We’re not sure about the evolution of Social Work Reality. It started over lunch with each other; Debbie nearly at the end of her academic career, and Kheya, an ex-student who was just beginning hers. Over the last year and a half, we’ve been planning, plotting, and working out the best way to present our ideas. Together we realised we had a lot to give to social work communities of practice.
Kheya is completing a Master’s in Social Work and works with adults in a community team. Debbie's just retired after well over forty years in my social work and academic career, working mainly in child protection, but also as a Practice Educator across all disciplines. We don’t know where this journey together will take us. We have lots of plans; now we just have to put them into action.
Debbie considers herself a writer and is currently authoring a book about her other social work passion: how we use ourselves in our profession. She has a separate website, the self-academy, where you can learn more about her consultation work.
Kheya is passionate about culture. Her idea for cultural connections will culminate in a closer look at how we work with and respect diverse cultures by understanding one another and attuning for practice that is ethical, sensitive and respectful.
As a critical theorist and feminist, Debbie argues a great deal about a social work self that is analytical and small ‘p’ political. The book she is writing is about the use of self in professional practice and will be published next year.
Together, we also plan to interview people who access services, professionals, lived-experience experts, and academics with diverse experiences in social work professionalism. We have lots of plans, and we’re not sure where this is taking us. But we’re very excited to find out. Please join us in our journey.
Member discussion: