Sam Forster

Sam Forster is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Sunderland's Faculty of Education and Society. He joined the Social Work team in September 2019 and has held his current position since January 2020. His expertise spans adult social work, particularly with individuals with learning disabilities, autism, and forensic mental health needs. He serves as an Independent Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Assessor and a Specialist Mental Capacity Assessor.

Teaching Roles: He teaches on the BA (Hons) Social Work and BA (Hons) Social Work Apprenticeship programs, focusing on social work assessment processes and ethical practice. He is developing a new module for social work practitioners' continuous professional development.

Research Interests: His work centers on autism, learning disabilities, and strengths-based practice. His ongoing PhD research explores autistic adults' experiences of friendship, building on his published study on mate crime awareness among young autistic adults (2019).

Professional Background: Prior to academia, he worked in voluntary sector organizations and adult social care, including roles in learning disabilities, autism, and forensic mental health. He holds a MSc in Psychology.