Death of university Social Work Professor

A former University of York Professor, Kay Jones, died on 13 October 2010. Professor Jones was the founding Head of the Department of Social Policy and Social Work and spent 22 years in charge of the Department.

She was a leading figure in establishing social policy as an academic subject and fought to defend it during the Thatcher years.

Her research was mainly focused on social minority groups, especially the mentally ill, and she has written various books, including ‘The Making of Social Policy in Britain’, which covers the last 170 years. The Department of Social Policy and Social Work said it was “very sad to announce the death”.