Brenda Brown

Before joining Buckinghamshire New University in 2013, I was a practicing social worker with a brief experience of working in mental health and almost twenty years of practice in children and families. I was also a head of service in children and families, leading the learning and development of the directorate, throughout all levels including the senior management team. I have also had the opportunity to work independently as a trainer and lecturer, working with a range of London universities, local authorities and independent care providers for seven years.

I studied at Middlesex University and Kingston University. My specialist area of research has been adult learners and my interests are sociology, safeguarding and leadership and management. It is interesting because these areas of study are essential to both social work and safeguarding, helping us to see the world from the perspectives of others as well as understanding ‘otherness’ in UK society. Leadership for social work and safeguarding is an under-researched area, yet without acknowledging the gaps that exist and understanding the importance of the current frameworks and influences on our practice, we are permanently exposing people across the lifespan in need of protection at higher levels of risk, despite the introduction of newer models of risk management.

I am a member of Social Work England and BASW.

My specialist knowledge has led me to work on various projects at the pilot stages and present findings at conferences over the years.

My career highlights include the appointment as the first chair of a joint (BA/MSc) practice panel at Kingston University; leading systemic training in a local authority in the first pilots of multi-professional team practice in children and families sectors, evaluated by LSE; facilitating the early ASYE programmes and leading the first ASYE programme in a voluntary sector organisation; leading on training for implementing the Care Act 2014 in local authorities and independent care provisions.

• Senior Lecturer