Nora McClelland

University Teacher - Social Work (BA, MA, MSc)
Course Leader - MA in Social Work

Academic Profile

I joined the department in October 2005.

I qualified as social worker in 1991 and worked as an approved social worker in community mental health services. In my early days, I had a particular interest in the development of group based services, for women survivors of childhood trauma related to sexual and physical violence. This developed into a wider consideration of women's experience of mental distress and mental health services. In developing my interests and practice I have had the opportunity to work, under supervision, as an honorary psychotherapist and to develop specialist training in working with post traumatic stress disorders, as an EMDR therapist.

Prior to joining this department, I was a social work practitioner within a specialised, regional Democratic Therapeutic Community service, setting up and developing outreach services, through the provision of group based TC services, for people who might attract diagnosis of personality disorder in local communities. I was involved in the development of a service user network of consultants who collaborate with the service, in service planning and delivery. Working with service users, I have provided training, supervision and service consultation, in this area of practice, for multi-disciplinary groups of mental health professionals.

My academic background is BSc (Psychology), MSc (Mental Health Studies), MA (Health Care Ethics and Law).

Research

1997. The influence of racial stereotypes on approved social worker assessments under the Mental Health Act (1983).

1997. The influence of relationship difficulties and sexual behaviours on outcomes of Mental Health Act (1983) assessments.

2004. Personality Disorder: Ethical basis for treatment

2005. SCIE Conference Workshop
Considering the needs of parents, who have diagnoses of personality disorder, to support their parenting role?

2005. BASPCAN Conference on Parental Mental Health Needs and Child Welfare: Working across boundaries.
Paper : The Needs of Parents with Mental Health issues and the Best interests of the Child: What do we need to work together?

Publications since 2005

Gopfert, M., McClelland, N. Wilson, J. (2010) 'Maternal mental health: an ethical base for good practice', in Dora Kohen [Ed] Oxford Textbook of Women and Mental Health, Oxford University Press, chapter 8, 2010

Hellin,K., Göpfert,G., Atkinson,D Davies,J., Hartley,P., Hyde,K., Mallett, S., McClelland,N., Russell,L., Shilling,L., Winn,D. (2009) 'Day therapeutic community services for people with personality
disorder: A new approach', Clinical Psychology Forum 197, 2009

McClelland N. (2006) 'Beneficence in ethical practice in diagnosis and treatment of personality disorder'. Therapeutic Communities: International Journal of Therapeutic and Supportive Organisations. 27, 4.

Hyde K, Davies, J., Gopfert, M., Hartley, P., Hellin K., McClelland N., Pass T., Singh, S., Weir, A. (2005) 'Engaging Users: the essence of the therapeutic community approach'. Therapeutic Communities: International Journal of Therapeutic and Supportive Organisations, 26(3) 261-272 J

Teaching

Since joining the department I have contributed to the teaching for social work practice on the MA in Social Work and provide tutorial and practice placement support.

MA in Social Work

I convene SCS6103 Professional Development.

Practice Interests

• Mental health
• Law, policy and implications for future of the social work role and practice
• Parental role
• Family based interventions
• Multi disciplinary practice
• Development of the social work role and contribution in an MDT
• Developing social work practice models to support effective collaborative work with service users and their networks in service design, planning and delivery