Permala Sehmar

Permala is a qualified and registered social worker and youth and community development worker. She is a Lecturer in Social Work and completed her PhD at the University of Sheffield where she has held teaching roles since 2017. Permala has over twenty-five years’ experience in practice, leadership and policy development across the voluntary and statutory social care sector. This includes a variety of roles from social worker, project worker, team, service and area manager in Black and South Asian Women’s domestic abuse refuges, child protection, community development, mental health, post-abuse therapeutic services and youth services. Her doctoral thesis: `Can we let families speak about domestic violence and abuse (DVA) and listen? Exploring family and restorative practices in the context of DVA and contact with child protection services.` focuses on DVA with marginalised families, relationality, family  practices across the life course and child protection responses. Permala is committed to the support and development of humane social work practice.