Who we are
The Practice Learning team is based in Sheffield and serves a wide geographical area. The core team is:
Nell Farrell - Service Development Manager
I am very much a “voluntary sector baby” – my first job after getting a degree in French from Hull University was with a young volunteer organisation – taking a minibus of assorted young people around Hull to wreak entirely charming havoc on the kitchens and gardens of the older members of their communities. After that I worked as a YTS Training Supervisor and a Neighbourhood Energy Advice Worker before moving to York to work as the deputy manager of the MIND Day Centre there. Along-side my paid work in both cities I was involved as a volunteer counsellor with Rape Crisis for many years.
In 1988 I went to Liverpool to do my CQSW and afterwards worked there for a year in a children & families team. I moved to Sheffield in 1991 having decided that I wanted to be back in the voluntary sector, and worked for 2 years as Training Officer for Sheffield Advice Centres Group. My other jobs in Sheffield have been with Parson Cross Domestic Abuse Project and the Sheffield Carers Centre.
Time with the PLC
I took up my post as Consortium Co-ordinator in September 1998 and continued in this post until 2008 when within our major re-organisation, I became Service Development Manager.
I work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and my main areas of responsibility are the on-going development of practice learning quality assurance, training delivery (PA Course and other workshops) and our pool of off-site assessors.
Interests outside of work
As well as my work with the Consortium I teach creative writing for the WEA and write and perform as a poet. I had a collection of poems The Wrong Evangeline published in 2003 by Panshine Press and am one of the authors of Some Girls’ Mothers a recently-published collection of writings about mothers and daughters (Route 2008).
I have recently been involved in a piece of freelance work with Teeside University to set up a University Certificate in Professional Development for social work practice educators, with a specific focus on practice learning in “non-traditional” settings.
Peter Duff - Business Manager
I took up post in September 2008 and have extensive experience of working in the voluntary sector and the challenges of managing a specialist social enterprise. I worked in higher education for a number of years including project management in Africa, Asia and eastern Europe as part of major international development projects in education. My main responsibilites for the PLC are:
- financial management
- business development
- contracts and fund raising
- developing networks and partnerships
I am also an Associate Lecturer with the Open University Business School. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, sports, gardening, cooking and travel. As a life long Stoke City supporter I am used to life's disappointments!
Evelyn Cooper - Senior Administrative Officer
I originally trained as a history teacher but rather late in life moved to admin. I've been here 9 years, after doing similar work for 6 years in another voluntary sector agency and I provide general admin support. Other interests include Family History and I’m a member of St Thomas church, Crookes.