University of Birmingham

The Department of Social Work and Social Care is a multi-disciplinary academic team committed to improving the wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities, and addressing inequalities and discrimination. We achieve our aims through original and relevant research of social issues and positive models of support, quality learning throughout professional and practice careers, and international collaborations in the field of social work and social care. The Department is part of the School of Social Policy and the Adult Social Care Cluster and hosts the UK centre for implementing evidence in adult social care

Research

At Birmingham we undertake world-leading research and evaluation to develop new theories and concepts, and influence both policy and practice in social work. Our inter-disciplinary research community includes academic staff, research fellows and PhD students, and we seek to promote research excellence within an environment that allows researchers to flourish.

Key research themes include:

strengths-based practices which seek to develop a new relationship with people and communities based on what matters to them and builds on their informal resources and networks.
child protection practice, particularly focusing on practice-near methodologies to investigate the lived experiences and practice realities.
LGBTQ peoples’ experiences including how services work with LGBTQ people, as well as how the social work profession engages with sexuality. It also explores feminist epistemologies, experiences of men and women, and gender and masculinities theories.

Teaching

We provide qualifying social work programmes at under-graduate and post-graduate level, and post-qualifying programmes relating to mental health, practice education and child safeguarding. This includes the multidisciplinary Masters programme in Advanced Child Protection Studies.

Leadership

Building on the wider expertise at the University, the department has developed a leading reputation in relation to its work in connection with leadership within social work at a practice and senior level. This includes research, commentary and innovative leadership programmes.

More information

For more details of the department please see: Department of Social Work & Social Care and for details of our academics please see: Academics