Robert Johns

My specialist academic interest is social work law. This developed as a result of, and alongside, professional experience as a social worker in South Wales, London and Bedfordshire, where I now live. During my time as a social work practitioner, I worked mainly in crisis intervention work (mental health, child safeguarding, for example) but also acted as a guardian for children in court cases.

Since moving into teaching, have taught at De Montfort University and University of East London where I was Head of Social Work.

I have published extensively in the field of social work law. My books include Using the Law in Social Work (Sage), Social Work, Social Policy and Older People (Sage); Capacity and Autonomy (Palgrave); Ethics and Law for Social Workers (Sage).

I have a double life as a Reader (minister) in the Anglican Church in the diocese of St. Albans, so I am particularly interested in connections between faith and social work practice and the law.

I am a Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce).