Ms Miriam Leigh

Ms Miriam Leigh
Lecturer
Public Health, Policy and Social Sciences
Telephone: (01792) 295247
Welsh Speaker

Miriam firstly completed a degree and then the Diploma in Social Work at Bangor University in 1998.  Since then, Miriam has undertaken a variety of Social Work roles in England and Wales, as a registered Social Worker in Children’s services, working with children and families, as a Children’s social worker, Supervising Social Worker, Senior Practitioner, Complaints Officer, Training and Recruitment Officer and Training and Development Officer. Miriam has undertaken further qualifications in teaching and research and has dedicated much of her time to working in a voluntary capacity, within her local community, working with children, young people and adults. Miriam’s main interests lie in child and adult resilience, systems and other theories, Mental Health and the Law. Miriam has been employed as a Lecturer at Swansea University since 2015.

Miriam is employed by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, and is a bilingual member of staff, whose role it is to enhance the Welsh and bilingual learning opportunities available to students, and to support students who choose to study and be tutored through the medium of Welsh. 

Miriam is involved in teaching the Welsh context to BSc and MSc students, as well as professionals undertaking the Assessor Award, and Social Work practitioners who partner with the Social Work Programme across South Wales, and those students studying the Approved Mental Health Professional course. Additionally, Miriam teaches Law to BSc students in their first and second years.

Miriam has designed a Welsh context model for students and practitioners, to aid our knowledge and understanding of how the Welsh context impacts Social Work practice, on a daily basis.

Miriam arranges Welsh language classes specifically designed   for students, a Welsh language on-line course and a lunch-time bilingual forum for those that are interested in hearing the language and experiencing a bilingual environment. Miriam promotes bilingual learning within the classroom, and supports  students’ in transferring these skills to their work placements, to raise the standards of their practice. Miriam is a member of a number of committees, as part of her role in ensuring Welsh language standards and a bilingual learning environment.

Miriam also leads a team of students and service users, undertaking experiential activities with children and adults at the Urdd Eisteddfod each year. 

Miriam supports Welsh speaking students to gain Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol scholarships and bursaries, which promote learning through the medium of Welsh.  

Teaching

  • ASQ101 Introduction to Social Work

    This module considers the place of contemporary social work within historical and comparative perspectives both in Wales, the U.K. and internationally. It also examines the issues and trends in modern public, social and political philosophies and the influence they have on practice and service delivery. It considers the relationship between the Welsh Assembly Government, agency policies in Wales, legal and regulatory requirements and professional boundaries in shaping the nature of the services provided and particularly those in inter-disciplinary contexts. Attention will also be paid to the inter-relationships with other social services in Wales and particularly education, housing, health, income maintenance and criminal justice when provided on a partnership basis. It introduces the student to the current range and appropriateness of statutory, voluntary and private agencies providing community-based day-care, residential and other services. This will be achieved within a thorough examination of the particular issues facing service-using citizens in contemporary Wales.

  • ASQ101W Cyflwyniad i Waith Cymdeithasol

    Mae¿r modiwl yma¿n ystyried lle gwaith cymdeithasol cyfoes o fewn persbectifau hanesyddol a chymharol, yng Nghymru, y DU ac yn rhyngwladol. Mae hefyd yn archwilio'r materion a thueddiadau mewn athroniaethau cyhoeddus modern, cymdeithasol a gwleidyddol a¿r dylanwad maent wedi eu cael ar ymarfer a throsglwyddiad gwybodaeth. Mae¿n ystyried y berthynas rhwng Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru, polisïau asiantaeth yng Nghymru, anghenion cyfreithiol a rheoli a ffiniau proffesiynol yn llunio natur y gwasanaethau a ddarparwyd yn enwedig y rheiny mewn cyd-destunau cyd-ddisgyblaethol. Bydd sylw hefyd yn cael ei dalu i¿r cydberthynas gyda gwasanaethau cymdeithasol eraill yng Nghymru ac yn enwedig addysg, tai, cynnal incwm a chyfiawnder troseddol pan ddarparwyd ar sail partneriaeth. Mae¿n cyflwyno¿r myfyriwr i ystod gyfoes a phriodoldeb o asiantaethau statudol, gwirfoddol a phreifat yn darparu gofal-dydd cymunedol, preswyl a gwasanaethau eraill. Caiff hyn ei gyflawni o fewn archwiliad trwyadl o¿r materion penodol yn wynebu dinasyddion sy¿n defnyddio¿r gwasanaeth yng Nghymru gyfoes.

