The Independent Chair in Brent

In Brent, the Independent Chair of the Safeguarding Adults Board is Professor Michael Preston-Shoot, Professor Emeritus (Social Work)

Michael Preston-Shoot:

I have been a social work academic since 1988.

I joined the University of Bedfordshire in 2003, initially as Head of Department of Applied Social Studies. I was Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences between 2005 and 2016. I have specialised in teaching law to non-lawyers, principally social workers and social work students but also enjoy teaching research skills, working with groups and working systemically with families. I continue to supervise and examine doctoral students.

I conducted the first and only longitudinal study into the outcomes of teaching law to social work students. I completed a research project for the Department of Health on the governance of adult safeguarding. I have completed a series of studies on self-neglect for the Department of Health and Skills for Care. These studies were influential in shaping the adult safeguarding provisions in the Care Act 2014.

I was Independent Chair of Luton Local Safeguarding Children Board between 2009 and 2015 and Luton Safeguarding Adults Board between 2008 and 2015. I have authored and researched serious case reviews and safeguarding adult reviews.

Qualifications

PhD Social Work and Law; Liverpool John Moores University

BA Hons (First Class) History; University of Reading

Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapy; University of Leeds

Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work and CQSW; University of Leicester

Teaching Expertise

Awarded a National Teaching Fellowship by the Higher Education Academy in 2005 for expertise in teaching law to social workers

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Research Interests

Adults who self-neglect

Adult safeguarding

Learning law for social work practice

Working effectively with groups

Systemic family therapy

Projects

Training for practitioners and managers on legal literacy, knowledge and skilled use of the law in practice to protect children and adults at risk

Dissemination of the research evidence-base for effective practice with adults who self-neglect

External Roles

Independent Chair, Brent Safeguarding Adults Board, Lewisham Safeguarding Adults Board.

Commissioned overview report author for Safeguarding Adult Reviews

Visiting Professor of Social Work, Gothenburg University, Sweden

Co-author of The National Overview of Safeguarding Adult Reviews