Chief Social Workers debate future of social work at York seminar

Posted on 6 May 2014

Two of England’s top social workers will take part in a seminar at the University of York looking at the challenges and opportunities for social work in the 21st Century.

Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families, and Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker for Adults, will participate in an Open Forum as part of a Making Research Count event, as well as delivering keynote speeches.

Making Research Count (MRC) is a national initiative to promote research run by a number of universities including the University of York. It works in partnership with local authorities and other bodies in regional sites to contribute to the development of research-informed, evidence-based practice.

Held at The Priory Street Centre in York on Friday, 9 May, the seminar is a partnership between MRC and the International Centre for Mental Health Social Research, which is based at the University of York. Other guests include Kersten England, City of York Council’s Chief Executive.

As part of the event, PhD students will present their research into children and adults social work, and there will be a discussion on social work practice in Yorkshire and Humber with a panel of senior local authority staff.

Dr Martin Webber, MRC Academic Lead and Director of the International Centre for Mental Health Social Research, will chair the Open Forum session.

Dr Webber said: “Making Research Count brings together the best of practitioner knowledge and expertise, the latest knowledge from research and information, and the expertise of service users.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Isabelle Trowler and Lyn Romeo to York. The seminar will be a great opportunity for experienced and recently qualified staff to debate current policy and practice with two of England’s top social workers.”

‘Social work in the 21st Century’ will take place at The Priory Street Centre, York, on Friday, 9 May at 1.45pm. The event is free for MRC subscribers , £50 for others. There is a bursary scheme for voluntary organisations unable to pay the full fee. For more information visit www.york.ac.uk/spsw/news-and-events/events/mrc/2013-14/mrc-9may14-sw21stcentury/ or contact Angela Portz, Regional Co-ordinator, Making Research Count (York), on 07887 536387.

Further information:

Making Research Count (MRC) is a national collaborative research dissemination initiative, run by the Universities of York, Bedfordshire, Brighton, Central Lancashire, East Anglia, Keele, The Open University, King’s College (London), Northumbria (with Teesside), Salford, and the West of England (Bristol). Making Research Count (York) has a number of events every year which aim to disseminate research and prompt discussion. For more information visit www.york.ac.uk/spsw/research/mrc/
More information on the International Centre for Mental Health Social Research at www.york.ac.uk/spsw/research/icmhsr/