Practice Education

Haikus: Using poetry to develop critical reflection in social work practice

Dr Lou Oliver
Dr Orlanda Harvey
8th February 2023

Dr Orlanda Harvey and Dr Louise Oliver are facilitating a Social Work England Sector-Led Event for Social Work Week on Tuesday, 21st March 2023 from 10:00 – 12:00hrs.  We have been working with students to develop their critically reflective practice by poetry in the form of haikus. We have had very positive feedback from students (qualifying and post-qualifying) and that the process of composing the poem led to a deeper level of critical reflection on their chosen scenario/subject. We have also been using this technique as a form of peer supervision, as we also run a support group for women who experience Domestic Abuse. We would like to share this activity with fellow social work practitioners and educators to support the development of critical reflection on practice. The activity supports people to distil the learning from an experience and aid their critical reflection on practice. Our research and experience has shown us that using this method has proved quite straightforward.

To sign up for the event, please click on the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/haikus-using-poetry-to-develop-critical-reflection-in-social-work-practice-tickets-468269826657

More details about the Social Work England Sector-Led Events for Social Work Week can be found at: https://www.socialworkengland.org.uk/social-work-week/social-work-week-2023-headline-programme/sector-led-sessions/

We hope to see you there.

Meet the author(s)

Dr Lou Oliver

Senior lecture
Louise is a senior lecturer with the social work team, teaching on both the qualifying and post-qualifying programmes. Louise is a qualified social worker who has predominantly worked in children's and families within local authorities.
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Dr Orlanda Harvey

Senior lecturer in Social Work
Orlanda is a senior lecturer in the Social Work Team, specialising in Developing Professional Relationships and Leadership. She completed her doctoral research in 2020 exploring men's recreational use of Androgenic Anabolic Steroid Use. Her research interests include: Image and Performance Enhancing Substance Use, Domestic Violence and Abuse, leadership, and reflective practice.
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