Dr Darrel Williams BSc, MA

Lecturer on the undergraduate and postgraduate professionally qualifying Youth and Community Work programmes. Also Fieldwork Coordinator for the programmes.

Senior Lecturer School of Social Justice and Inclusion: working as part of the programme team to develop and deliver a range of undergraduate and post graduate modules as part of professionally qualifying programmes of study. Coordinating fieldwork learning.

Currently researching Youth Work and well-being. Also practice Assessor – Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University: assessing youth and community and community development students on placement

I am a member of the Training Agencies Group Cymru, the group which acts as a forum for collaboration in Youth and Community Work training across Wales. I am also a member of the Youth Work Alliance Wales, a cross sector forum the coordination of issues relating to Youth Work across Wales.

Currently teaching in the areas of reflective practice, fieldwork, experiential learning, and research methods. Modules include: Research Methods for the Youth Service, Supervision and Support Skills, Focused Practice, Detached and Outreach Youth Work along with undergraduate and postgraduate dissertation supervision.

My research interests include the well-being of young people, the effects of new forms of media and the changing face of Youth Work in the public sector.

I have gained considerable experience through a career in the public sector including being involved in the validation of a number of programmes within the School of Social Justice and Inclusion and also professional endorsement of our BA and MA Programme. I have also been a member of the endorsement panel for the undergraduate youth work programme at UWN. I am also research active in the field of wellbeing and currently involved in research in a local authority youth service.

Previously I have had responsibility for strategic oversight of the maintained youth service within a local authority including responsibility for strategic planning, resource and performance management. A team of 45 full time and 120 part time staff, a budget of £1.2M PA. Also liaison with WG and providing strategic leadership for the maintained youth sector across Wales through chairmanship of the Principal Youth Officers Group.

I have enjoyed membership of the UK expert working group which developed current National Occupational Standards for Youth Work. I also act as visiting H.E. tutor and was a member of the sector skills council Country Panel. My MA level dissertation topic critically explored whether professional supervision can improve practice. I am also trained as an Estyn peer assessor, ISO inspector.

I have undertaken a number of projects in collaboration with National Foundation for Educational Research, have secured training grants from Welsh Government.