Dr Emma Stevens

Professional biography

Emma is currently (part-time) lecturer at the Open University.  She has an MA and diploma in social work; an MSc in leadership & management in health and social care; an Advanced Social Work Award, as well as being a qualified Best Interest Assessor and practice educator. Emma also has a PhD in Sociology and Social Anthropology.

Since qualifying as a social worker in 2000, Emma has worked across a variety of social care settings (statutory and voluntary) in both children and adult services.  This includes many years experience of working in the NHS in various roles including: practice learning facilitator, safeguarding adults practitioner, designated safeguarding adult professional, and practice learning lead for safeguarding children. When not working for the Open University, Emma currently works for an Integrated Care Board.  

Research interests

Emma’s research interests are inter-professional in nature, spanning across health, social care and sociology.  Her past publications have focused on safeguarding issues, the Mental Capacity Act, and leadership in health organisations.

For her PhD, Emma undertook an ethnography of dignity in community nursing care with older adults.  She has presented this research internationally and has published several papers from this project.   

Teaching interests

Emma is passionate about widening participation in education.  In her former roles, she has taught on University access courses, as well as degree courses including BA(hons) and MA social work, BA(hons) in Youth and Community Work and BA(hons) in Social and Community Studies.