Research Institute for Social Sciences

Social work research has a long history at Keele and social work staff have made a significant contribution to the favourable ratings received at each of the previous Research Assessment Exercises   Social work staff have been involved in a number of important innovations in both research topics and research methodologies. Members of the team have published widely and regularly present their work at international and national conferences. They have been visiting researchers at universities in Australia, Canada, Finland, Romania and the USA, and maintain strong links with overseas researchers who in turn visit Keele and provide occasional lectures and workshops to the social work programmes.  Keele University also offer a Professional Doctorate in Social Work.

Facilities

Keele social work staff are extensively involved in national and international editorial panels, and undertake research reviews for a wide range of bodies including the Department of Health, The Social Care Institute for Excellence, and the ESRC. They are committed to the dissemination of research and to the development of research skills and capacity among practitioners and play an active role in the Making Research Count initiative (locally and nationally).

Research staff and students

The Social Work Research Group coordinates the activities of the staff group whose interests include the following topics: social work with older people; ageing and social relationships; participatory research; children's rights and advocacy; institutional care and child development; race and ethnicity in welfare policy and practice; minority language policy and provision; rural social work; values and ethics; and social work education. 

• Ageing and social relationships
• Children's rights and advocacy
• Evaluating health and social care
• Institutional care and child development
• Minority language policy and provision
• Race and ethnicity in welfare policy and practice
• Rural social work
• Social work education
• Social work with older people
• Values and ethics