Dr Joanne Smith

Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care Jo is a Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care, teaching on the BA (Hons) Health and Social Care degree that she has been involved in developing. She has taught predominantly on social work and health and social care courses, as well as other undergraduate and postgraduate courses, for many years at a variety of UK universities, including University of Manchester, Plymouth University and Nottingham Trent University before joining Bishop Grosseteste University in the summer of 2015. Prior to becoming an academic she worked as a social worker in the drug and mental health field in both voluntary and statutory settings, working with people with dual diagnosis, as well as other difficulties such as HIV. Jo’s MA and PhD research focused on criminal records and their relevance in terms of employment as social workers, and the decision-making regarding risk to service users. This area of research is ongoing. Academic Teaching Jo has taught social work at BA and MA levels at different universities, and been the course leader for a social work degree. She has also taught Health and Social Care at two other universities, and taught on other degrees such a Doctor in Clinical Psychology, MA and BA Criminology and MA Human Givens.

Jo has worked in the field of drug use, incorporating mental health, HIV and alcohol, in a variety of settings such as outreach, community rehabilitation, voluntary sector and a health trust. Before qualifying as a social worker Jo worked in residential care and undertook a variety of voluntary work such as with young people, children and a women’s refuge.

Jo’s research has focused on decision-making processes when considering the appointment of an individual with a criminal record. The PhD interviewed all Social Services Departments in England and Wales to ascertain how decisions were made when social work applicants had criminal records. This area is being developed further looking at how universities use criminal record information they receive about student applicants.