William Harvey Building
0845 196 4955
deborah.amas@anglia.ac.uk

Qualifications & Memberships

• BA (Hons) Sociology with Professional studies 1988
• Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW) 1989
• Advanced Certificate in Social Work UEA 1996
• Mentoring in the Learning Organisation 1 & 2 MA Modules taken at UEA 2005
• PGCE (Higher Education) 2007 Anglia Ruskin University 2007

Debbie maintains her qualification in social work and is a registered social worker as well a member of The College of Social Work and the British Association of Social Workers

Courses

• Course Leader of BA (Hons) Social Work in Cambridge
• Module Leader on the BA year 2 course in Social Work with Children and Families
• Module Leader on the recently validated MA in social work for Qualified Practitioners

Outline of career

Debbie qualified as a Social Worker in 1989 having followed a career in Youth Work and Probation from the early 1980s. After qualifying she worked in Children and Families social work where she specialised in Child Protection, fostering and adoption and direct work with children both as a social worker and manager.

In 1996 Debbie became a Guardian ad Litem working mainly in court representing children in Care Proceedings. She holds an Advanced Practitioners Certificate and Mentored on the Post Qualification Child Care Award at Anglia Ruskin University and the University of East Anglia from 2000 to present. She has also worked as an independent court expert and independent Practice Educator.

Debbie started her full time career at Anglia Ruskin University in 2006. Since that time she has also been a lead in Service User Coordination.

Research Interest

Debbie is currently completing a MA in Education at Anglia Ruskin University. Her major project focusses on the centrality of self awareness in social work education and its relevance to practice. She has also presented a research paper in Life Story Work with children looked after away from home (2010).

Debbie has a passion for direct work with children and its ability to help children move on when they have experienced trauma. Having worked in mentoring and Practice Education for a number of years she recognises that much good practice in this area is dependent on good supervision. In this respect she has been engaged with colleagues in developing creative approaches to supervision that allow students to explore themselves and their cases safely. Debbie has developed a technique in Sand Tray work that is used with children as a therapeutic tool and transferred it into the supervision arena.

Selected Publications

Amas, D., 2007. We all love playing in the sand: Using sand play therapy in critical reflection with students in practice placement, Journal of Practice Teaching & Learning 7(2), 50-68

Anghel, R., Hicks, J., and Amas D., 2009. Self-Awareness and Personal Development in Social Work Education - A Pilot Programme of Experiential Workshops. Networks (pp30-39)

Amas, D., Hicks, J., and Anghel, R., 2012. Mirror Mirror: Critical Reflection and "Self" through creative mediums social work education and practice in McIntoch P., and Warren D., (eds) 'Creativity in the Classroom: Case Studies in Using the Arts in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.' (Peer Reviewed publication)

Anghel R., Amas D. & Hicks J., 2009. Exploring uncertainty, empathy and resilience through self-reflection, creative mediums, and experiential learning. 11th UK Joint Social Work Education Conference. University of Hertfordshire

Anghel, R., Amas, D. and Hicks, J. 2010. (Re) Integrating 'Self' in Social Work Education through Experiential Learning and Reflection. 4th Annual Social Work Continuing Professional Development Conference. Integrated Practice. Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London

Amas D., 2010. Nurturing Identity and Resilience in children looked after by the state: Developing robust models of Life Story Work and Later Life Work to support transitions from care to adulthood 2010 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development: The Agenda 10th-14th June 2010