Feelings Come First: Understanding Relationships in Social Work Practice

Professor Gillian Ruch is Professor of Social Work in the Department of Social Work and Social Care at the University of Sussex.

Gillian has been a leading voice in the development of relationship-based practice in social work in the UK and internationally over the past two decades. Drawing on her empirical research and innovative use of psycho-social theory, Gillian will reflect on what we have learned about the nature of relationships in social work practice and the vital role that emotions play in organisations and how social workers are, or are not, helpful to adults and children who use services. 

Guest Speaker Biography
Gillian teaches and researches in the areas of child care social work and relationship-based and reflective practice and is committed to enhancing the wellbeing of children, families and practitioners. Her particular interests are in promoting psycho-social research methods and reflective discussion and supervision forums that facilitate relationship-based practice. Gillian’s research includes an ESRC funded four UK nations project exploring how social workers communicate with children. Building on the ESRC talking and Listening to Children research Gillian is currently engaged in research impact work in collaboration with The International Futures Forum which is funded by the What Works Centre for Children's Social Care and involves providing social workers with Kitbag, a resource designed to promote children's emotional literacy and wellbeing.

Gillian is the Director of the Centre for Social Work Innovation and Research at Sussex and has recently established a research partnership with colleagues in the Social Work Innovation and Research Living Space at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia. Gillian has published widely in peer reviewed journals and co-edited, with Danielle Turney and Adrian Ward, Relationship-based Social Work: Getting to the Heart of Practice. 

This lecture is open to staff, students and the wider public. It is planned as an in-person lecture. Arrangements are however being made for the lecture to be recorded. Therefore, if you are unable to attend in person and would like to receive a copy of the recording, please do confirm this by emailing spsevents@contacts.bham.ac.uk.