Dr Michelle Lefevre

National Teaching Fellow 2015 Since 2013 Dr Michelle Lefevre has led the department which has topped The Guardian University Guide league table for social work for two years in a row, having been appointed as a teaching fellow at the University of Sussex in 2000, lecturer in 2003, and senior lecturer in 2009. Michelle has taught and convened courses across all academic levels (BA, MA, Doctoral) and for students on both qualifying-level and continuing professional development (CPD) courses. Prior to her academic career, Michelle practised as a social worker in child protection, as an expert witness and as an arts psychotherapist. She was appointed on the basis of her professional qualifications and substantial practice experience to lead education for social work with children and their families at Sussex in qualifying-level and CPD courses. Michelle led the CPD portfolio until 2012, developing courses for social work practitioners and managers in childrens services. She supervises and examines doctoral students and led the Sussex professional doctorate in Social Work 2012-14. She has also brought her teaching and convening experience to her external examining work for two qualifying-level masters degrees, a CPD course and a professional doctorate. Michelle's teaching and research focuses particularly on the development of social workers communication and engagement with children and young people. Her book for the Policy Press, Communicating with Children and Young People: Making a Difference (2010) complements her 2008 co-edited anthology for the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) on Direct Work: Social Work with Children and Young People in Care. She has published seven articles on the topic in international peer-reviewed journals. These influenced the Social Work Reform Board in 2010 and informed the thinking of the Chief Social Worker for Children and Families in England in the current social work education reform agenda. Michelle is Editor-in-Chief of Child and Family Social Work, and was Deputy Editor of Social Work Education: The International Journal between 2009 and 2014. She is an elected member of the Children and Families Faculty of The College of Social Work and Regional Co-ordinator for the Centre for Social Work Practice.