Jo Finch

Jo Finch is a Professor of Social Work and Post Graduate Research at the University of Suffolk, affiliated with the School of Health, Sciences and Society. She is internationally recognized for her work on practice learning, student assessment, and POLICY ACTIVISM related to PREVENT, digital advocacy, and disability rights.

• BA (Hons) Politics, Newcastle University (1993)
• Diploma in Social Work & MSc in Social Policy and Social Work, London School of Economics (1997)
• Professional Doctorate in Social Work, University of Sussex (2010)

Her research interests include practice learning, assessment in placements, learning disability advocacy, and the intersection of social work with security policies like PREVENT. She also explores domestic violence, child sexual abuse, and critical self-reflection in social work education.

Recent publications examine how [un]popular culture (e.g., TOWIE, Katie Price) can be used pedagogically to discuss class, gender, and social inequality. Her work highlights systemic barriers faced by marginalized students in social work education, particularly those from racially minoritised backgrounds.

• Principal Fellow – Higher Education Academy
• Registered Social Worker (Social Work England)

Jo supervises PhD projects on topics such as disability benefits, child maintenance, age assessments for disputed-age children, and person-centered care for profound disabilities. She is actively involved in external examining for undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional doctorate programs.

Her current research focuses on fitness to practice in universities, confidence in practice learning, and evaluations of Restitute (a service for well-being and confident parenting). She collaborates with Sarah Corrie and David McKendrick on projects related to social work and counter-terrorism, as well as student retention.