Helen Sewell

My current role is Programme Lead (Social Work England) being responsible for a suite of social work courses including BSc (Hons) Social Work, MSc Social Work, and Social Work Practice Education. Social work courses are professional courses and are subject to approval by Social Work England. I am a qualified and registered social worker with the MA in Social Work from Warwick University. I have also held the role of Associate Head (Students) within the School of Health and Care Professions and am passionate about listening to the student voice and co-production with students.

I have had a varied social work career and over 25 years experience of working mainly with children and families. I have valued working in a range of settings including statutory, voluntary, and education sectors. I have enjoyed working as a frontline practitioner as well as in management positions. As a social worker, I worked primarily with teenagers. My ongoing interests include social work with young people particularly care leavers and contemporary issues such as contextual safeguarding.

I also have significant management experience related to professional practice and service development across Children's Services. I worked at Portsmouth Local Safeguarding Partnership with workforce development responsibilities.

I am a senior teaching fellow and teach across the social work curriculum with particular expertise in safeguarding children. I am an accredited trainer in restorative practice and use relational and restorative practice in my role as a social work educator.