Rural Social Work in Cumbria: An Exploratory Study

Project Dates

April 2018 - September 2019

Funder

Cumbria-Lancaster Social Work Teaching Partnership - Department for Education

Project Summary

This study aims to reveal the challenges and associated innovative practice by social workers in rural and isolated communities, families and individuals in Cumbria. Through focus groups and interviews with practising social workers within Cumbria, the study found that social workers experienced both challenges and opportunities created by their work in rural areas. These are as a result of the extensive travel required for their role, the lack of service provision in rural and remote areas, working within small communities and working within dispersed teams. The findings also indicate that a sense of connection to place and to their role as a social worker is very important to social workers working rurally. The study drew 14 specific suggestions for policy and practice development from this information which are grouped into three themes. Firstly, the importance of recruiting and retaining a rural workforce. Secondly, support to manage the travel requirements of the rural social work role and finally, the importance of enabling autonomous working whilst ensuring appropriate levels of support.

Publications

Pye, J., Kaloudis, H. and Devlin, M. (2020) Rural Social Work in Cumbria: An Exploratory Case Study.  Final report. Centre for Child and Family Justice Research, Lancaster University. (available here)

Pye, J., Kaloudis, H. and Devlin, M. (2020) Rural Social Work in Cumbria: An Exploratory Case Study.  Summary report. Centre for Child and Family Justice Research, Lancaster University. (available here)

Research Team

Jane Pye, Senior Teaching Associate, Lancaster University

Harris Kaloudis, Research Associate, Lancaster University

Matthew Devlin, Social Worker, formally Cumbria County Council

Contact

For further information please contact Jane Pye (j.pye4@lancaster.ac.uk)