Overview 

My name is Eoanna Stathopoulos I am senior Lecturer and the MA Social Work Programme Lead at Edge Hill University. I maintain my social work registration as an Independent Social Worker and a Local Authority Fostering Panel Vice Chair. 

I completed her social work degree at the Liverpool John Moores University and in 2000 commenced my career as a social worker. During this time, I was employed by Knowsley Children and Adolescence Mental Health Service before progressing into the Children and Families generic teams. In 2001, I emigrated to the Republic of Ireland practising as a children and families social worker within Dublin’s South Western Area Health Board, experiencing generic social work with wide ranging and complex cases including trafficking, exploitation, chronic neglect, mental health homelessness, refugee and working with minority communities ie traveller, muslim, communities etc. In 2004 I returned the UK and returned to practice within Children and Families Local Authority teams, qualifying as the first advanced practitioner within Knowsley Local Authority and becoming a qualified practice educator and trainer. 

I joined Chester University in 2004 as a visiting lecturer in social work and later joining both Edge Hill University as an Associate Tutor and UCLAN as Placement Tutor, whilst maintaining full time leadership roles in practice. I decided to take my career path into education, securing a full time lecturer role with Edge Hill University in 2018. I have held a number of leadership roles including course lead for Masters Degree in Social Work, Employability Lead for social work, Technological Enhanced Learning Lead, Accessibility Lead, Inter-Professional Learning Lead, SOLSTICE Senior and Teaching Lead, and Higher Education Academy Senior Fellow.  

Since 2019, my leadership has been instrumental in driving forward several projects aimed at enhancing simulation and immersive learning experiences beyond traditional scenarios. One notable achievement has been the development of a comprehensive simulation toolkit designed to assist educators in offering supportive simulated opportunities for social work students. These environments provide a safe space for students to make mistakes and learn from them, fostering a culture of experimentation and growth. I am currently being mentored to have the toolkit published and submitted to the national teaching repository. Simulated learning has been widely utilised in health education but limited to traditional simulated interview experiences within social work. The research and development work I have led on aim at extending this learning beyond traditional methods allowing Edge Hill University to be a driver in social work simulated learning.  

Through these initiatives, I have recognized the importance of expanding these safe learning environments to encompass a wider range of practice skills, knowledge, and experiences. Students engaging in these immersive learning opportunities often encounter situations they may not have faced before, leading to profound emotional and cognitive responses. It has become evident that, in addition to simulated experiences, students benefit greatly from coaching and mentoring, complemented by knowledge provision and practical opportunities. The simulation toolkit I have developed emphasizes the crucial role of coaching, mentoring, and reflection within the simulation learning environment. These components empower students to take an active role in their development, fostering a sense of ownership and motivation for their ongoing growth. I've recently presented my simulation research at various prestigious venues, including annual faculty events, team away days, national SOLSTICE conferences, and CLT workshops. Currently, I am undergoing mentorship to publish this toolkit, with the aim of submitting it to a teaching repository for wider dissemination and adoption. 

Currently I am exploring opportunities to develop experience as an early career researcher. II have participated in three externally funded research projects working with partners within England’s LA and HEI’s. Findings from this research project will feed into work I undertake at RIG, Faculty Learning Teaching and Assessment Committee, Cheshire and Merseyside Teaching Partnership, Faculty Research Strategy Group. It is anticipated there will be a minimum of four publication outputs from these projects. Findings will also inform module content and teaching approaches / strategies for social work students. The Care Orders at Home Research project has led to a publication and another is part of an editorial review. Murphy, C., McGuinness, N. & Stathopoulos, E. (Accepted/In press) What challenges emerge from cases where children are made subject to a ‘Care Order at home’?. British Journal of Social Work: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad217. (The British Journal of Social Work ranks among the top five globally renowned social work journals in terms of impact). Murphy, C., McGuinness, N. & Stathopoulos, E. (Under review) What are the factors contributing to increasing ‘Care Orders at home’. Journal of Children’s Services (2024). The research team had also been invited to present at ISPCAN Sweden Congress August 2024. Abstract details Title: What Challenges Emerge from Cases Where Children Are Made Subject to a ‘Care Order at Home’?” “This was an extremely competitive, double-blind review and only 40% were accepted to the program based on score. Abstract has been accepted as Oral Research presentation.”  

The research project on MNSW graduate outcomes remains ongoing and the results from which will be significant given EHU is the only HEI in England to be delivering an Integrated Master’s in Nursing Social Work. The only alternate integrated nursing and social work programmes are undergraduate level. It is hoped the findings from this project will help inform the employability and graduate outcomes consultation work I have been involved with to date. 

I am committed to promoting civic engagement, volunteering and social justice, I have recently commenced membership of Liverpool Corporate Parenting Board, and Vice chair of a Fostering Panel following several years employed as an independent fostering panel member.   

Research Interests 

• Citizen educators and experts by experience involvement in social work education. 

• Professional identity and social work education. 

• Flipped classroom pedagogies in social work. 

• Simulated and Immersive Learning environments in professional education. 

• Interprofessional learning experiences. 

Learning and Teaching 

Eoanna Stathopoulos contributes to both undergraduate and post graduate learning, teaching and assessment in social work at Edge Hill University and has participated in interprofessional learning projects across the faculty of Health Social Care and Medicine. I am also an external examiner for Bournemouth University and Worcester University.