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Students help Colombian communities move on from violent past

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Posted on September 12, 2014 by nhobby

Five students from Bournemouth University (BU) have just completed four-week internships in Medellin, Colombia to volunteer with families and communities hoping to change perceptions of their country.

The BA Social Work students had the opportunity to complete their work placements in a kindergarten or an elderly person support centre. The kindergarten offers free placement for children under six, enabling them to give support and advice to families and communities who want to free themselves from the violent troubles of their past. The students were also able to work for Fundicol, a housing and support facility that helps elderly people that may have been abandoned or can no longer live alone.

The group was made up of first and second year BU students Karen Sampson, Gemma Chiverton, Georgia Foy, Cassie Dando and Michelle Lillywhite who were guided by the local Colombian social workers during their trip. One student, Karen Sampson said “We were told more don’ts than do’s. The warning of safety issues and possible hostility to tourists by local ‘guerrillas’ could not have been further from the truth.”

As well as the local social workers, the students received support from a local university as well to help them bridge the language gap. This allowed them to explore how organisations were coming together to overcome their historic issues. Sampson continued, “We were asked if it was safe and actually yes it was; as safe as anywhere here in the UK. It was suggested that we did not venture into certain areas alone at night but that is not dissimilar to some areas within the UK.”

The students were able to fund their trip thanks to the BU Global Horizon Fund, securing them £1,500 each to go towards their visit. Michelle Lillywhite said, “The whole experience was amazing and we need to bring back the message from Colombia that asking for help is a positive move and does not mean people are weak or to be shunned. Families and individuals should be celebrated for understanding when support can make all the difference to empower themselves to be more independent.”

Jill Davey, a Social Work lecturer at BU, commented, “This was a great opportunity for our students to be exposed to the social work profession in different countries; to see the issues and care solutions in rural communities is a once in a life time opportunity. Our Social Work curriculum is centred around globalisation of the profession, but for these students to see it first hand and then share their experiences will be a great learning experience for other students too.”

By Charlotte Cranny-Evans

Charlotte is a graduate of Budmouth College in Weymouth, who is working at Bournemouth University in the Press and PR Department. She joined BU on a Sir Samuel Mico Scholarship, which provides 10 students from the college with work experience for four weeks over the summer.

Social work students and lecturers at international Socnet98 event

Posted on April 14, 2014 by ematthews

Students and lecturers from the BA (Hons) Social Work degree travelled to Austria for an annual conference, looking at social work from an international perspective.

Eight students from their first and second year of study in BA Social Work, plus two BU lecturers, travelled to Linz in Austria to take part in the Socnet98 annual conference.

The conference has been running since 1998, and a European network of universities meet to discuss themes relating to Social Work from an international perspective, with students and lecturers invited to deliver seminars about either research their own university is involved or an issue which is important.

Taking place at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, the theme for this year was about Intercultural Competencies. Seminars and lectures were delivered by ten different nationalities (all in English) covering topics such as Working with Volunteers, Kinship Care, Developing Multicultural sensitivity and many more.

Included in the programme was the opportunity to create international networks between students, visit local charities and organisations working with people in the city of Linz and time to enjoy the city itself.

The World Café was a student-led afternoon where each university displayed information about what it had to offer, both regionally and internationally, plus local delicacies were shared with international friends. Bournemouth bought along the famous seaside rock, which was enjoyed by everyone.

The whole event was declared a great success by the head of the organising committee, Dagmar Strohmeier, and everyone was encouraged to attend next year.Next year’s venue is yet to be organised.

Child Protection conference celebrates and shares good practice in social work

Posted on July 2, 2013 by ematthews

The National Centre for Post-Qualifying Social Work (NCPQSW), based at Bournemouth University, held its first child protection conference, celebrating the good work done by social workers in the field.

The Child Protection in a time of Austerity conference took place at BU at the end of June and was attended by social workers, managers and directors from across the South of England.

The day-long conference featured eminent speakers from the field of social work and child protection and focused on issues including the role of supervision, critical reflection and reflective leadership.

There were also panel question and answer sessions and a showing of a film by sisters Zoe and Jenna Grove, who had been through the care system as children.

Professor Keith Brown, Director of the NCPQSW, said: “We’ve got a number of eminent speakers, looking at supervision, child protection and working with children and families.

