Name: Clem Deniran
Subject: MSc Social Work
Graduated: 1994
Place of work: Barnardo’s
Position: Assistant Director Children’s Services

What first attracted you to Royal Holloway?

I had a degree in Sociology and had been studying for the ACCA professional accounting examinations before making a decision to pursue a career in social work.

What did Royal Holloway teach you?

I liked my lecturers and enjoyed the breadth of the course. There was a wide range of compulsory courses which prepared me for future social work practice and gave me a variety of options to pursue.  

The depth of knowledge on the course equipped me for teaching and delivering training with social work organisations. The variety of workshops helped me to relate what I was learning to real life situations.

Undertaking a postgraduate in Social Work gave me a career advantage and helped fast track my progress into social work management.

What’s happened in your career?

I currently manage two of Barnardo’s schools for children with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. Management of schools is an experience I only acquired since joining Barnardo’s and one which I find invaluable.

I most enjoy the variety of projects that I have to manage which provides me a wide range of experience outside mainstream social work management.

During the course of my career I have undertaken study in leadership, postgraduate study in management and been a trainer/consultant for some organisations.

It has all helped to ground me in the field and exposed me to various theories and ways of thinking which have influenced my practice, decision-making and career progression.

Name: Derrick Osinde
Subject: BSc Social Work
Graduated: 2012
Place of work: Hounslow Council
Position: Social Worker and Prevent LAC Specialist

What first attracted you to Royal Holloway?

I chose Royal Holloway because it has a great reputation and is well-established. Once I came to speak to the staff and had a look around, I was taken back by the support that was available for students. I hadn't been in education since school and I knew this would be important for me.

I have a learning difficulty and sometimes needed to have staff take slightly more time with me. This was always available and the tutors always made time to assist me.

What did Royal Holloway teach you?

My time at Royal Holloway gave me the confidence to start a new journey. I now plan to return to study as a Systemic Family Therapist and feel that my degree and time at the university helped me to believe in myself.

During my time there I was able to become much more confident in my written work, presentation and research skills, which all helped me to take on new tasks in life with self-assurance. Obtaining my degree has allowed me to be more positive about myself in work and my ability to learn new things, and given me a real sense of achievement. The degree changed my life, and I look forward to my future and feel excited about studying again.

Your degree will be challenging, but through good relationships with your tutors it will be easier and you will get the support you need at every corner. Take the lead in your learning and you will be successful and achieve your targets.

What’s happened in your career?

I now work as a full-time Social Worker and Prevent LAC Specialist for Hounslow Council Children's Services. As part of my role I contribute to parenting assessments for cases in care proceedings, both in the form of assessing aspects of parenting capacity jointly with Clinical Senior Social workers and from direct one-to-one work with children and adolescents.

My reports and the outcomes of interventions help inform assessments and ensure that the perspectives of the children and youths have been raised and heard in court. I conduct psychosocial one to one work with adults, children and adolescents jointly with the team Psychotherapist; this work has been both of a supportive but also therapeutic nature.

I'm also involved in family support work, group work with parents and targeted youth work in child protection cases, 'child in need' cases as well as under the remit of preventing LAC. I work continuously and closely with the teams of Clinical Social Workers, Parenting Practitioners, Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapists. This has given me some clinical experience as well as improved my analytical thinking skills.