I have a BA in Politics and South Asian Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS, University of London), MA in Social Work from Goldsmiths College, University of London, and MA in Social Research Methods from the University of Birmingham. I worked for 15 years in the social care field in both statutory and voluntary sector settings, including learning disability, homelessness and mental health services. My most recent practice experience was as a social worker in a mental health Crisis Resolution Team. In 2008 I was awarded funding from the Centre of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Mental Health, University of Birmingham to carry out PhD research exploring the impact of marketisation and managerialism on conceptualisations of mental distress in community mental health services, and my thesis is now close to completion. I am an active member of the Social Work Action Network (SWAN). My main teaching input will be on the Social Work in Practice, Research and Critical Thinking, Professionalism, Partnership and Empowerment, and Social Work Theory courses.