Dr Joanne Smith

I am Associate Teaching Professor and Divisional leader in Health and Society working with the teams in Health and Social Care, Community Development and Youth work, Early Years and Childhood Studies.

I graduated with a BA (Hons) in Humanities I have since completed MSc in Sociology, PGCE qualifications and completed my PhD entitled The Work-Life Balance Experiences of Women Undertaking HE-level Work-based Learning in June 2018. I am a senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

I am passionate about teaching which I have been involved in since 1995 when I undertook my teaching award and worked at a number of further education colleges. I joined the university in 2004 as part of the Health and Social Care foundation degree teaching team and taught a range of relevant modules. From 2012 I developed the HND and BSc Health and Social Care programmes which I am currently programme leader for. In January 2014 I became Academic Group Co-ordinator for Recruitment and retention in Health and Human Sciences working across the school. In December 2016 I became Associate Teaching Professor which will help me to work with others to deliver the TIRI agenda, which I am firmly committed to. I am currently Programme Leader for a number of Masters and divisional lead for Health, Early Years and Community.

Having developed two programmes I have delivered much of the curriculum with a focus on social care and social policy. My current teaching on the Masters in Research Methods for PG, Critical Reading and Writing, Equality and Diversity for Human Services, Contemporary Issues, Policy and Practice and Dissertation, Leadership and Innovation.

My areas of academic interests include work-life balance, gender and disability issues. With a background in sociology and social policy, I have an interest in the effects of social exclusion and poverty of life and wellbeing for individuals and communities. I teach areas which are around rights-based models and the importance of social justice.