  • ASQ105 Introduction to Social Work Law

    This is a core module for the BSc (Hons) Social Work programme. At an introductory level, this module provides an overview of the legal processes and frameworks that inform and guide social work practice in the UK and, more specifically, Wales. This includes an introduction to the meaning and classification of law, the legislative process, devolution and its implications for the administration of justice in Wales. It will also consider the court structure (civil and criminal) and the personnel of the law and their relationship with social workers. Finally, present laws dealing with equality and discrimination will be considered in the context of developing an anti-oppressive approach to practice. Students will be encouraged to begin to critically appraise the strengths and limitations of legal frameworks in terms of human rights implications and in relation to issues of equality.

  • ASQ105W Cyflwyniad i Gyfraith Gwaith Cymdeithasol

    Mae hwn yn fodiwl craidd ar gyfer y rhaglen Gwaith Cymdeithasol BSc (Anrh). Ar lefel rhagarweiniol, mae'r modiwl hwn yn rhoi trosolwg o'r prosesau a'r fframweithiau cyfreithiol sy'n llywio ac yn arwain arferion gwaith cymdeithasol yn y DU ac, yn fwy penodol, Cymru. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cyflwyniad i ystyr a dosbarthiad y gyfraith, y broses ddeddfwriaethol, datganoli a'i oblygiadau ar gyfer gweinyddu cyfraith yng Nghymru. Bydd hefyd yn ystyried strwythur y llys (sifil a throseddol) a phersonél y gyfraith a'u perthynas â gweithwyr cymdeithasol. Yn olaf, bydd cyfreithiau presennol sy'n ymdrin â chydraddoldeb a gwahaniaethu yn cael eu hystyried yng nghyd-destun datblygu ymagwedd gwrth-ormesol tuag at ymarfer. Caiff myfyrwyr eu hannog i ddechrau gwerthuso'n feirniadol gryfderau a chyfyngiadau fframweithiau cyfreithiol o ran goblygiadau hawliau dynol ac mewn perthynas â materion cydraddoldeb.

  • ASQ204 Legal issues in Social Work and Social Care

    This module examines the legal frameworks that shape and regulate decision making in social care and social work. It considers how social workers can make use of law in a way that enables positive and socially just change, and examines the value of law from a variety of perspectives, including service users and professionals. The module covers a range of legal issues relating to social work and social care practice, including child welfare, youth justice and community care. Emphasis is given to the practical application of legal frameworks and human rights considerations to case scenarios. Particular attention is paid to how the Human Rights Act 1998 and anti-discrimination legislation informs practice.

  • SW-M02 Social Work Skills and Knowledge in Practice

    The central premise of this module is to prepare students for the 20 day observational placement followed by 80 day direct practice placement and to enable them to fulfill the requirements of the Care Council of Wales during both placements. It will also provide them with the opportunity to provide evidence of a sufficient quality, and to develop the work needed in the portfolio, to enable them to gain their professional qualification in social work and to be ready to practice independently. The module also aims to prepare the students for the academic work which they complete on placement, which is a reflective commentary. The aim is to enable the students to understand critical reflection, its role and relevance in the practice setting and its importance in ensuring best practice. This will be achieved through teaching and discussion to develop skills and knowledge, both in a large group and in seminars. Students will develop skills in linking theory, legislation, anti-discriminatory /anti-oppressive practice and the Welsh context to practice. Students will also develop a better understanding of their learning needs before going out on placement and have a clear understanding of what the expectations are. They will also have opportunity to work through ways of dealing with any problems or difficulties which may arise. Students will then go out into their practice placements, and will attend `recall¿ days to monitor their experience of placement and their understanding of how the concepts discussed work in practice.

