Ms Cath Holmstrom

Biography

Cath studied at Sussex as an undergraduate (graduating with a sociology degree in 1989) and as a postgraduate student (completing ther MSW course in 1992). She then worked as a social worker in a local youth support and youth justice team before combining teaching at a local college with working within the area of domestic violence. Between 1996 and 2000, Cath taught on CCS school courses and combined this with free-lance practice teaching/supervising of student social workers and providing fostercare for young women and mother/child placements before becoming more actively involved with the social work courses here at Sussex. After contributing to the development of practice learning within non-traditional placements whilst developing admissions policies and practices for the new degrees, Cath took up a post as Tutorial Fellow in 2004 and then obtained a lectureship in 2006.

Role

Convening: Programme Director for the BA social work degree.

Additional role: Director of Student Support, School of Education and Social Work with additional responsibility for recruitment and admissions

Teaching: BA ILPD; HGD; MA HDSR

Tutoring: BA level one and level three

Cath is currently studying on the DSW, the professional doctorate at Sussex on a part-time basis examining the process of professional identity formation. Resesarch interests currently include: adolescence (particularly self-harm, eating disorders, offending and substance misuse); non-traditional social work settings (especially in the fields of homelessness and addiction);  the relationship between sociology/social theory and social work; and, pedagogic issues including the use of technologies to support learning processes and identity formation. Cath is currently engaged in research into admissions and selection issues within social work education and is also exploring the experiences of younger students on qualifying social work programmes.

Cath teaches on a variety of courses including:

• MA Human Development and Social Relationships
• BA Social work - Intro to Learning and Professional Development, Human growth and Development
• Cath is personal tutor for several BA groups.

 Cath was awarded a Sussex teaching Award at the 2007 summer graduation ceremony and nominated by Sussex for a national teaching Fellowship in 2009

Student Consultation

I have weekly office hours and students can sign up to come and see me for short meetings during these times in between planned longer tutorials. I will post details here and on my office door (EH 229) for each month. Tutorial lists are also available for sign-up on my office door.

Sign up sheets will be on my office door for a month at a time from the start of term. If it is more convenient you can email me and I will write your name up for you if the slot you request is free!

I will be available for 15 min ad hoc meetings as follows:

10th Jan 3-4. 30

17th Jan 3-4.30

27th Jan 3-4.30

4th Feb 3-4.30

7th Feb 3-4.30

16th Feb 10-11.30

21st Feb 10-11.30

Holmstrom, Cath (2010) Selection and admission of students for social work education: key issues and debates in relation to practice and policy in England. Unset. Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Social Policy and Social Work, Southampton.

Sharland, Elaine and Holmstrom, Cath (2009) Symposium: The ESRC Strategic Advisor Initiative for social work and social care research: moving forward the agenda. In: Changing Identities: 11th UK Joint Social Work Education Conference with the 3rd UK Social Work Research Conference, 8-10 July 2009, University of Hertfordshire .

Holmstrom, Cath and Taylor, Imogen (2008) Mapping the terrain of selection for social work: a critical analysis of policy, theory and research. Social Work Education, 27 (5). pp. 519-535. ISSN 0261-5479

Holmstrom, Cath and Taylor, Imogen (2008) Researching admissions: what can we learn about selection of applicants from findings about students in difficulty on a social work programme? Social Work Education, 27 (8). pp. 819-836. ISSN 0261-5479