Mr Sam A. Ana-Amdingo

Contact

Sam A. Ana-Amdingo
About
Teaching and learning
Research
Professional practice, knowledge exchange and impact

About

I am a Senior Lecturer with specialism in teaching & learning and practice education, including Quality Assurance of practice placements. I qualified as a Social Worker in 2008 and practised in child protection and safeguarding as a social worker, Senior Practitioner, an Independent Reviewing Officer, a Child Protection Conference Chair and a team Manager in the assessment and safeguarding teams prior to his current role. I am a qualified Practice Educator in Social Work and have been involved in Social Work education since 2017 and briefly as a visiting lecturer at Birmingham City University. 

I hold a bachelor's degree in Teacher Education & Training, a MSc Degree in Social Work, a MSc Degree in Education & Training for Development, a Postgraduate Certificate in Effective Practice in Integrated Children's Services and Certificates in social work Practice Education.

Alongside practice, I am a Fitness to Practise Adjudicator, which involves risk assessment and determination on social workers' fitness to practise where a conduct and or performance referral has been raised with Social Work England warranting investigation/adjudication. I am an Educationist and taught core science and education in basic Schools and Teacher Education respectively overseas. I was an Examiner with the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, and marked the Basic and Senior Secondary Schools Examinations for the 4 English speaking countries in West Africa.

I am a Safeguarding Adults Board member in East Sussex, participating in strategic safeguarding decision making and quality assurance regarding assessments and interventions with adults who have suffered or are likely to suffer significant harm.

I am  passionate about students' success, believe in Transformational learning and hence employ Inclusive Teaching methods and Pedagogic approaches, with pastoral care. 

My research interest is in safeguarding, education/training  and social work regulation. 

Registered with Social Work England.

Academic responsibilities

Senior Lecturer, Social Work.

Qualifications

  • MSc Social Work
  • MSc Education and Training for Development
  • Bachelor of Education, B Ed, Teacher Education
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Effective Practice in Integrated Children's and Families' Services
  • Certificates in Social Work Practice Education, stages 1&2.
  • Certificate in Motivational Interviewing and Brief Solution-Focused Therapy.
  • Certificate in Chairing Safeguarding Meetings.

Teaching and learning

As an academic and professional discipline, Social work is defined by legal frameworks, underpinned by values of the profession and requires plurality of knowledge bases comprising  theoretical, factual and practice knowledge. As a result of this, teaching and learning have been integral parts of my practice in the areas of team management, supervision, quality assurance, safeguarding and practice education.

In particular, as a team manager, staff development is a key responsibility that  I have been promoting through supervision, staff appraisals and  Continuing Professional Development, CPD, discussions.

In the academic sector, I have been contributing in teaching and learning in my roles as a practice supervisor and educator. 

Following my initial qualifications in Social Work, I have undertaken relevant professional trainings and qualifications as detailed above and hence been participating in teaching and learning over the years. For instance, I have been participating in training for practice educators in which I shared knowledge and skills with colleagues. 

As a result of the above, I have developed knowledge of the legal frameworks underpinning Social Work education and practice, theories and policies and communication in safeguarding. My expertise is summarised below. 

Expertise;

Child protection and safeguarding

Team Management, leadership and supervision 

Child and family needs assessments 

Parenting and risk assessment 

Chairing safeguarding meetings & Decision making. 

Communication in safeguarding 

Professional curiosity and Motivational Interviewing 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in safeguarding 

Social Work practice education, student supervision, observation and pastoral support

Social Work regulation, fitness to practise adjudication 

Multi-agency working and collaboration in safeguarding practice

Inclusive teaching & learning and transformational education

Educational development, planning and quality assurance. 

Undergraduate courses taught

Research

My research interests are in Social Work regulation, fitness to practise, safeguarding and professional education with reference to Social Work. 

Professional practice, knowledge exchange and impact

Professional and scholarly affiliations

  • The British Association of Social Workers, BASW, a member.
  • The BASW Equality Diversity and Inclusion, EDI, advisory group, participant.
  • The National Association of Independent Reviewing Officers, member
  • The Responsible Individual for Children's Homes in England, group member.