A special programme created by School of SSESW academic Alan Maddock has won a Faculty of AHSS Digital Learning Award in the ‘Breaking the Comfort Zone’ category which recognizes innovation. Alan developed the six week mindfulness-based programme for social work practice and self-care. It was delivered online to third year undergraduate social work students in Queen’s and to Master of Social Work students at the University of Edinburgh.

Each week, students were introduced to different mindfulness-based practices and psychoeducation on the potential role that mindfulness could play in both social work practice and self-care. Students then applied this learning to social work practice situations through role play and discussion. The programme was evaluated by Alan Maddock and colleagues (and is currently under peer review with the British Journal of Social Work) as part of a research study facilitated by ESRC COVID funding and was found to improve the stress, burnout, anxiety and wellbeing levels of social work students.

The students participating in the programme highlighted that learning how to be more mindfully self-aware, accepting and self-compassionate led to improvement in their mental health and wellbeing and also increased their confidence in practicing anti-oppressive social work more effectively.