Sarah Wilkins

I am passionate about social work and the importance of learning from each other and the people we work with. I am interested in the notion of a 'community of practice' and how learning and experience can come together. I draw on my personal values of being anti-discriminatory and inclusive to ensure students are motivated and empowered to learn within the classroom. I aim to create a safe space where students feel respected, valued and confident to share their views, personal experiences and reflections on their practice which enables deeper learning and fosters positive relationships between students. This process can appear straight forward; however to achieve a level of 'deeper learning' we need to be open to new experiences and a willingness to make mistakes. Critical reflection and exploration of knowledge and activity is key.

‘In a nutshell: Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly'. (Wenger circa 2007)

My approach to teaching aims to provide students with space to consider problem solving, creativity and reflection as central processes. This is often through small group work and group learning activities, but also via group supervision in practice. I am keen to engage students with real social work practice scenarios and explore skill development in preparation for practice and beyond.

I am currently involved in exploring the experience and influence of practitioner vulnerability in child protection social work practice.

Courses taught

• Social Work BA (Hons)
• Social Work (Step Up) PgDip
• Graduate Diploma in Residential Work (Children's)

Recent research and consultancy

• June 2012: Consultant evaluation of a Youth Club in Newhaven, East Sussex.
• Wilkins, S., Bragg, S and Brighton and Hove City Council's Youth Service. (2013) 'Distance Travelled: researching an instrument to measure the impact of the Brighton and Hove Youth Service 1:1 Support Programme'.
• September 2016: Action Research Project: Group Supervision in Social Work Practice Learning
• June 2021: The Working with Young Men project was commissioned as a result of concern among local statutory and non-statutory services regarding the wellbeing, safety, risk and life opportunities of young men in the city.  
• June 2021–July 23 ongoing current research project: Exploring use of self in practice - what role is played by vulnerability in engagement with service users?

Publications

• Dore, I. Teverson P. and Wilkins, S. Practitioner Vulnerability in Children and Families Social Work Identity, Impact and Implications. July 2023. To be published by the British Journal of Social Work.
• N. Edmond & M. Price Eds. Integrated working with children and young people: supporting development from birth to nineteen. 2012. Sage. (2 chapters co written).