Famed artist Ali Lapper talks to University about importance of developing high-quality social workers

AWARD-WINNING artist Ali Lapper has spoken at the University of Chichester about the importance of developing a new generation of high-quality social workers.

The famed foot-and-mouth painter, who has a studio near the University, is a lead campaigner for improving the quality of social work education, having herself grown up in care as a child. She visited the University to oversee its department of Social Work and Social Care, which was recently selected to lead a government project addressing the shortage of skilled workers in the care sectors.

“It amazes me how many people want to become social workers and are studying it at university,” said the artist. “There wasn’t that hunger when I was at university in the 1990s. It’s great that the University is working to improve standards and develop more high-quality social workers.”

As part of the visit, Ms Lapper met with academics from the University’s Centre for Workforce Development, which opened in 2018. The Centre acts as a hub for research, applied research, knowledge transfer and continuing professional development activity, for those in the health and social work sectors.

Dr Kish Bhatti-Sinclair, a Reader in Social Policy and Social Work at Chichester, said: “It’s a real privilege to welcome Ali to the University. She is a leading advocate of improving social work across the UK through education, which mirrors our own ambition, and is a fantastic role model for our students.”

For more about the University of Chichester’s department of Social Work and Social Care go to www.chi.ac.uk/social-work. More information about the Centre for Workforce Development is available at www.chi.ac.uk/centre-workforce-development.