My name is Richard Pitcairn. I started this site 'by mistake' in a way! I was often being asked about the internet and how it could be used to find out about social work stuff and I had built up a whole lot of sites of interest in my favourites list. At the outset I simply copied this into a web page and pointed people to it - it was easier than showing them my list each time and having them copy down interesting URLs! Every so often I would add to it and then I wrote the guides in response to similar requests. This process is continuing and I add to it every so often. I enjoy the creative side of it and I like bright colours! As you can see, though, my skills in HTML are limited.

I work as a lecturer on the BSc in Social Work at the University of Bedfordshire in the UK. In the recent past I have trained Practice Teachers for their Award, and social workers for the Post-Qualifying and Advanced Awards, assessed Practice Teachers in training, and done Off-site Practice Teaching. I like working with individuals or groups - this is where I feel my skills lie. As our world becomes more admin-orientated I like that side of it less.

In the more distant past I have worked as a Freelance Trainer in Social Care, mostly for Social Services, but also for other bodies, e.g. Health Services, Education, and voluntary agencies.

I started my social work career working in a home for adolescents in a little village on the Fife coast in Scotland. It was the hot summer of 1976 and we spent most of the time on the beach, which was just off the back garden, and in the sailing boat and canoes that they had made themselves. I was getting paid for having fun. I thought to myself 'If this is social work, then I'll do it'!

I went to Stevenage College in England and did my C.Q.S.W. between 1978-1980. Other training since includes:
Family Planning Association Tutor Training 1985-1989.
Diploma in Counselling at Oakfield College 1991-1992.
Post-Graduate Diploma in Counselling UH 1992-1993.
CCETSW Practice Teacher Accreditation. 1995.
MA Social Work [Policy, Research & Evaluation] 1997.

I've done other teaching at odd times:
Tutor for I.C.S.C. at Ware College 1986 - 1988.
Occasional days on various subjects in local universities.
Tutor for the Family Planning Association 1986 - 1989; part-time, running 3-day courses on Sexuality & Personal Relationships, and HIV & AIDS Awareness.

I worked with adolescents again at Stanfield, Welwyn Garden City, where I was Deputy Officer-in-Charge & Acting Officer-in-Charge.

I'm interested in self-awareness-type stuff and have attended a number of groups over the years, including 'T Groups', Creative Groupwork, Racism Awareness, Sexuality, Men's Group, Childhood Sexual Abuse, Psychodrama, T.A., and experiential groups of different sorts. I've also been in personal therapy with two different therapists over a period of five years. I like sport - doing running, cycling & gym regularly - and have taken running and triathlons seriously in the recent past. As I get older I like gardening and reading more!

Please email me if you would like to comment on the website or if you have suggestions about sites to add. Although I always like to be helpful I'm afraid I cannot offer 'tutorial' advice to people. All the sites I know about are here, and I do up-date it quite regularly, adding sites every month or two.

GOOD LUCK IN YOUR SEARCHES!

Help to free the world from hunger - go to the UN Hunger Site and give a meal every day!

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