Gerontological Social Work: A role in search of recognition?
Professor Mo Ray, Professor of Gerontological Social Work at Keele University, will examine “Gerontological Social Work: A role in search of recognition?” in the latest lecture in Keele's programme of Inaugural Professorial Lectures 2014-15, on Tuesday, 27 January, in the Westminster Theatre, Chancellor's Building, on the University campus.
In March 2013 The House of Lords Select Committee report ‘Ready for Ageing?’ commented that population ageing is a ‘great boon’ which, without coordinated action to address the implications, could ‘turn into a series of miserable crises’. Critical concerns are continually raised regarding social care for older people including the quality of care and support offered, the treatment of older people with high support needs and fragmentation of services.
In this lecture, Professor Ray will draw on her experiences of social work as a practitioner, academic and researcher on the role and purpose of social work with older people. She argues the case for its central importance with older people and their families in situations of complexity, change and uncertainty. The impact and value of social work in interdisciplinary practice with older people is also considered.
Professor Ray’s research is predominantly applied, and focuses on practice improvement. Between 2010 and 2012, she developed biographical approaches to care of people living with dementia with a care team of over 30 people in a council care home, in a project that won a national ‘Dignity in Care’ award (2011), while from 2011 to 2013 she was co-researcher in the evaluation of the national Age-UK ‘Fit as a Fiddle’ project, which focused on supporting older people to engage in physical activity and improve nutrition.
Keele's programme of Inaugural Lectures are given by newly established professors within the University and aim to give an illuminating account of the speaker's own subject specialism. The lectures, which start at 6 pm in the Westminster Theatre, are chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Foskett.
This lecture is free and open to all.