Dr John-Paul King

School of Health & Society

Photo of Dr John-Paul King

Current positions

Lecturer in Social Work

Biography

I left school with few qualifications - working initially as a support worker on a government scheme (YOP) in the early 1980s. This led to a career in social care: Support Worker (5 years) - Residential Care: people physical disabilities, older people with dementia and night-shelter for homeless people. Residential Care Management (9 years) - Older people and Younger Adults with Disabilities – eventually Registered Manager of a residential home for younger people with disabilities.

I qualified as a social worker in 1995 - Adults Social Work in various roles (Westminster, City of London (Barts Hospital), Camden, Islington, Lambeth, Croydon & Richmond)
Duty Social Worker (Adults - Westminster)
Older People, Older People’s Mental Health
Hospital Social Work
People with Disabilities
Palliative/End of Life Care (City of London/Marie Curie)
Adults’ Safeguarding
Best Interest Assessing/DOLS
Social Work Management
Working in both voluntary and public sector (Local Authorities and NHS).

Academic background: BA(Hons) Social Work Studies – Manchester Metropolitan University
MA – Sociology/Social Anthropology of Religion – King’s College, London
PhD Sociology of Religion/Theology & Religious Studies – King’s College, London – AHRC Funded - subject of thesis….

Higher Education Experience:
2010 - Graduate Teaching Assistant - King's College, London
2016-2018 - University of Bedfordshire - Applied Social Science Lecturer.
2018-2022: Senior Lecturer/Programme Lead -in Social Work - Staffordshire University
2022-Present – Lecturer in Social Work/Joint Programme Leader – University of Salford

Areas of Research

End of life care/living with life-limiting illness…
Religion and welfare/Religion and the state.
Multi-disciplinary working
Working with and supporting carers

Qualifications and Recognitions

Qualifications
  • Sociology of Religion

    2009 - 2016
  • Religion in Contemporary Society

    2007 - 2008
  • Social Work Studies

    1993 - 1996
  • Diploma in Social Work

    1993 - 1995