Mr Sam Ana-Amdingo

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Sam Ana-Amdingo
About
Teaching and learning
Research
Professional practice, knowledge exchange and impact

About

I am a Senior Lecturer with specialism in teaching & learning and practice education. Thus, my role seeks to contribute to the University's objective of securing and maintaining an outstanding research informed learning, innovation and integrated academic practice. My developmental objective is research and I seek to explore Social Work regulation, fitness to practise, as part of my Education Doctorate study and engage with the Senior Fellowship award programme. 

I qualified as a Social Worker in 2008 and prior to my current role, practised in child protection and safeguarding as a social worker, Senior Practitioner, an Independent Reviewing Officer, a Child Protection Conference Chair and a team Manager in the assessment and safeguarding adolescents teams. I also had intermittent roles as a practice supervisor, practice educator and a visiting lecturer.

I am a partner to Social Work England as a Fitness to Practise Adjudicator. My role involves risk assessment and determination on Social workers' fitness to practise where conduct and performance complaints have been raised warranting investigations. I am also a lay member of East Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board.

Following my undergraduate qualification, I taught overseas and my role included teaching education, training, placing students for teaching practice and practice observation. I was also an Examiner at the West African Examinations Council, which conducts the Basic and Senior Secondary Schools examinations and awards certificates in the 4 English speaking West African countries - Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Gambia.

My career history and development stemmed from my desire to serve the needy and vulnerable in society, hence my passion in safeguarding, education/training & development. Thus, I have due regard to the Nolan's principles of public life, the Equality Act, 2010 and practise with candour. I am registered with Social Work England.

Academic responsibilities

Senior Lecturer, Social Work.

Qualifications

  • MSc Social Work
  • MSc Education and Training for Development
  • Bachelor of Education, B Ed, Teacher Education
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Effective Practice in Integrated Children and Families' Services
  • Certificate in Social Work Practice Education, stages 1&2.
  • Certificate in Motivational Interviewing and Brief Solution-Focused Therapy.

Teaching and learning

As an academic and professional discipline, Social work is defined by legal frameworks, underpinned by values of the profession and requires plurality of knowledge bases comprising  theoretical, factual and practice knowledge. As a result of this, teaching and learning have been integral parts of my practice in the areas of team management, supervision, quality assurance, safeguarding and practice education.

In particular, as a team manager, staff development is a key responsibility that  I have been promoting through supervision, staff appraisals and  Continuing Professional Development, CPD, discussions.

In the academic sector, I have been contributing in teaching and learning in my roles as a practice supervisor and educator. 

Following my initial qualifications in Social Work, I have undertaken professional trainings and qualifications as detailed above and hence been participating in teaching and learning for my own and colleagues' developments over the years. For instance, I have participated in relevant trainings for practice educators in which I shared knowledge and skills with colleagues.  I have also been involved in teaching and learning during my Education Doctorate study. 

In these, I have developed knowledge of the legal frameworks underpinning Social Work education and practice, theories and policies, communication skills. My expertise is summarised below. 

Expertise

Child protection and safeguarding

Team Management, leadership and supervision 

Child and family needs assessments 

Parenting and risk assessment 

Chairing safeguarding meetings & Decision making. 

Communication in safeguarding 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in safeguarding 

Social Work practice education, student supervision, observation and pastoral support

Social Work regulation, fitness to practise adjudication 

Social Work professional standards and Continuing professional development

Multi-agency working and collaboration.

Undergraduate courses taught

Research

As a new  starter, I plan to explore students' needs and areas of research required to meet these. In saying this, one area that needs research attention is fitness to practise. Following my involvement in Social Work practice, education, safeguarding and regulation, it is my observation and opinion that education plays a crucial role in Social Work regulation, ensure Social Work students maintain their fitness to practise during their training and preparation for practice. However, the knowledge base in this regard for social work education, practice and regulation alike is limited, necessitating a research. Thus, I intend to undertake my research in this subject matter with a view to making a contribution in understanding the nature, prevalence and causes of fitness to practise impairment as part of my Education Doctorate study.

Professional practice, knowledge exchange and impact

Professional and scholarly affiliations

  • The British Association of Social Workers, BASW, a member.
  • The BASW Equality Diversity and Inclusion, EDI, advisory group, participant.
  • The National Association of Independent Reviewing Officers, member
  • The Responsible Individual for Children's Homes in England, group member.