Social work and social care

Dr Helen Machin completed her PhD in 2023 and her thesis titled “Hot and bitter tears” (辛酸泪): An inquiry into Chinese migrants’ experiences of undocumented status has formed the basis for conference presentations and also published journal articles. Additional papers from her PhD work will follow in 2024-5. Existing published work includes: 

• Machin, H. E., & Shardlow, S. M. (2022). The Construction of Character in Social Work Narratives of Practice with Undocumented Migrants. The British Journal of Social Work.

Alison Tasker is currently working on her doctorate, focussed upon experiences and impact of pregnancy loss and relevance for social work practice.

Cath Holmstrom has supported practitioners to carry out research projects including some that have resulted in joint publications:

• Power, L ; Dean, L ; Evans, L ; Haughton, A ; Holmström, C (2023) ‘Mystery and Magic; perceptions of Social Work within an Acute Hospital Setting’, Practice, Vol.35 (5), p.405-423

• Lelkes, J. and Bouch, A. Holmstrom, C., (2021), ‘Well-being as a principle in the Care Act: different interpretations and links with capacity’ in Practice.(co-authored with practitioner researcher and colleague without publication record)

Cath has also written work exploring issues affecting young adults and young men in the following work: 

• Holmström, C (2019) ‘Transitions to adult services’ in Braye and Preston-Shoot The Care Act: implications for Practice (book chapter)

• Holmstrom, C; North, G; Price, M; Ravenhill, J (2021) Working with young men’ End of project report: https://www.pebbletrust.org/research  (academic papers in preparation)

The project above was funded by a charitable organisation to examine the processes by which young men in a particular region of the UK became less engaged with services or where services did not currently ‘reach’ them and also exploring ‘what works’ with these young men. Research team was inter-disciplinary and included young men peer researchers. Papers arising from this will follow in 2024-5.

Cath Holmström has significant experience of researching suitability for professional practice and education, included funded projects which have resulted in findings forming the basis for national guidance:

• Holmström, C. (2016) ‘Suitability, gate-keeping and social work education’ in I. Taylor & M. Lefevre (eds)International Handbook of Social Work Education, Routledge. (book chapter)
• Holmström, C. (2014) ‘Suitability for Professional Practice: Assessing and Developing Moral Character in Social Work Education’, Social Work Education,33(4), pp451-468.
• HEA, 2014 Assessing the Suitability of Students to enter and remain on qualifying social work programmes (Guidance for HEA). Lead co-author along with Hilary Burgess. National guidance adopted by regulatory bod. Available at: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/assessing-suitability-students-enter-and-remain-qualifying-social-work-programmes
• Holmstrom, Cath (2011) Selection and admission of students for social work education: key issues and debates in relation to practice and policy in England. Project Report. Higher Education Academy: SWAP, Southampton. National guidance adopted by regulatory body available at: http://www.swapbox.ac.uk/1133/
• Holmström, C and Taylor I (2008a) “Researching Admissions: What Can We Learn about Selection of Applicants from Findings about Students in Difficulty on a Social Work Programme?” Social Work Education, Volume 27, Issue 8 pp 819-836
• Holmström, C and Taylor, I (2008b) “Mapping the Terrain of Selection for Social Work: A Critical Analysis of Policy, Theory and Research” Social Work Education, Volume 27, Issue 5 August 2008 pp 519 – 535

She also has an interest in the nature and impact of diversity in the social work classrooms, especially in relation to age and life stage 

• Holmström, C. (2011) “Social Work’s New Non-Traditional Students? The experiences of younger students within social work education ”Social Work Education,31(3), pp269-286. This paper was based upon a learned society funded project, the report for which can be found here: http://www.swapbox.ac.uk/152/1/cathholmstrom_report.pdf  

This interest is mirrored by some of Dr Machin’s work in relation to mature learners: 

• Machin, H. E. (2017). "A bone of contention": Reflections on the experiences of mature learners in social work education. The Journal of Academic Development and Education, (8). 
  

Cath has also begun work on the topic of ‘Being’ in social work, drawing upon philosophical perspectives of what it means to ‘be’ and to ‘be with’ others. She hopes that this will further improve some of the focus of the social work courses upon ‘self’ in professional practice.

Current scholarship activity in this area includes the following projects:

Mick Baker, Dr Barry Fearnley and Cath Holmstrom have piloted the introduction of an element of social action into the social justice first year BA SW module. This is unusual in the UK but less so in USA where the focus on community action is more established. We will be working with KISI to explore links across Keele in relation to this and are evaluating the impact of an action focus upon students.

Matt Clarke and Carolyn Gair have been working with paramedic colleagues to offer students from both disciplines immersive simulation experiences working collaboratively with challenging scenarios. Additional sessions are planned to include police recruits too, and evaluation is underway. Initial feedback has identified the additional learning that comes from this approach to learning.

Similarly, Matt and Cath have introduced more immersive court experiences throughout the courses with the aim of making this often dry subject come to life and more fully prepare students for professional practice, with realistic experiences of cross-examination and court etiquette experienced rather than simply observed.

Mac Ashraf and Cheryl Metcalfe have recently presented some early work exploring the hidden element of working with service users and carers within social work education and some of the challenges that these collaborative commitments can bring.

Carolyn Gair and Matt Clarke have recently presented research and practice reflections on the controversial topic or ‘parental alienation’ to local authority partners and are also working with the local family justice board (including with the judiciary) on this issue. ;

Helen Franklin has interests in practice education and also in carer development for social workers, and a keen interest too in relation to mental capacity issues in practice.

Alison Tasker and Cath Holmstrom have worked with MUPFT to develop programmes of support for social care staff interested in understanding and using research to inform their practice and to develop research skills. These projects, STARS and STARSWARS, are open access and so available widely. Information on some of these initiatives is available here: https://research.mpft.nhs.uk/partnership-working/cosmic/screen

Cath is also exploring the nature and impact of social work in the voluntary sector, with a pilot project complete and funding for a full project now being sought.

Cath Holmstrom is currently supporting 14 social work practitioners who are engaged in small-scale research projects relevant to their organisation and their own role. This is part of a commitment to supporting social workers to become more confident with research use and research activity in professional practice. The 14 practitioners are based in a range of settings and it is hoped that at least half will result in dissemination activities, including published research. This builds upon previous experience Cath had of supporting practitioner to conduct research, which resulted in the following publications:

• Holmstrom, C., Lelkes, J. and Bouch, A. (2021), ‘Well-being as a principle in the Care Act: different interpretations and links with capacity’ in Practice.
• Power, L ; Dean, L ; Evans, L ; Haughton, A ; Holmström, C (2023) ‘Mystery and Magic; perceptions of Social Work within an Acute Hospital Setting’, Practice, Vol.35 (5), p.405-423

In addition, three members of the team (Cath Holmstrom, Dr Helen Machin and Barry Fearnley) are able to supervise doctoral students and there are currently 5 students being supervised by these team members, with additional studentships in development.

Cath Holmstrom is on the editorial board of the international journal, Social Work Education, where she has led on the development of service user and carer alternative format submission processes and assessments.

Our research and scholarship activity is supported and often initiated by Molly Barnes, our Research Development Officer.