Matthew Graham

Matt is course leader for the MA in Professional Development and Practice and has a keen interest in supervising students undertaking their final year dissertations, all of which he has taken through to successful completion. Matt teaches on the BA and MA in Social Work, but specialises in delivering continuing professional development to social workers in practice as well as publishing on the subjects of mental capacity and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Matt started his social work training in 1997 following five years of working with adults with learning disabilities and mental health difficulties in a residential care home in Kent, Matt’s home county. Since qualifying as a social worker in 1999 Matt has worked for three local authorities as a mental health social worker. Part of Matt’s role was undertaking duties under the Mental Health Act as an Approved Social Worker (ASW), the precursor of the Approved Mental Health Professional. Matt’s last role in social work was as a senior practitioner and practice supervisor where Matt supervised social work colleagues and assessed and supported social work students and ASW trainees on placement. Matt has worked for three universities lecturing in social work and spent time working as a local authority training consultant delivering training on the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Matt’s passion for mental health and associated legislation means that Matt is heavily involved in delivering mental health-related teaching as well as teaching on the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Matt is also interested in adult safeguarding and risk analysis and supports social workers in practice to develop their knowledge on these subjects through delivering a wide variety of continual professional development. Since 2018 Matt has been an external examiner for the University of Birmingham on adult safeguarding and mental health modules.