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Uncovering the legacy of Black British Social Workers: Between the personal, the professional and the political

21 May, 2025 at 10:00am - 4:00pm

Online

Evidence based seminar co-delivered with Dr Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor and Kusha Anand from Coventry University

6 hrs
CPD
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Who this is for

Adoption practitioners and managers (Voluntary Adoption Agencies, Regional Adoption Agencies, Local Authorities, and independent social workers), children’s social care services, children and family social workers, foster carers, kinship carers, and other professionals working with children and families.

Anyone interested in learning about the experiences and perspectives of Black social workers on the subject of identity and the children they work with.


Details

This engaging evidence seminar will focus on how historically, social work practice has not always met Black children’s identity needs. In the 70s, it was standard practice to place Black children in white homes. In 2002, legal policy was amended to emphasise children’s religion, race, and culture in finding permanent homes. However, in 2014 the legal requirement to consider ethnicity was removed, allowing transracial placements.

In this session, we will present the oral history of Black social workers in Britain. We will explore how Black social workers navigated policy shifts on ethnicity and identity in the UK—what were their perceptions of these changes, and how did they experience them in practice?

This project was funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund and conducted by the University of Coventry.


Learning outcomes

  • Hear their voices: Listen to the oral history of 18 Black social workers and their experience navigating a changing policy landscape on identity and the consideration of ethnicity in children’s social care.
  • Meeting identity needs: Uncover the professional and personal commitment of Black social workers, who went above and beyond to care for vulnerable children and meet their identity-needs.
  • Contribution to social work: Learn about the historic, significant, and often under-recognised contribution of Black, South Asian and other minoritised communities to social work and civil society more widely

About the trainers

Dr Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor

Dr Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor is a Feminist Sociologist of Religion. She is Assistant Professor and Research Group Lead for Faith and Peaceful Relations at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University, UK. She chairs the Muslims in Britain Research Network (MBRN). Her publications include Muslim Women in Britain: Demystifying the Muslimah (Routledge 2012), Religion or Belief, Discrimination and Equality: Britain in Global Contexts (Bloomsbury 2013) and Islam on Campus: Contested Identities and the Cultures of Higher Education (OUP 2020). She led the first research exploration of the experiences of children of Muslim-heritage in the care system in Britain. She is proud adoptive mother to two children.

Kusha Anand

Kusha Anand is Research Fellow and Co-Investigator, currently contributing her expertise to two pivotal research projects at the esteemed Centre for Trust, Peace, and Social Relations, located at Coventry University, UK. As a seasoned political sociologist, Kusha’s scholarly pursuits revolve around the nuanced intersections of identity, citizenship, and education. Drawing upon a rich decade of immersive fieldwork experience, Kusha specialises in collaborative and interdisciplinary research initiatives, with a primary focus on ethnic minoritised groups, refugees, and migrants within the UK context. Her commitment extends beyond academic curiosity, delving into a genuine passion for amplifying the voices of individuals from ethnic minoritised groups in the UK.

Dr Jordan Brown

Dr Jordan Brown is a historian specializing in the intersections of gender, political activism, protest, and social history, with a particular focus on economic history and the contributions of marginalized groups. Their PhD explored the often-overlooked roles of women in militant activism during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, challenging traditional narratives about far-right organizations. They have led interdisciplinary research projects, such as the Black Social Workers Heritage Project, where they managed sensitive oral histories and highlighted systemic inequalities. With extensive experience in qualitative research, public engagement, and inclusive teaching, Jordan is committed to fostering critical thinking and diverse perspectives in academia.

 


Instructions

A member of staff will be in touch with attendees one week prior to the event to share a pre-event delegate pack. If you have any questions regarding this webinar, please contact us at info@cvaa.org.uk. We will aim to answer your query within two working days.

CVAA accept online payments only. In case you do not have instant access to your company card, we suggest using your personal card instead to book a training event and claim it back with your agency in your expenses. Requesting an invoice to pay for our standard practice events is not possible.

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CVAA Members

£69.00
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CVAA Subscribers

£99.00
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Non-members

£119.00
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