of specific 'skills', each chapter uses critical thinking and reflective exercises to develop greater subject knowledge and critical awareness. Each book contains links to the Subject Benchmarks or National Occupational Standards for Social Work, providing students with a clear transition from study to practice.

It is essential that social work students understand the complex interactions between social work and social policy, and how social and governmental policy has a lasting impact on service users and carers. This book focuses on this interface between social work and social policy in the context of older people. Adopting an historical perspective, the book traces the development of welfare provision for older people up to the present day, but then leads up to an analysis of contemporary developments which students will need to know about in order to practise effectively.

At the same time, the book introduces key social policy concepts and demystifies some of the ideas that underpin social policy by making clear links to social work practice. There are chapters on state welfare and the notion of a 'mixed economy', the lived experience of older people in today's society, demographics and diversity as well as references to the international dimension.

Using the Law in Social Work

http://www.learningmatters.co.uk/title.aspx?mybid=713

Social Work, Social Policy and Older People

http://www.learningmatters.co.uk/title.aspx?mybid=713

The Law and Social Work: Contemporary Issues for Practice

http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?is=9780230543034

Teaching, learning and assessment of law in social work education.

http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/knowledgereviews/kr08.asp

Social Work: A Companion to Learning

http://www.uk.sagepub.com/books/Book228797