Head of School

My role as Head of the School of Society, Community and Health affords me the opportunity to lead a talented pool of Allied Health, Public Health and Social Work academics to drive forward the fulfilment of the University strategy for student success and inclusivity in teaching and learning. I am committed to ensuring that our students have a positive learning experience and that they develop the skills and knowledge required to become the best qualified Health and Social Work Professionals, able to make an impact to better the lives of those they provide a service to.

I promote relational pedagogy in the School so that staff and students develop solid professional working relationships within which the student voice is crucial to all we do. I am dedicated to actively promoting anti racist practice and cultivating a culture of inclusion and belonging for all students and staff.

I am a qualified social worker and practice educator with extensive practice experience in child care social work and child protection. I also have substantial practice and senior managerial experience as an Assistant Director in the field of foster care and working with children in the public care system. I am a registrant of Social Work England.

I joined the University of Bedfordshire in 2008 (having previously worked at the former Luton University between 1995 and 2001) and have undertaken various roles during my employment including Senior Lecturer in Social Work, Course Leader for BA in Child and Adolescent Students, Course Leader for Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work (Step Up to Social Work fast track course), Principal Lecturer and Portfolio Lead for Social Work, Lead for the Faculty Inclusivity Project. I became Head of the School of Society Community and Health in 2021.

I am a Head of School who combines Departmental Strategic Leadership with some hands on teaching to foster direct engagement with students. I therefore continue to contribute to teaching students whenever I can. I have built a solid reputation for creative and innovative teaching sessions that bring the realities of practice into the classroom. I encourage and guide my staff to ensure that lectures and workshops delivered to students are interesting, informative, participatory and underpinned by current day practice, social issues and research.

My relationship based approach to leadership, combined with my experience as a social worker and manager, enriches my Head of School role at the University and informs my practice whether teaching students, line managing staff or working with external stakeholders.

Other References

• LinkedIn

Qualifications

• Professional Doctorate in Leadership in Children and Young People’s Services – University of Bedfordshire
• Senior Fellow of the Advanced Education Academy
• MA Interprofessional Social Work Practice - University of Luton
• BA Honours Sociology - Birmingham City University
• Advanced Award in Social Work - University of Luton Partnership Consortium
• Practice Teaching Award - CCETSW
• Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW) - CCETSW
• NVQ 4 Management Studies - FCA consortium
• D.32 Assessor Award City and Guilds - Dunstable College
• D.33 Assessor Award City and Guilds - Dunstable College

Teaching Expertise

• Child Protection and Safeguarding
• Direct Work with Children and Young People
• Child and Family Social Work Interventions
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity
• Social Work Legislation
• Human Rights and Equality Law
• Reflective Practice
• Supervision in Practice

Research Interests

• Foster Care and the Role of the Supervising Social Worker
• Use of Drama in teaching and promoting Anti Racist Practice
• Child and Family social work

Projects

• Consultant for Faculty Inclusivity Project
• University Lead for Keech Hospice and the School of Society Community and Health Collaborative Working Project
• Lead for Faculty Reverse Mentoring Project

External Roles

• External Examiner at Goldsmiths University (Sept 2018 to Sept 2023)
• External Examiner at University of East Anglia (Sept 23 to date)
• Foster Care Panel Member
• Peer Reviewer for The Journal of Social Work Education and The Journal of Fostering and Adoption
• Expert Witness and Consultant in Child Care Safeguarding and Foster Carer
• Associate Consultant for Research in Practice
• Membership of JUCSWEC Teaching and Learning Committee
• Membership of Regional Anti Racism and Social Work Placement Working Group
• Consultancy - Foster Care Practice Issues and Child and Family Social Work

Most Recent Publications

• Burroughs L (2024) Life Beyond Care (Forthcoming) in Okitikpi T (2024) Social Work with Children: The Importance of Education and Life Skills Groups: chapter 12. Russell House
• Burroughs L (2023) The Basics of Communication For Social Workers in Okitikpi, T (2023) The Art of Social Work Practice page 77 : Russell House
• Burroughs L & Muzuva B (2021): Decrypting cultural nuances: using drama techniques from the theatre of the oppressed to strengthen cross cultural communication in social work students in Tedam P (2021) Social Work with Minority Groups: Routledge
• Burroughs, L & Muzuva, B (2019) Decrypting cultural nuances: using drama techniques from the theatre of the oppressed to strengthen cross cultural communication in social work students, Social Work Education Volume 38, 2019 - Issue 5: Social Work Education with Minority Groups

Contact Details

E: lana.burroughs@beds.ac.uk