  • SW-M07W Traethawd Estynedig mewn Ymchwil Gwaith Cymdeithasol a Thystiolaeth ar gyfer Ymarfer

    Mae'r modiwl hwn yn annog myfyrwyr i ddatblygu meddylfryd ymchwil ac yn eu paratoi ar gyfer ymarfer a gyfeirir gan dystiolaeth ar ffurf traethawd hir hunangyfeiriedig ar faes o ddiddordeb gwaith cymdeithasol. Bydd disgwyl i¿r myfyrwyr weithio¿n annibynnol gyda rhywfaint o arweiniad i gynhyrchu prosiect ymchwil achos bach (dull desg neu empirig) ar faes sy¿n berthnasol i gynulleidfaoedd yn y sector gofal cymdeithasol ac i ymarfer proffesiynol. Bydd goruchwyliwr yn cael ei glustnodi i bob myfyriwr i gefnogi eu dysgu ac i arwain eu hymchwil dros gyfnod y sesiwn academaidd. Ceir hefyd weithdai ymarferol yn edrych ar ysgrifennu¿r traethawd estynedig, a dulliau desg ac empirig o gasglu a dadansoddi data.

  • SW-M07WA Traethawd Estynedig mewn Ymchwil Gwaith Cymdeithasol a Thystiolaeth ar gyfer Ymarfer (A)

    Mae'r modiwl hwn yn annog myfyrwyr i ddatblygu meddylfryd ymchwil ac yn eu paratoi ar gyfer ymarfer a gyfeirir gan dystiolaeth ar ffurf traethawd hir hunangyfeiriedig ar faes o ddiddordeb gwaith cymdeithasol. Bydd disgwyl i¿r myfyrwyr weithio¿n annibynnol gyda rhywfaint o arweiniad i gynhyrchu prosiect ymchwil achos bach (dull desg neu empirig) ar faes sy¿n berthnasol i gynulleidfaoedd yn y sector gofal cymdeithasol ac i ymarfer proffesiynol. Bydd goruchwyliwr yn cael ei glustnodi i bob myfyriwr i gefnogi eu dysgu ac i arwain eu hymchwil dros gyfnod y sesiwn academaidd. Ceir hefyd weithdai ymarferol yn edrych ar ysgrifennu¿r traethawd estynedig, a dulliau desg ac empirig o gasglu a dadansoddi data.

  • SW-M07WB Traethawd Estynedig mewn Ymchwil Gwaith Cymdeithasol a Thystiolaeth ar gyfer Ymarfer (B)

    Mae'r modiwl hwn yn annog myfyrwyr i ddatblygu meddylfryd ymchwil ac yn eu paratoi ar gyfer ymarfer a gyfeirir gan dystiolaeth ar ffurf traethawd hir hunangyfeiriedig ar faes o ddiddordeb gwaith cymdeithasol. Bydd disgwyl i¿r myfyrwyr weithio¿n annibynnol gyda rhywfaint o arweiniad i gynhyrchu prosiect ymchwil achos bach (dull desg neu empirig) ar faes sy¿n berthnasol i gynulleidfaoedd yn y sector gofal cymdeithasol ac i ymarfer proffesiynol. Bydd goruchwyliwr yn cael ei glustnodi i bob myfyriwr i gefnogi eu dysgu ac i arwain eu hymchwil dros gyfnod y sesiwn academaidd. Ceir hefyd weithdai ymarferol yn edrych ar ysgrifennu¿r traethawd estynedig, a dulliau desg ac empirig o gasglu a dadansoddi data.

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