CSWR staff are actively involved in practice, consultancy, teaching and research. They write widely in books and articles; convene and contribute to conferences, lecture series and workshops in the UK and abroad.
PhD students (D61: Tavistock -UEL Multiporfessional PhD programme)
Judith Shaerf
A study of the role of expert psychiatric reports (containing a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder) prepared to support the appeals of asylum seekers whose asylum appeals have been rejected by the Home Office, from the perspective of the Home Office presenting officer, the expert writer and the decision maker.
The purpose of the research is to investigate what informs the decision making process from the perspective of those presenting the case for each party in Court and the possible tensions which may exist before the decision is made. The research will look at what informs the decision making process by the representatives of the appellants, The Home Office presenting officer, the solicitor, the report’s author and the judge. The thrust of the enquiry will study the treatment of the expert psychiatric reports (EPR’s) and will focus on the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) Judges. The purpose of this enquiry will lead to an investigation into what informs the factors relevant to the judge who has to decide the appeal and the tensions experienced by the professionals in the Courtroom. In-depth enquiry will be made into the role of the judge and his judgement
Professional Doctorate theses (Tavistock -UEL Professional Doctorate in Social Work)
Completed Thesis:
Judy Foster
‘Thinking on the front line: how do social workers think on the front line'?
What supports their thinking and what gets in the way of it?’ I have spent time visiting three different social services teams, sitting in on meetings, the general office, duty and interviewing staff. I have generated qualitative observational and interview data.I have analysed the material and am now writing my thesis.
Helen Hingley-Jones
The study makes use of a methodology derived from infant observation to investigate identity development in a small group of adolescents with severe learning disabilities. A series of observations was undertaken of young people in their homes, enabling identity to be viewed within the social and emotional context of the family. Case studies will be developed to describe and account for identity development from a psychosocial perspective.
Vimala Uttarkar
This study attempts to understand how mental health staff deal with the emotional impact of working with people suffering from severe mental illness in the community. Observation of and interviews with staff from mental health teams in the community were carried out, focussing on staff to explore what facilitates them to cope with the emotional demands of this work. Three different types of community teams were studied - clients of the three teams varied in the severity of their illnesses and thus the intensity of their needs. A qualitative analysis found that the specific skills needed were found to be different in the three teams.
In progress:
Stephen Jordon
An exploration of humour, jokes and their relationship to social work
Social work has a complex relationship with humour and jokes. In some respects given the serious endeavour of social work it seems the last place where one would find humour. However reviewing the literature on humour suggests there is a relationship between how humour is used by the profession in the workplace. Related to this are the jokes made about social work, and whilst the two phenomena are distinct they are linked by the role social work occupies in society. This will be investigated by reviewing the jokes and humour used concerning social work in the public domain. Jokes and humour are highly valued in contemporary society. I believe jokes and the use of humour can offer an insight into the position which social work occupies in society. There are 2 distinct aspects to this research, both of which are inextricably linked:
The first part of the investigation will evaluate the range and characteristics of jokes about social work to be found in public use. The second part of the investigation will evaluate the characteristics and range of jokes and humour used by social workers themselves. It is proposed that this investigation will reveal attitudes toward social work in contemporary British society, but also how social workers themselves utilise humour and jokes in practice. There is an exploratory aspect to this research the possible link between these and the social work task (as experienced by the profession and by wider society).
Lydia Beckler
Who would be a residential social worker? : An exploration of the motivation for entering and remaining in this role.
At a time when residential care is seen as the last resort for children and young people needing to be taken into care I wanted to understand why people enter and then remain within this field of work. Furthermore, it is hoped that this research will enable employers to gain a deeper understanding of the types of people who are likely to be attracted to this work and to consider ways in which they provide support systems that enable their staff to provide high quality care whilst remaining emotionally and psychologically well. The aim of the research is to;
David Forbes
Probation Officers: The Next Generation
This research project focuses on the work related world of recently qualified Probation Officers with a view to constructing a picture of the occupation from a newcomer perspective. Using a range of different methods including a survey questionnaire, semi-structured interviews and case discussions, my main aim is to explore the professional identity of recently qualified Probation Officers within the context of current probation practice. In addition, I aim to evaluate the contribution of reflective practice to their professional development and identify factors which influence their professional growth and well-being.
Anna Harvey
'Social Work study regarding the emotional factors involved in the decision making, care planning process and outcomes for looked after children and children at risk of coming into care.'
The aim of this study is to explore the experiences and perceptions of participants, including Social Workers, carers, parents and children, following the independent assessments, which I have undertaken for a Local Authority from March 2006 to March 2008. This is an evaluation of my work and an in depth study to illicit the reasons and thinking behind why and how decisions are taken about children and to find out what has happened to the children since I was last involved.
This research will be concerned with a number of key questions regarding the subjective experiences of decision making within this social work setting namely;
An exploration of the outcomes of the children I have undertaken parenting assessments on and an evaluation of the work;
Jane Herd
Research Questions
Through their presentation and lack of engagement with services and in their response to and behaviour in their communities and families a number of adolescents can present as and be labelled as “hard to reach”. This quality will be explored and understood through the process of working with a small number of adolescents, identified as being “hard to reach”( as defined by this research ), in psycho social therapy and through gaining their feedback about their lives, the research and the psycho social sessions. This work will attempt to answer the following questions:-
1) This presentation has been linked (Baruch, G. et al 2007) to various familial and historical factors, and through a case study type approach the research is interested in how this hard to reach quality is developed across the life of the adolescent to the point of their involvement with the research.
2) How being ‘hard to reach’ is expressed in the adolescents relationship with themselves and others, particularly how it affects and influences communication with and connection to adult figures.
3) How do these young people think and what is the immediate quality of their emotional worlds? This will be used to develop an understanding of what this might imply about conscious and unconscious processes, inner working models and psychic structure.
Khurshid Meehan
"Case Studies of Separated Adolescent Refugees:Emergent issues from clinical social work practice within the context of a hostile socio-political climate and the challenges of developing a therapeutic service in an NHS resource".
Claire Shirsavar
“How does having a child with gender identity issues influence parenting?”
The aim of the study is to gain a greater understanding of the experience of parents who have a young child presenting with gender identity issues. Particular attention will be given to the implication that this may have for parenting. The research intends to compliment ongoing research at the GIDU into how parents with adolescent children view their child’s expressed gender identity difficulties with a particular emphasis on parenting.
Sylvia Smith
'To what extent does the recognition and understanding of 'projective processes', play a useful part in the Management of frontline Social Work Practice - An in-depth study of a Children & Families Resource Centre'
Gavin Swann
“How are men though about in Social Work Practice: The denigration of motherhood, the denigration of fatherhood and social work”
This research studies social workers' attitudes to including, engaging and working with men as part of social workers' statutory interventions in child protection work.
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