“We just wanted to celebrate good social work practice.

“We hear so many comments in the media at the moment about problems in society, issues with children and children’s deaths, and we sometimes forget to reflect on all the really good practice that goes on and the way actually social workers make a real difference in our society.”

The NCPQSW provides education, training and continued professional development opportunities for social workers who have already qualified.

Speakers at the Child Protection conference included Siobhan Maclean, an independent trainer and consultant who works with the Independent Federation of Social Workers.

Siobhan, who talked about critically reflective practice in social work, said that the NSPQW had already gained a strong reputation nationwide.

“I think the National Centre’s really important. I’m from the West Midlands region, and even in the Midlands, people are very aware of the Centre and the importance of it.

“A lot of practitioners there look to the Centre for further development and publications, so it’s got a good reputation that goes a long way as a national centre.”

Other speakers included Gillian Ruch, a senior social work lecturer at the University of Southampton, and Nushra Mansuri, from the British Association of Social Workers.

Jane Wonnacott, Director of In-Trac Training and Consultancy, spoke about the need for effective supervision in social work.

She said: “Supervision is something that I feel is absolutely fundamental to good childcare practice and good social work practice generally, so it felt very important to come and be able to share some ideas.

“It’s very important I think to have the opportunity to be able to continue your professional development, but also the opportunity to do that outside your own work environment and have your ideas challenged.”

Alongside the talks, there were panel question and answer sessions and a showing of a film by sisters Zoe and Jenna Grove, who had been through the care system as children.

The conference also featured an interactive room, with presentations and stalls on social work research, literature and courses.

Professor Brown said that he hoped attendees would take a number of things away from the conference.

“I hope they will think it’s really good to be involved with the National Centre and take part in the events,” he said.

“I would like them to think and reflect on the great work they are doing in social work and think about maybe how they could work with us differently, work in a new partnership or come away and do some more work with us.”

You can find out more about the National Centre for Post-Qualifying Social Work at www.nspqsw.com.

Students and academics from across Europe visit BU for international social work conference

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Posted on April 18, 2013 by ematthews

Students and academics from across Europe visited Bournemouth University for a week of events centred around social work and diversity.

It is the first time BU has held the International Social Work Week, organised for students and staff of universities in the SOCNET network.

Around 50 academics and students in social work, sociology and law visited BU for the week, from universities in places including Austria, Germany, The Netherlands and Spain.

Dr Sara Ashencaen Crabtree, Head of Sociology at BU, helped to organise the week.

She said: “It helps the staff gain international connections, and because you are part of a network it helps give students the opportunities to go abroad to other universities as well.

“It means that you are part of a community rather than an individual institution.”

She added: “We are creating these research networks and links, which are really important.

“There are very different approaches to social work in Europe. We learn from them as much as they learn from us.”

The event is held every year at different universities who are part of the network, with each week having a different theme.

This year’s theme was around diversity, with talks and workshops on issues including discrimination and cohesion, marginalised groups and social work approaches.

But there was also chance for the visitors to explore Bournemouth and the surrounding area, with excursions to Stonehenge and the Jurassic Coast and a visit to the Mayor of Bournemouth’s Parlour.

Student Franziska Lasche, from Hochschule Bremen University in Germany, said she had enjoyed her time in Bournemouth.

“It’s the first time I have been to Bournemouth, and I have really enjoyed it,” she said.

“It’s good to get to know people and exchange our experiences and ideas. It’s useful to have a network of people from all across Europe.”

Jill Davey, Framework Leader for Social and Community Studies and Erasmus coordinator at BU, said the week had gone well, and they now hoped to hold the event in Bournemouth every three years.

“It has been a very successful week,” she said.

“As well as potential student exchanges and opportunities at BU, a lot of the students have expressed interest in coming across and doing programmes and further study here.

“We’ve also had lots of people saying they are going to come back to Bournemouth for a holiday, so it’s really good for the tourist trade as well.”

Maria Luisa Gomez Jimenez, from the Public Law Department at the University of Malaga, was one of the academics running workshops during the SOCNET week.

She said: “It has been wonderful, and I think it’s a really valuable thing for us and the students to meet each other and exchange perspectives, backgrounds and ways of looking at problems and seeking solutions.”