Shauneen O'Connor

Service Improvement Manager ~ All views are my own.

[PEPL Development Hub @PEPLdevelopment]

📚 Monday Study Support

Critical writing isn’t about being negative 👀
It’s about analysing, questioning, linking theory to practice and showing deeper understanding.

Think about 'how' and 'why', not just 'what'.

The more you practise, the more confident you’ll become 💜

[PEPL Development Hub @PEPLdevelopment]

📚 Monday Motivation: Stop trying to read everything
Academic reading is about reading strategically, not endlessly. Scan first, take short notes, track your sources & focus on what’s relevant to your assignment.
Below is a Reading Record Tool to help keep your reading organised!

[PEPL Development Hub @PEPLdevelopment]

🎓 Tuesday Tips: Reflective Practice

It’s not just what you do — it’s how and why you do it.

Think ahead. Adapt in the moment. Reflect after.

That’s how practice becomes progress.

💬 What helps you reflect?

#PEPL #PracticeLearning #Placement #ReflectivePractice

[PEPL Development Hub @PEPLdevelopment]

Some info on what to expect at PEPL Hub 👇

[PEPL Development Hub @PEPLdevelopment]

🎓 Weekend Reminder for Students: You Don’t Have to Choose Between Productivity & Wellbeing!
With exam season & deadlines looming, it can feel like every hour should be spent studying, so the guilt creeps in when you take breaks… but that’s not how sustainable success works (1/)

[PEPL Development Hub @PEPLdevelopment]

At PEPL, we are excited to share that work is well under way in the creation of our new and innovative Development Hub!

In the meantime, we will be sharing a snapshot of what to expect from the PEPL Hub.

Stay tuned for more details!

[Dr Amanda Shields @AmandaShields86]

At @OUBelfast we are incredibly proud of our Level2 SW student, Charlotte, who spearheaded this amazing project as part of her placement (& employment) with @SouthernHSCT. Charlotte undertook this to met the community development requirement & this work will have a vast impact!🎉

[Shauneen O'Connor @shauneen04]

Fantastic work led by @OUBelfast social work student, well done to everyone involved 👏 Does your heart good to see passionate and creative social workers coming through, making the key principles of important legislation more accessible 🤗 #creativepractice #HumanRights

[Marsha Begley @MarshaSwMum]

Please Watch. Social Care staff taking the lead #LearningDisabilityWeek #SocialCareMatters https://t.co/HwzfOJEIDv

[Helen Bevan @HelenBevan]

"We aren't currently facing a "disengagement crisis" at work. What we're really facing is a mattering deficit".
Mattering is knowing we’re significant to our leaders & key members of our group. When we experience mattering, we flourish - we’re more motivated & persistent & experience greater well-being. But when we feel we don’t matter, we languish & either act out in desperation or withdraw. Noticing is a key component of mattering. It is the deliberate act of paying attention to the details, ebbs & flows of someone’s life and work.
Three ways leaders can become better noticers:
1) identify barriers to seeing others: the biggest barrier is being too busy to take the time.
2) deliberately make space & use time for connection.
3) ask questions & check in, in order to gather information & address the concerns of people in our teams:
https://t.co/IzE8rGMo62. By @ZachMercurio in @HarvardBiz
An overview of his new book: https://t.co/l9djLNQYrv

[Dr Amanda Shields @AmandaShields86]

Todays #MoveAMileADayInMay took me to Dublin for the @AISWRConf alongside @OUBelfast @OpenUniversity social work colleagues. Fantastic day hearing the incredible research undertaken across the island of Ireland. Really highlights the impact of social work practitioner research!

[Shauneen O'Connor @shauneen04]

Great fireside discussion @AISWRConf today. @AmandaShields86 shared the importance of changing how we conceptualise research as it is about being research minded and evidence informed, which are central to being a critical practitioner @OUBelfast @DrImeldaHaran #KnowledgeExchange

[Shauneen O'Connor @shauneen04]

Great Gasta presentation from Ann Flynn @outfield_2, talking about the importance of supporting students to grow their professional identity @AISWRConf in Dublin today. @OUBelfast @OpenUniversity @AmandaShields86 @DrImeldaHaran #KnowledgeExchange

[Shauneen O'Connor @shauneen04]

@Emckay19 @BelfastTrust @Hine10Lisa @brendanmccon @cmclaughlin This is a great initiative! Well done to everyone involved in setting this up 👏

[Shauneen O'Connor @shauneen04]

@AmandaShields86 Such a beautiful view 😍

[Dr Amanda Shields @AmandaShields86]

Excited to be here today on behalf of @OUBelfast at the Regional Social Work Awards, hosted by @WesternHSCTrust at Manor House Hotel. Congrats and good luck to all nominees, you are all winners 🏆 Fab day to celebrate excellence in social work! #SWAwards2025

[Shauneen O'Connor @shauneen04]

@LisaTMSA @PPR_Org This is a fantastic idea - love it!

[Dr Amanda Shields @AmandaShields86]

Very proud of Gerard & all of our @OUBelfast social work students. Studying our unique employment based route offers an excellent opportunity for people like Gerard who are skilled social care workers. Our degree requires self determination & committment, but it is well worth it!

[Helen Bevan @HelenBevan]

As leaders we are role models: our words, deeds & the environment we create are massively amplified to those around us. New research evidence shows that people will take on more challenging tasks if they see others around them do so. It's like a form of social contagion. If, as leaders, we visibly engage in & embrace challenging tasks, we can influence our team members to do the same, encouraging a culture of growth, innovation & collective support.
https://t.co/08O4UkRhsm. Via @CansuOgulmus. Graphic by @marissashandell.

[Dr Amanda Shields @AmandaShields86]

Postdocs take a look! Come work alongside me on this fantastic project 👋