Martin Webber's blog – Musings of a social work academic

Teaching students to use motivational interviewing in their practice works!

Using motivational interviewing in students’ practice learning

18th August 202318th August 2023Blog, Mental health social work, Social work education, Think Ahead

When I developed the curriculum for the Think Ahead programme, I aimed to provide training for students which they could use directly in their practice. We selected a range of interventions which had some evidence

Investment is needed to resolve recruitment and retention crisis in social care and social work, not more cuts.

Social care funding promises slashed

5th April 20235th April 2023Adult social care, Blog, Recruitment, Retention

Yesterday it emerged that a Government funding pledge of £500m to boost the social care workforce is being slashed in half. Following years of chronic under-funding for adult social care, this underlines its low priority

A cross-Government social work task force led by the Office of the Chief Social Worker is needed to implement an ambitious programme of reform to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis in social work.

Social work recruitment and retention: tackling the crisis

28th February 202327th February 2023Blog, Recruitment, Retention, Social work education, Social work practice

There is a recruitment and retention crisis in social work in England. Vacancy and turnover rates are up, and most people do not stay in local authority social work for longer than 5 years. Government

man wearing black adidas jacket sitting on chair near another man wearing blue jacket

Systematic review of service user and carer involvement in social work education finds positive classroom experiences

Using lived experience in social work education

23rd June 202223rd June 2022Blog, Co-production, Learning and teaching, Social work education

Service user and carer involvement in social work education is well established in the UK and many other countries. The value of lived experience in informing social work programmes is indisputable. However, research on the

Here’s an opportunity for a social work researcher or academic to join the Social Work Research Podcast working group

Want a go at podcasting?

22nd June 202222nd June 2022Blog, Podcast, Social work research

The Social Work Research Podcast has been going for over a year and has grown a strong following among social work students, practitioners and researchers. It was set up to help bring social work research

Toolkit to assist reflections on the Social Work Research Podcast for continuing professional development

Using podcasts for continuing professional development

19th May 202227th September 2023Blog, Podcast, Social work research

Podcasts are becoming an increasingly popular source of learning for social workers. Either for continuing professional development (CPD) or just a bit of fun, the format provides a flexible and accessible way to engage with

Please take part in our survey of community wellbeing in Greater Manchester

Community wellbeing in Greater Manchester

6th May 20221st February 2023Blog, Social prescribing, Social work research

As part of a feasibility study of community-enhanced social prescribing, we are conducting a survey of community wellbeing in Greater Manchester. We are inviting residents of Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Wigan and the

We’re starting a new project evaluating supported volunteering at the Ripon Museum Trust.

Supporting volunteering at the Ripon Museums

31st March 202231st March 2022Blog, International Centre for Mental Health Social Research, Mental health research, Ripon Musuem Trust

A unique collaboration between the International Centre for Mental Health Social Research (ICMHSR) at the University of York and the Ripon Museum Trust (RMT) is starting to collect data for an evaluation of supported volunteering