Sara Ward

Profile

Areas of expertise

• Mental health social work
• AMHP role and training
• Practice education
• Sexual assault of women

Biography

I have worked in the school part-time since 2009, whilst also practicing as a social worker and AMHP in a Community Mental Health Team until 2014. I am interested in the medical and social models of mental health, the impact of life experiences on mental health and the way these are interpreted by clients, their families and professionals.

I have significant experience of providing therapeutic interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy, life story work and positive risk taking with people who have severe and enduring mental health problems. I am also particularly interested in feminist approaches to the ways in which sexual assault and violence against women can be interpreted as being part of women’s mental health problems.

My first degree was in Psychology and my areas of interest were in developmental and social psychology. I completed the MA/DipSW and spent the first two years of my career working in the NSPCC and later a CMHT before undertaking my Approved Social Worker (ASW) training, I worked as an ASW, later AMHP, for over ten years, compounding my interest in the social versus medical models of mental health problems. I have also completed qualifications in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and a further degree (BSc) in Ayurveda.

Over the past fifteen years I have worked as a Practice Educator (PE) for over seventy students from a number of universities and I helped to develop the PE training course for North Yorkshire County Council.

Teaching and Projects

I am currently completing my PhD in the Centre for Women’s Studies at the University of York. My thesis is a qualitative study looking at the responses of women who have experienced sexual assaults and harassment.

Teaching commitments:

• Stage 1 Practice Education
• Practice placements
• Expanding the Context
• Professional Development Groups
• Skills Days
• Mental health/AMHP as required