Current Research
Current research areas include:
- Power and partnership in social work
- Learning and education in Micro- and Small Enterprises (MSE’s)
- Alternative curriculum education
Forthcoming papers:
“Anti-oppressive students: an exploration of power and partnership between social workers and service-users in Adult Social Services”
Co-authored with Dr Mike Radford. This paper uses current literature and examples from local authority policies to explore the nature and meaning of service-user partnership within Adult Social Services. Understanding the nature of service-user partnership is critical to the development of the student social worker and a clear knowledge of the contruction of power in professional relationships is required by the student. This article seeks to clarify the nature of partnership and illuminate the underlying causes of power imbalances when working with adults. By questioning the nature of service-user partnership in social work and considering the nature of power in relationships between social workers and service-users, the paper explores practice implications and identifies areas in which current social work education may require emphasis.
The paper discusses the nature of service-user participation in social work and considers collaboration in terms of barriers to implementation, what partnership means to the individual and its implications to older adults. It argues that participatory social work is hampered by a misunderstanding of the nature of partnership and that the current direction of anti-oppressive practice is problematic as a result.
Submitted to journal 14/01/2010 for review
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“Courting discontinuity: using outdoors to promote conceptual learning in owner/managers of MSE’s”
This paper considers methods in which conceptual or ‘higher’ learning can be accentuated in owner/managers of micro- and small-businesses. There is some evidence to suggest that outdoor experiential learning situations can simulate or approximate those conditions under which logological, or conceptual, learning takes place. This may include instances where perceived risks are greater, where previous personal experiences are unable to provide guidance and where discontinuous events are managed but evident.
In the planning stage at he moment, it remains to be seen whether this paper will in form my thesis.
Notes: I am seeking a ‘critical friend’ for this article, to contribute to authorship and critically review the current content to prepare for submission for publication.
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“Experiences of families whose child(ren) are educated at home: implications of government policy changes regarding home-education”
This paper looks at the lived experiences of home-education from a person-centred point of view, using auto/biography to inform the interview process. It further considers how these experiences are likely to change in light of the proposed changes to the regulation of home-educated children.
Notes: I am seeking a ‘critical friend’ for this article, to contribute to authorship and critically review the current content to prepare for submission for publication.