The Olive Stevenson Memorial Lecture 2019 will invite professionals to consider the impact of the financial austerity agenda in the UK on contemporary social work practice and explore how reflective and relationship-based approaches can counter the risk of an expansion of relational austerity.

Gillian Ruch is Professor of Social Work in the Department of Social Work and Social Care at the University of Sussex. She teaches and researches in the areas of child care social work and relationship-based and reflective practice and is committed to enhancing the wellbeing of children, families and practitioners. Her particular interests are in promoting psycho-social research methods and reflective forums that facilitate relationship-based practice. Gillian’s research includes an ESRC funded four UK nations project exploring how social workers communicate with children –http://www.talkingandlisteningtochildren.co.uk/ – and an ESRC Knowledge Exchange Project introducing a cognitive and affective supervisory approach to child and family social workers. Gillian has co-edited, with Danielle Turney and Adrian Ward, Relationship-based Social Work: Getting to the Heart of Practice. Gillian’s most recent publication Relationship-Based Research in Social Work: Understanding Practice Research, is co-edited with Ilse Julkunen from the University of Helsinki.

This lecture will take place on Wednesday 3 April, 5-6.30 in B62 Law and Social Sciences, University Park Campus. Light refreshments will be served prior to the lecture from 4.30-5.00pm.

This event is free to attend and all are welcome. Booking is required, please visit the event page.