Front-line Work in Turbulent Times: Therapeutic Care During Coronavirus and Beyond

The Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies has been teaching and learning alongside front-line staff in social care, children homes, education and mental health for over 10 years. With this extensive experience Dr Chris Nicholson will examine why so-called ‘care workers’ haven’t been given higher status and better training, conditions and pay. He will also explore how the future of care may change.

This online seminar will provide a space for front line workers to meet with practitioners from the department, and talk together about their recent experiences and challenges, and about the new opportunities arising for the status and conditions of the caring professions.

Chris is Head of the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies. He has held a number of different roles within the department and is responsible for developing our BA Therapeutic Communication and Therapeutic Organisations and BA Childhood Studies degrees.

Prior to joining the University of Essex, Chris worked in a range of children's services for over fifteen years, principally therapeutic communities for traumatised adolescents, developing an assessment service, a provision for leaving care, and with colleagues, setting up the Junction Young Person’s service for Colchester MIND.