Alix Walton

Alix Walton is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Law and Criminology at Royal Holloway, University of London, where she teaches on post-qualifying social work programmes. She serves as Programme Director for the MSc in Advanced Practice and leads key modules including the Consolidation module and Practice Educator modules. A registered social worker, Alix brings extensive experience from practice, education, and consultancy into her academic role.

• BA (Hons) Applied Social Studies with CQSW
• MA Social Work Education & Training with Advanced Award in Social Work
• MRes Social & Educational Research (with Distinction)

Alix is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and her research focuses on work-based learning, professional development, and the impact of organizational environments on social work practice. She explores innovative methods such as visual research and Forum Theatre to enhance training and supervision. Her recent studies examine social workers’ workspaces and feedback practices in supervision.

Her research outputs span books, book chapters, and peer-reviewed conference abstracts, with a strong emphasis on social work education policy and practice development. Trends in her publications reflect a commitment to improving post-qualifying training, supporting new practitioners, and humanizing social work systems through creative methodologies.

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Alix actively contributes to research projects, including 'Humanising systems: using arts practices to create change' and 'Professional practice and vicarious trauma: using EMDR to support social work professionals'. She has secured funding for practitioner mentoring initiatives and regularly presents at national and international conferences. While her advisory role to students is not explicitly detailed, her leadership in programme development and module design indicates significant mentorship responsibilities.

She is engaged in collaborative research teams focusing on trauma-informed practice, arts-based interventions, and systemic reform in social work education and delivery.