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Universities in Northern Ireland
have a dual role in relation to
social work research. They provide
teaching and education to students,
practitioners and managers at
qualifying and post - qualifying
levels. This helps to develop a
culture of informed research
mindedness and critical enquiry.
Academic researchers undertake
research across a range of topics
and issues, often in partnership
with social work and social care
organisations in Northern Ireland.
An additional strength is that all
of the academic staff are social
work practitioners which continues
to inform much of the research
undertaken.
To meet the Social Care Council
requirements, all academic staff
in Social Work Departments are
required to hold a recognised social
work qualification, comply with
registration requirements and have
at least three years professional
in practice experience (two years
post qualifying experience following
successful completion of Assessed
Year in Practice (AYE) or equivalent.
All academic staff that supervise
or provide personal tutoring must
be on the Social Care Council's
social work register. Assessment
of assignments on qualifying
programmes must include at least
one person who is a registered
social worker.
These strengths help to ensure that
academic social work (both teaching
and research) are firmly rooted in
practice issues which they critically
appraise using relevant research
methodologies underpinned by
sound and necessary theoretical
knowledge.
Both Ulster University and Queen's
University have a long tradition of
supporting research and research -
related activity often in response to
the interests and expertise of social
work staff and other colleagues
but also in responses to the needs
of the service in a broad range
of areas, relevant to social work
and social care: mental health;
workforce resilience; disability; child
care and safeguarding; adult care
and safeguarding and criminal
justice. Several research clusters are
already in place aimed at getting
research evidence into practice.