Manager - Academy of Social Work
I joined Plymouth City Council in 2017, having previously been a practice educator and lecturer in Social Work at the University of Plymouth. Since joining I have been able to lead and support a number of innovative and nationally leading programmes, including setting up the Academy of Social Work and most recently, supporting Plymouth to lead on the development of the new national Early Career Framework for Newly Qualified Social Workers.
I have had the pleasure of knowing many of the staff throughout their professional journey from being a student, to becoming a qualified social worker, and then progressing to management roles. I have therefore fully enjoyed seeing first-hand how Plymouth supports practitioners to achieve.
Plymouth has a supportive, relationship-based culture and staff are encouraged to develop their knowledge, skills, and career aspirations to support them to achieve, and to realise the best outcomes we can for children and families. We have high aspirations for the children and families with whom we work.
Our investment in staff development is high, with a very comprehensive and supported career progression offer. This has recently been recognised through our selection to become an Early Adopter of the government’s reforms to develop a national Early Career Framework to better support and develop social workers for the future.
Whilst being a relatively small authority, I am also proud that Plymouth has been able to lead on national practice improvement and development projects that benefit the wider social work profession.
I moved to Plymouth in 2002 and feel the city is a safe, vibrant, and enjoyable place to live and work. As an ocean city, there is so much to access, including some of the best coastline in the country. Being on the edge of Dartmoor National Park also opens endless possibilities for outdoor recreation.