A new partnership to transform lives

East Sussex County Council, Brighton & Hove City Council, the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex have joined forces to form The South Coast Regional Centre for Education (SCRC).

The SCRC, which has secured funding by the Department for Education, offers an “innovative and sustainable model which focuses on delivering first class social work education on the frontline”.

Consisting of three hubs (Student Learning Hub, Professional Development Hub and Practice Research Hub), the SCRC provides an enhanced teaching and placement experience for students, a defined career pathway for social work practitioners and research that is driven by issues experienced by adults and children’s social workers.

Professor Gillian Ruch, from the University of Sussex, said:“The newly constituted South Coast Regional Centre for Social Work Education is an exciting opportunity for our universities and councils to work together to ensure that we deliver excellent frontline social work education which really benefits our local community.

From left to right: Professor Gillian Ruch (Head of Department School of Education and Social Work, University of Sussex), Richard Cattell (Principal Social Worker for Adults, Brighton & Hove City Council), Jane Goldingham (Principal Social Worker for Adults, East Sussex County Council), Nicola McGeown (Principal Social Worker for Children, East Sussex County Council), Tom Stibbs (Principal Social Worker for Children, Brighton & Hove City Council), Sheena Cameron (SCRC Project Manager), and Cath Holmstrom (Deputy Head of School of Applied Social Science)

“It is crucial we do everything we can to support children, adults and families who are experiencing difficult circumstances – by working together through this new partnership we can help to transform the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”

At the SCRC launch Liz Rugg, Assistant Director for Children’s Services at East Sussex, said: “Securing the Teaching Partnership against strong competition was a real achievement and recognises the strong partnerships that are already in place between the two universities and the two local authorities. This exciting development will support us to take social work to the next level in Brighton and Hove and East Sussex.”

One of the key aims of the SCRC is to recruit and retain high quality social work graduates in the local area, equipping them with skills and confidence to make a difference for children, adults and families in East Sussex, Brighton and Hove.

Richard Cattell, Principal Social Worker for Adults Services in Brighton and Hove, said: “One of the great things about the SCRC is that it’s not only a partnership across organisations but also one which brings together Children’s and Adult’s Services allowing us to bring a more cohesive and joined up approach to social work.”