I’ve worked at Manchester Metropolitan University since September 2020, initially focused on supporting apprentices on our  BA Social Work Degree Apprenticeship Programme as a Tutor and Skills Coach.  Since the start of 2024 I have worked as Lecturer in Social Work for Practice-based learning with students on full time BA and MA Social Work Programmes.   Alongside teaching responsibilities and preparing students for their work-based placements I am also responsible for developing new placement opportunities, supporting the placement process and quality assurance of practice learning opportunities.  I work closely with the professional placements team, the practice learning team,  programme leads for BA and MA Social Work and our external placement providers.  I also support the work of the Greater Manchester Social Work Academy (GMSWA) around practice learning and sit on the regional practice learning workstream and steering group.  I am a professionally qualified and registered social worker and hold an MA in Social Work. I’m also a Stage 2 practice educator and a qualified coach and participate through GMSWA in the training, assessment and support of Practice Educators.  I’m currently an Associate Fellow of Advance HE and a member of the National Organisation for Practice Teaching. 

Prior to working at Manchester Met much of my career has been in child and family social work both as a practitioner and manager in statutory and voluntary sector roles.  I have also worked as an independent social worker, practice educator and visiting lecturer supporting students with their Assessed Readiness for Direct Practice. 

My professional teaching and research interests are varied and include participatory practice and approaches with children and young people, the effective implementation of evidence-based programmes and interventions in social work, the processes/methods and approaches involved in practice learning and practice education and access to education, health and social care support for children and young people with SEND.  I have contributed to a book chapter using a case study to explore effective participatory practice with young children (see reference below in Arnott & Wall 2022).

Reference

Bowden-King, J. Williams, L. & Magness, J (2022) ‘Adapting the Families Connect Programme for Three-Year-Olds: A Case Study’ in Arnott, L & Wall, K (Eds) ‘The Theory and Practice of Voice in Early Childhood: An International Exploration’, 1^st ed, Routledge, Chapter 8.