Leading social work academic to deliver UWS Morag Faulds lecture

Professor Peter Beresford OBE, who is a Professor of Social Policy and Director of the Centre for Citizen Participation at Brunel University, is delivering University of the West of Scotland’s Morag Faulds Memorial Lecture at its Paisley Campus on Thursday 19 June 2015.

Professor Beresford is Chair of Shaping Our Lives, the national disabled people’s and service users’ organisation and network. He has a longstanding involvement in issues of participation as writer, researcher, activist and educator.

One of the problems that has long faced social work is that not only is its practice devalued in the wider world, but it also does not seem to be adequately recognised within social work itself. The aim of Professor Beresford’s lecture, Social Work: Reuniting practice and leadership, is to explore this issue and how we may better challenge it in the future, especially given the frequently poor past record of social work’s leaders.

Professor Robert Pyper, Head of University of the West of Scotland’s School of Social Sciences, said: “Professor Peter Beresford is one of the country’s leading academics working in the field of social work and we are delighted that he is going to deliver our annual Morag Faulds lecture.”

The Morag Faulds Memorial Lecture was established in 2008 to commemorate an approach to social work practice and education, promoted by Morag Faulds. She was instrumental in establishing the first undergraduate social work programme in Scotland in 1975, at the then Paisley College, from which developed the University.

Morag Faulds established a legacy of excellence in practice, placing particular emphasis on the quality of student placements and setting rigorous standards which students were required to meet. Prior to establishing the social work course at the then Paisley College, Morag Faulds worked as a medical social worker in both England and Scotland, subsequently becoming the first Director of Social Work for Inverness-shire. Morag Faulds also contributed to the work of a number of organisations, including chairing Barnardo’s policy committee and undertaking the role of founding chairperson of the Scottish Child and Family Association.

Attendance at the lecture is free and tickets are being issued on a first-come, first-served basis, by calling 0141 848 3788 or visiting here.