I am a Senior Lecturer (Practice) Social Work and my current role is the Step Up to Social Work Programme Leader. I hold an MSc Mental Health Studies, BA(Hons) Social Work, PG Cert (Higher Education), Dip. HE and a qualified mental nurse. Currently, I’m a Fellow with the Higher Education Academy. As a dual qualified professional formally as a Mental Nurse and a Registered Social Worker I’ve had a varied practice background spanning experience in the private sector and NHS, Social Work with people with mental health disorders in various roles as a Social Work practitioner, AMHP and BIA. My teaching interests include Adult Social Care; Safeguarding, Legislation as applied in Social Work, Mental Health and Mental Capacity and my special interest: Practice Education. I’m a Practice Educator Stage 1 and 2 and continues to practice as such independently. My teaching spans across a number of qualifying i.e. both under and post graduate Social Work programmes  including CPD courses particularly Practice Education Stages 1 & 2. I hold a specific concern about the state of Social Work Practice Education and is keen on promoting the Social Work profession and giving a voice to mental health service users. My research interests has led to working on a PhD with a strong educational focus on Social Work student’s placement learning and its influence upon Social Work identity formation.