Paula Beesley - Developing Your Communication Skills in Social Work

Paula Beesleyis a qualified social worker with a breadth of experience from over two decades of working with a wide variety of service users. Originally a child protection social worker, she has also spent time as a freelance practice educator. She is now a senior lecturer in social work at Leeds Beckett University, where her teaching and research interests are communication, skills development and placement provision.Mary Harrisonis a registered social worker and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). She is currently a senior lecturer in social work at Leeds Beckett University. Mary qualified in 1989 and has worked as a residential worker, mental health social worker and mental health team manager. She was an approved social worker for eight years and a practice educator for over twenty years. She also worked in the voluntary sector in practice learning development. Her teaching interests include human growth and development, communication and professional skills development.Melanie Wattsis a registered social worker and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). She is currently a senior lecturer in social work at Leeds Beckett University. She has been involved in social work education for the past eleven years. Before commencing her academic career, Melanie was a social worker in the practice area of children and families and looked-after children, and she worked in the statutory sector for nine years. Her research interests are improving outcomes for children in care, therapeutic work with children and young people, and decision making in child protection practice.