Professor Ruth Emond

Professor

Social Work Colin Bell Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Professor Ruth Emond

Contact details

About me

I have been practicing as a social worker since 1992, primarily in the area of children and families work. I currently work part time at the University of Stirling and part time at Family Change (a therapeutic service for children and families who have experienced trauma which is funded and managed by Perth and Kinross Council). I qualified as a Play Therapist in 2009 and have found the principles of play based practice to be highly effective in working with children and their carers.  At the University, I am the director of the MSc in Social Work Studies (https://www.stir.ac.uk/postgraduate/programme-information/prospectus/applied-social-science/social-work-studies/) and the pathway lead for the PGCert in Advanced Practice Skills. I have a keen interest in supporting students to feel confident in their direct work with service users and developing the skills this requires. The Advanced Practice Skills pathway is targeted at professionals working with children and their families and can form part of the MSc Applied Professional Studies. You can find out more about this course here: https://www.stir.ac.uk/postgraduate/programme-information/prospectus/applied-social-science/applied-professional-studies/ Much of my research work has centred on how looked after children use and navigate ‘ the everyday'. I have explored friendships, school and routines as everyday events which hold significance for children. My work has involved ethnography in the UK, Ireland and Cambodia. Along with Ian McIntosh and Samantha Punch, I have been exploring the food and food practices used by looked after children and their carers. Visit the project website for more information (https://www.foodforthoughtproject.info). I am currently working on projects exploring the experience and meaning of 'therapeutic care' and also the recording of group experiences in residential care.

Looked after children Children's friendships Play Routines and rituals in daily life Food and food practices