Bec Buss

Background

About Bec Buss

I stand in awe of the young people I have the privilege to work with. They keep me inspired. Currently - Independent Reviewing Officer (working in child protection and with care experienced children)- Associate Lecturer in social work/social care - Ad hoc work assessing potential adopters. I am like juggling and getting things done! Interested in working out ways to support children - working for practice development with students, individuals, teams - building solutions based on the lived experienced of those with social workers. Experienced social worker: since qualifying in 1998 I have worked in child protection, with care experienced children, adoption, supervision, assessment, adoption home studies, children and family court work, management, quality assurance, practice development etc. Experienced lecturer: since 2008 - a social work tutor/lecturer which has included development of a degree, Voice of Experience chair, module lead, admissions tutor, teaching, material design, and so on - on a respected social work course at Ruskin College, Oxford. After leaving in 2019, I joined the OU as an Associate Lecturer. Experienced Practice Educator (PEPS 1 and 2): have supported and assessed students from different backgrounds, since 1998. Experience of working in an international context (Latin America, South East Asia) for NGOs carrying out research mainly in children's issues, although my early experiences were in project work. Still working with families from many different backgrounds. My doctorate used participatory research to look at children's agency and the IRO role. After recruiting care-experienced co-researchers, we designed, conducted and analysed the research conducted with care-experienced young people and IROs. Trustee of a debt relief charity. Part of a youth work team on a voluntary basis.