Staff Profile

  • Robin teaches on modules and programmes from Foundation stage to Masters, as well as being an External Examiner for two HEI’s. He has a BA in Social Work and an MSc in Attachment Studies. Robin is a freelance trainer, also supporting students as an Independent Tutor for a number of universities. He is a member of BASW (British Association of Social Workers) and is registered with SWE (Social Work England). Robin’s interests are related to what unknown forces drive action (intuition) and attachment across the life course. Robin is a Doctoral Researcher and is in the final year of his Doctorate. As part of his Doctorate, he has developed knowledge and skills in Critical Discourse Analysis, the advanced use of NVivo as a method of qualitative data analysis and application of Thematic analysis. These skills have been developed as part of research projects aligned to Doctorial Studies.    

  • The main focus of my teaching centres around Social Welfare, Safeguarding Children and Children’s rights. I lead on a number of modules that are precisely focused on enhancing students’ knowledge and understanding of current Social Welfare issues that face Children, Young People and Families. I currently teach across a range of modules from the Foundation Degree to a number of Masters Degrees. I equally contribute to a range of modules across the Faculty of Health, Education and Society to include Social Work, Special Educational Needs, Children and Adolescent Mental Health and Education Studies.

  • I am currently undertaking my Professional Doctorate through the University of Northampton.

    1. Digital Literacy in Social Work.
    2. Role of intuition in Social Work decision making.
    3. Extent to which intuition is taught in Social Work Education.
  • For publications, projects, datasets, research interests and activities, view Robin Sturman-Coombs’s research profile on Pure, the University of Northampton’s Research Explorer.

    1. Review of The Attachment Bond: Affectional Ties Across the Lifespan by V. Shiller. Publication in BJSW. 2018.
    2. The Importance of nurturing intuition in Social Work Education, April 2022. PSW- Professional Social Work.
    3. “The Art and Science of Intuition”, PGR Conference, June 2022.