By Colin Diamond CBE, Professor of Education Leadership School of Education, University of Birmingham “Common sense tells us that maintaining a socially distanced classroom with five and six year olds is all but impossible.” So what do we know now in the light of the latest news on easing the lockdown? Primary schools in England … Continue reading “Re-opening English Primary Schools Safely from 1st June: mission impossible?”
Author: Guest Blogger
How can parents help autistic children to reduce anxiety during isolation?
By Professor Karen Guldberg, Director of the Autism Centre for Education and Research (ACER) School of Education, University of Birmingham “In this new reality, it is crucial to find ways to support autistic children to reduce their anxiety. Without making this a priority, learning will be seriously compromised and mental health will suffer.” Originally posted … Continue reading “How can parents help autistic children to reduce anxiety during isolation?”
Social Work Leadership – New Decade, New Agenda
By Simon Haworth, Professor Robin Miller and Dr Jason Schaub School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham We often hear of social work’s mistakes, crises and failings. It is therefore easy to forget its strengths and examples of good, even great, practice. Leadership, or certainly lack of it, can be at the heart of the … Continue reading “Social Work Leadership – New Decade, New Agenda”
The automated face of government
By Professor Peter Hupe, Honorary Senior Research Fellow School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham Information technologies have changed many of the daily encounters between individual citizens and government. Such changes vary from ways in which, in some countries, income tax is collected, to day-to-day operational work processes. Digital tax collection In the Netherlands, for … Continue reading “The automated face of government”
How can we beat Blue Monday?
By Maureen Smojkis, Lecturer in Mental Health Department of Social Work and Social Care, University of Birmingham A combination of post-Christmas blues, cold dark nights and the arrival of unpaid credit card bills have contributed to the third Monday in January being awarded the title of Blue Monday – so what can we do to tackle the … Continue reading “How can we beat Blue Monday?”
Do you think that Eyewitness Testimony is Reliable?
By Laura Stevens, MSc Psychology Student and Research Assistant for the Applied Memory Lab University of Birmingham “Eyewitness testimony is unreliable!” “Aren’t lots of people falsely convicted on the basis of eyewitness testimony?” “Eyewitness testimony should not be trusted!” As memory researchers, these are comments that we encounter all of the time. Many people believe … Continue reading “Do you think that Eyewitness Testimony is Reliable?”
Mental Health Awareness Week: address your stress
By Maureen Smojkis, Lecturer in Mental Health Department of Social Work and Social Care, University of Birmingham Mental Health Awareness Week (14-20 May 2018) is co-ordinated by the Mental Health Foundation to tackle the stigma that is often associated with mental health conditions. Mental health is a topic that has become more visible over the past decade, … Continue reading “Mental Health Awareness Week: address your stress”
A remarkable life: The longevity of the National Assistance Act
By Allan Norman, Associate Lecturer in Social Work Law, University of Birmingham Social Worker, Non-practising solicitor “The existing poor law shall cease to have effect.” With these opening words, the National Assistance Act 1948 dramatically brought about the end of an era, sweeping away the last vestiges of a Victorian scheme that had held on … Continue reading “A remarkable life: The longevity of the National Assistance Act”
The National Assistance Act 70 years on – Lessons for the social care green paper
By Catherine Needham, Professor of Public Policy and Public Management Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham As the weight of expectations builds on the forthcoming social care green paper, it is timely that this week is the 70th anniversary of the National Assistance Act 1948 which created social services in their current form. The … Continue reading “The National Assistance Act 70 years on – Lessons for the social care green paper”
The gender pay gap is linked to broader wage inequality – and both require urgent action
By Karen Rowlingson, Professor of Social Policy Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology, University of Birmingham According to data from the recent gender pay-gap reporting exercise almost eight out of 10 companies and public-sector bodies in the UK pay men more than women, with women being paid a median hourly rate in 2017 that … Continue reading “The gender pay gap is linked to broader wage inequality – and both require urgent action”