Paula Swift is a member of the Workforce Panel of the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health & Social Care Workforce, King's College London.

Since qualifying as a social worker, in 1996, I have worked in a range of settings including in medium and low secure and non-secure inpatient settings in LA’s and the NHS, within residential care and in the community working with different service user groups including children and young people with mental health problems, older people with dementia and physical health issues, and adults with a Learning Disability, mental health issues and forensic needs. 

I am the Professional Head of Social Work within Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust and have oversight of setting the professional direction for social work services across the trust, development of professional practice, quality improvement and service development in social work, accountability for the delivery  of social work  services within the trust, support the Think Ahead cohorts, oversee the ASYE programme, facilitate CPD events and network meetings and lead on various projects locally and nationally to support NHS Social Work Leadership and workforce planning. In addition, I am due to start my PhD (2024) with York St John focusing on burnout and social work retention in the NHS.