Bernadette Murphy

University Teacher in Social Work (CQSW, DipSW, MBA, Practice Teacher Award)

Academic Profile

Since I completed my Social work training 27 years ago I have worked in Adult services in a variety of roles. This has included mental health, learning disability and substance misuse as well as with older people and people with dementia.

In my other posts since 1990 I have been responsible for managing professional staff from a variety of backgrounds and whilst working in Manchester my role included the management of Social workers and direct involvement in supervising Social work students and developing the social work practice curriculum within the agency, which also involved providing training on the Mental Health Act.

In my work with Elect training I have designed and delivered training courses to a variety of professionals including a joint course with a child care specialist on Assessing parents with Learning disabilities using the assessment framework for identifying children at risk or in need.

I have worked as a Development and Operations Manager with a variety of Voluntary Sector agencies and have been responsible for designing new services and then developing and managing them. An example of this is developing alternatives to traditional day care for people with learning disabilities and prison based therapeutic communities and CBT based drug programmes.

In one of my previous roles I have worked collaboratively with colleagues to lead the service managers towards achieving and developing good practice and expertise in the provision of services to older people especially those with substantial or critical needs. An example of this has involved developing and training staff in the needs of people with Dementia and the Mental Capacity Act.

Since taking up my appointment with Sheffield University in 2007 I have contributed to Social Policy modules on Older people and Social work modules on Assessment and Planning. I have also convened modules about Knowledge Skills and Values and Disability, and contributed to Practitioner Development and Community Care Law modules.

I have responsibility for Coordinating Practice Placements for both BA and MA students.

Teaching

I currently convene:

• SCS658 Managing People in Social Work and Social Care
• SCS660 Managing Resources and Quality

Placements

I also develop and support Student Social Work Placements:

• SCS358 Practice Placement 2 BA in Social Work
• SCS6105 Practice Placement 1 MA in Social Work
• SCS6041 Practice Placement 2 MA in Social Work

MA in Social Work

Practice Interests

• Developing placement opportunities

• Community care law

• Disability services

• Older people

• Mental health