Research Profile

BIOGRAPHY

It is the responsibility of the Fieldwork Co-ordinator to access, make contact with, secure and finalise all placements for students on the BSW and MSW courses. Students have to complete two placements and have passed both. Placements take place in a variety of settings. There are student units in the HSE Southern Area and HSE Midland Area and Brothers of Charity, Lota. Other placements occur in the areas of disability, hospitals, family centres and Probation Services. Whenever possible, a student will be offered at least one statutory placement. All the above placement sites are supervised by a qualified social worker, who has at least two years post qualifying experience. An innovative development during the past four years has been the introduction of Peripatetic Practice Teaching to the course. This has meant that students can be placed in an agency where a suitably qualified practice teacher is not available. Students in these settings receive their formal supervision on a weekly basis from an experienced social work practitioner who is directly employed by UCC. This has allowed the BSW and MSW to expand the range of agency settings available for placements. Practice placements are the core location for students to develop and integrate knowledge, values and skills. Placements have been found in various locations around Ireland, from Cork to Donegal, Galway to Dundalk, as well as the Midland Area HSE. Some students like to go abroad for placements. These have been located in the past in Scotland, Chicago, Cape Town and India. Most students, if they opt to go abroad, tend to do so in their second placement. Each placement is of fourteen weeks duration. The actual placement location that students request cannot be guaranteed, and the highest demand is always for placements in and around Cork City and County.

Research Interests

Ruth has a background of Social Work in Adoption in Cork for sixteen years approx. (St. Anne’s Adoption Society). Particular interest in the area of domestic adoption and related issues. Some research done in Search and Reunion in Adoption in the Cork area. Interested in the Area of Crisis Pregnancy

Professional Activities

Committees

 CommitteeFunctionFrom / To
CURA Cork Cura Cork had traditionally a social worker on their management committee. In order to maintain the social work link, I was invited onto this management committee.2004 / 1899
Parent's Association of Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh, Bishopstown, Cork. Chairperson.2005 / 1899
Social Work Development Unit (SWDU) Committee Member2005 / 1899
Practice Unit The Practice Unit discusses professional practice issues in social work placements.2004 / 1899
Practice Advisory Board(PAB) Member of the PAB, an initiative set by Ms. Carmel Halton with a view to forging more formal links between the Dept. Applied Social Studies and Social Work Personnel nationally. The main objective of the Board is to promote discussion and consultation between the two groups on matters pertaining to social worke education and professional development.2004 / 1899

Other Activities

 Description

Since 2003, I have been instrumental in organising 'call-in' days for practice teachers in advance of them receiving a social work student on placement. The days involve preparing the practice teachers for their student and educating them on their role and expectation as practice teachers.

This conference is aimed at potential social work practice teachers within the Cork and Kerry region.

Contact details

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School of Applied Social Studies

Staidéar Sóisialta Feidhmeach

William Thompson House, Donovan's Road, Cork, Ireland.,

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