Hidden in plain sight: UK social work educator views of preparedness to work with individuals and families affected by ABI

Caroline Bald, Alyson Norman, Akudo Amadiegwu, Talis Spirit, Temiloluwa Ademakinwa, Mark Linden, Mark Holloway, Michael Clark and Andrew Bateman

LSE Research Online Documents on Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library

Abstract: Acquired brain injury (ABI) is the leading cause of adulthood injury-related death and disability worldwide. Despite ABI’s prevalence, little is known about the extent to which social workers are prepared for brain injury working and specifically pre-qualifying brain injury curricula. This study employed a nine-item survey regarding brain injury social work knowledge. The survey asked about curricula inclusion within social work pre-qualification via multiple education providers to understand the extent to which brain injury training is incorporated within UK courses. This included a series of open-ended questions. Data from 36 survey respondents identified that 1) there was an acknowledged gap in ABI pre-qualifying curricula inclusion and educator knowledge; (2) ten respondents had personal experience of brain injury; (3) the majority of respondents believed brain injury social work education should be mandatory pre-qualifying; (4) there were pockets of good practice prompted by personal or local interest; and (5) there was no mention of interprofessional learning. The study highlights a need for the inclusion of brain injury training within pre-qualification social work curricula across the UK which may relate to a wider lack of knowledge about brain injury social work among educators.

Keywords: brain injury; social work education; curriculum; acquired brain injury; traumatic brain injury (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J01 R14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 19 pages
Date: 2026-09-03
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Published in Social Work Education, 3, September, 2026. ISSN: 0261-5479

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