Profile

Michael Preston-Shoot, Professor of Social Work

I was appointed Professor of Social Work in May 2003. I was Head of the Department of Applied Social Studies from 2003 until 2005.

In November 2005 I was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences.

I was particularly attracted to the department by the research standing of staff there, and to the University by its commitment to teaching quality and accessibility for people to higher education.

Previously I have held academic posts at the University of Manchester (1988-1995) and at Liverpool John Moores University (1995-2003).

I hold a social work qualification. Between 1976 and 1988 I practised as a social worker, group worker, mental health specialist and team manager in several social services departments and voluntary organisations.

I also hold a postgraduate qualification in psychotherapy and have practised in two family therapy and research centres and also for a while in private practice.

I continue to find the combination of systemic and psychodynamic theories and methods useful when working with individuals, families, groups and organisations.

Publications

Up to the end of April 2007 I have written or co-authored 11 books, 20 book chapters and 54 academic journal articles, together with numerous professional journal papers and research reports.

I have co-edited 5 books and contributed to curriculum guidance for the teaching and assessment of law in social work education.

Indeed, much of my writing has focused around law and professional practice.

I obtained my PhD in 2003 for my work on social work law for which I have obtained national and international standing and recognition.

Additionally, I have written books and articles on intervention methods, such as group work and family therapy, and on the outcomes of services for different client groups.

Research

Since becoming an academic I have secured research grants in excess of £690,000.

My research work has principally fallen into three main areas, namely:

• Mapping the needs of different client groups involved with health and social services, particularly older people and children in need;
• The interface between law and professional practice, for example young people looked after by local authorities, the protection of adults from abuse in domestic settings, and the knowledge and skills required by social workers and other professionals for practising social work law;
• The effectiveness of social services and other agencies in meeting need, and the satisfaction of clients and carers with service provision, specifically disabled adults, older people, disabled children and their parents, and people with mental distress.

I have recently been working on four projects. The first is evaluating provision for looked after children in residential care in one authority, including researching the outcomes for looked after children.

The second is mapping for two local authorities the needs of different client groups accessing services under the Supporting People programme.

The third is a knowledge review for the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) on teaching, learning and assessing law in social work education. This subsequently led to the production of a resource guide, also published by SCIE, and the development of e-learning modules on law and social work practice, which are now available online through the SCIE web site.

The fourth is an evaluation of service provision for one pilot site for the Partnerships for Older People Projects initiative, funded by the Department of Health. This research will include mapping the needs of older people, researching the outcomes of new services for older people with dementia and their carers, and evaluating the impact of training on care provided for older people with dementia.

Editing/Reviewing

I was Editor of Social Work Education between 1993 and 2006. Now published by Taylor and Francis, Social Work Education is the leading international journal in its field.

Between 2003 and 2007 I was Managing Editor of the European Journal of Social Work, which is also published by Taylor and Francis.

I am a Founding Editor of the journal Ethics and Social Welfare. I also act as an adviser and/or reviewer for several other academic journals and publishers.

Other Activities

I have been very active nationally in the development of the new social work degree, having been a member of a Department of Health project group responsible for the development of the curriculum and its regulatory framework.

Since January 2005 I have been Chair of JUC/SWEC, which represents the views of higher education institutions offering social work programmes, having previously been Vice-Chair and also Chair of its teaching and learning sub-committee.

I am an elected Academician of the Academy of Learned Societies for the Social Sciences (AcSS), have been a teaching quality assessor for the Quality Assurance Agency, and am in regular demand in the higher education sector as an External Examiner.

In 2005 I was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship by the Higher Education Academy. I am using the grant from this fellowship to research the outcomes and effectiveness of different methods of teaching law to social workers and other non-lawyers.

I enjoy most aspects of academic life but especially contact with students and with social work practitioners, whether through teaching, research or consultancy. My motivation remains being able to contribute to their professional development and practice.

My first degree was in History and, when not at work, I can still be found visiting and enthusing about all things mediaeval.

I am particularly keen on visiting mediaeval churches and villages. I am also a regular visitor to Greece and to France, with ambitions to improve my command of the Greek and French languages. I also enjoy hill walking, golf and good restaurants.

Contact Details

Michael Preston-Shoot
Professor of Social Work
Dean of Faculty of Health and Social Sciences
University of Bedfordshire
Luton campus
Luton
LU1 3JU
UK

T: +44(0)1582 743251