Social Work: Real Stories, Real Impact – Understanding Disability through Creative Social Work led by Rachel Gearing from University of Portsmouth
June 24 @ 14:15 - 15:00
In this interactive Social Work event with University of Portsmouth, we will explore how storytelling can be used with individuals who may be facing challenges, difficulties, or worries, to ensure their voice is genuinely heard.
Rachel Gearing, Senior Teaching Fellow in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science at University of Portsmouth, will be joined by current social work students, who will be showcasing anonymised creative measures they have used either in placement or in collaboration with our Experts‑by‑Experience Group. These examples explore issues such as disability‑related barriers, communication challenges, and the complexities of professional relationships, helping to illustrate how storytelling can deepen understanding of lived experience.
You will discover how hearing someone’s story with genuine attentiveness leads to stronger relationships, safer decision‑making, and more compassionate and inclusive social work practice.
And, throughout, we will relate these methods to the essential interpersonal and reflective skills which underpin professional social work practice in England, via the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF).
Join us to find out what it really takes to become a social worker, to communicate with clarity and compassion, and respond thoughtfully to the diverse needs and contexts of vulnerable individuals.
Lecturer Profile: Rachel Gearing
Our events are designed so that a group of students can take part from a classroom or students and teachers can take part as individuals, either from school or from home. There is no charge to take part.
As a live, participative event, this session will not be recorded but slides and other resources will be shared after the event, where available.
Suitable for: Aged 16+ pre-university students studying, or thinking about studying, Social Work, Health and Social Care, Sociology and related subjects. Student groups as well as students and teachers joining individually are very welcome.
Preparation/Pre-Reading: Students may wish to consider the topic in advance and questions they have. Students can also think about questions about studying at university level.
The IT Setup: The event will be run on Zoom and participants will be able to join using laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. If you are joining as a school group, we recommend connecting with one device and projecting on to a whiteboard. You will be able to interact with the speaker via typed comments and questions and/or via a microphone. Full details will be sent to those who have registered (see below) prior to the event.
Booking a Place: This is free for schools and colleges. If you would like to take part in this event, please register your interest using the link to the registration form below: