Professor Vasilios Ioakimidis
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Email
v.ioakimidis@essex.ac.uk -
Location
GB.1.25, Southend Campus
Profile
Biography
I am the Founding Professor of Social Work, founder and former Director of the Centre for Social Work (now known as 'Social Work and Social Justice Divison'). In the past, I have worked at Durham University, the University of Nicosia- Cyprus, Zuyd University- Netherlands and Liverpool University. I qualified as a social worker in Greece and completed my PhD at the University of Liverpool. 鈥� Since 2017, I have been the Chair of the Global Education Commission of the International Federation of Social Workers. Through this role, I work closley with social work educators and practitioners internationally, towards developing, updating and implementing the Global Standards for Social Work Education and Training. I currently co-edit the British Journal of Social Work (Oxford University Press and BASW) and act as a steering committee member of the Social Work Action Network (SWAN), a radical social work organization that brings together social work practitioners, service users, academics and students united in their commitment to promote social justice and defend welfare rights. Most of my research revolves around the broad theme of Social Work in Extremis, an exploration of social work practice in the context of unpredictable and extraordinary political, social, economic, and environmental change. Social Work, a socially constructed and politically shaped activity, has been subjected to the same contradictions, changes and challenges as society itself. Despite the simplified mainstream narratives, it is important to appreciate that the evolution of social work has been dialectic and not linear; internal and externall to the profession contradictions and tensions constantly shape its nature. The most defining and fundamental tension is this between the "social care and social control dimensions of the profession. The overall question I have been trying to answer through my research is "how does our existing knowledge of social work evolve when established limits and well-defined boundaries are stretched towards the 鈥榰nknown鈥�. How would our current understanding of social work change if prevailing parameters were pushed to extremity鈥�. Two specific areas have, so far, attracted my research attention: a) social work practice in times of conflict (historical and current) and b) grassroots welfare movements in the context of extraordinary financial and political crises. Geographically, I have primarily focused on the regions of Southern Europe and Latin America. My epistemological approach is influenced by critical social theory and my overall view on social work follows a radical analysis.
Research and professional activities
Conferences and presentations
Confronting Social Wok鈥檚 persistent global challenges in a world 鈥渙ut of joint鈥�
Invited presentation, Keynote presentation, Global Social Work after the pandemic. Rethinking the profession., Puerto Rico, 12/11/2021
Continuing the Conversation: The IASW response to the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes.
Invited presentation, Revitalising child protection and welfare social work: innovations, hope, and community, Cork, Ireland, 22/10/2021
Keynote presentation title: Social Work, violence and resistance; a tale of two professions.
Invited presentation, Keynote presentation, Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development 2018, Convention Centre Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, 6/7/2018
Teaching and supervision
Current supervision
Previous supervision
Degree subject: Social Care Education
Degree type: Professional Doctorate
Awarded date: 13/3/2025
Degree subject: Health Care Education
Degree type: Professional Doctorate
Awarded date: 10/12/2024
Degree subject: Social Work
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 20/12/2023
Degree subject: Clinical Psychology (D Clin Psych)
Degree type: Professional Doctorate
Awarded date: 9/11/2022
Publications
Journal articles (49)
Dedotsi, S., Ioakimidis, V. and Teloni, D-D., La crisis de los Refugiados en Grecia: El desarrollo del racism. Respuestas antirracistas e implicaciones para el Trabajo Social. Comunitania. Revista Internacional de Trabajo Social y Ciencias Sociales (17), 59-59
Ioakimidis, V., Reflex玫es sobre a hist贸ria. Libertas. 19 (02), 270-285
Ioakimidis, V. and Maglajlic, R., (2025). Social work in the era of 鈥榝luid certainties鈥�. The British Journal of Social Work. 55 (1), 1-4
Ioakimidis, V., neocleous, G., Zachariades, A., Ozada, A. and Erzeybek, B., (2024). . International Social Work. 67 (1), 166-179
Ioakimidis, V. and Maglajlic, RA., (2024). Protecting Social Workers as Human Rights Defenders in a Dangerous World. The British Journal of Social Work. 54 (1), 1-2
Ioakimidis, V. and Maglajlic, RA., (2024). From Social Work Internationalisation to Social Work Internationalism: Reflections from the Joint Social Work and Social Development Conference in Panama. The British Journal of Social Work. 54 (3), 843-845
Maglajlic, RA. and Ioakimidis, V., (2024). Editorial: Preparing for Social Work Practice. The British Journal of Social Work. 54 (6), 2331-2335
Ioakimidis, V. and Maglajlic, RA., (2023). Neither 鈥楴eo-Luddism鈥� nor 鈥楴eo-Positivism鈥�; Rethinking Social Work鈥檚 Positioning in the Context of Rapid Technological Change. The British Journal of Social Work. 53 (2), 693-697
Baxter, V., Speed, E., Ioakimidis, V. and Ross, M., (2023). . BMC Health Services Research. 23 (1), 323-
Maglajlic, RA., Thomas, E. and Ioakimidis, V., (2023). Editorial: Voice and Influence of People with Lived Experience in Social Work Research and Publishing鈥擳aking Stock and Planning Future Actions. The British Journal of Social Work. 53 (4), 1941-1944
Ioakimidis, V. and Maglajlic, AR., (2023). Revitalising Communities of Shared Knowledge in the Wake of a Global Crisis. The British Journal of Social Work. 53 (5), 2475-2477
Maglajlic, RA. and Ioakimidis, V., (2023). Editorial. The British Journal of Social Work. 53 (6), 3013-3014
Maglajlic, RA. and Ioakimidis, V., (2023). Finding a Path to Social Justice within Fractured Belonging in Pressurised Environments, Facing Circumstances That No Longer Feel 鈥楨xceptional鈥�. The British Journal of Social Work. 53 (8), 3543-3545
Maglajlic, RA. and Ioakimidis, V., (2022). The Deliberately Silenced and Preferably Unheard, Part Two鈥擠iscriminatory Epistemic Injustice and Distributive Injustice in Social Work. The British Journal of Social Work. 52 (1), 1-5
Ioakimidis, V., O鈥機onnell, L., Baxter, V., Chard, K., Speed, E. and White, G., (2022). . International Social Work. 65 (3), 406-420
Maglajlic, RA. and Ioakimidis, V., (2022). Editorial鈥擜 Time Capsule of Hope for the Future of Social Work at the Time of Crisis, Conflict, Injustice and Change. The British Journal of Social Work. 52 (3), 1189-1191
Ioakimidis, V., Neocleous, G., Zachariades, A., Ozada, A. and Erzeybek, B., (2022). . European Journal of Social Work. 25 (4), 696-707
Ioakimidis, V. and Maglajli膰, RA., (2022). Social Work Responses to Armed and Political Conflict. The British Journal of Social Work. 52 (4), 1801-1804
Maglajlic, RA. and Ioakimidis, V., (2022). Editorial: A Call to Action鈥擵oice and Influence of People with Experiences of Social and Health Care in Social Work Knowledge and Social Services. The British Journal of Social Work. 52 (5), 2431-2436
Ioakimidis, V., Teloni, D., Marakgozakis, A., Mourati, F., Papadopoulou, E., Papazoglou, A., Psyrraki, MA. and Rizopoulou, L., (2022). . Critical and Radical Social Work. 10 (3), 405-421
Ioakimidis, V. and Maglajlic, RA., (2022). Global Inequality, Failed Systems and the Need for a Paradigm Shift. The British Journal of Social Work. 52 (2), 605-608
Ioakimidis, V. and Maglajlic, RA., (2022). Social Work鈥檚 Contribution towards an Eco-Social World; the People鈥檚 Charter. The British Journal of Social Work. 52 (6), 3073-3077
(2022). Editors鈥� Note鈥擳hank You to Reviewers. The British Journal of Social Work. 52 (8), 5132-5136
Ioakimidis, V. and Maglajlic, RA., (2022). Social Work Reflections on a 鈥榃orld out of Joint鈥�. The British Journal of Social Work. 52 (8), 4475-4476
Ioakimidis, V. and Maglajlic, RA., (2021). Post-Pandemic Recovery Requires 鈥楳ore and Better鈥� Mental Health Services. The British Journal of Social Work. 51 (3), 791-793
Ana Maglajlic, R. and Ioakimidis, V., (2021). The Deliberately Silenced and the Preferably Unheard鈥擯articipation, Power and Knowledge Creation in Social Work Learning, Doing, and Research. The British Journal of Social Work. 51 (2), 385-388
Ioakimidis, V. and Maglajlic, RA., (2021). Time for a Well-Deserved Tribute to Social Work鈥檚 Research Resilience and a Call for a Long Overdue Debate. The British Journal of Social Work. 51 (1), 1-2
Maglajlic, RA. and Ioakimidis, V., (2021). Editorial: Safety and Risk, Blame and Change鈥攊n Whose Name and with What Consideration of Local, National, and International Contexts of Social Work Practice?. The British Journal of Social Work. 51 (7), 2277-2281
Lavalette, M. and Ioakimidis, V., (2021). The fire last time: the 鈥榬econceptualisation鈥� radical social work movement in Latin America (1965鈥�75). Critical and Radical Social Work. 9 (1), 3-4
Ioakimidis, V. and Sookraj, D., (2021). . International Social Work. 64 (2), 161-174
Maglajlic, RA. and Ioakimidis, V., (2021). Social Work and the Quest for Environment Justice; a Call to Action. The British Journal of Social Work. 51 (8), 2869-2871
Ioakimidis, V., (2021). . Propuestas Cr铆ticas en Trabajo Social. 1 (1), 26-38
Ioakimidis, V. and Trimikliniotis, N., (2020). . The British Journal of Social Work. 50 (6), 1890-1908
Maglajli膰, RA. and Ioakimidis, V., (2020). Editorial: New Beginnings and Enduring Concerns鈥擨nequalities, Social Justice and Understanding of Structural Issues in Social Work Practice, Education and Knowledge Production. The British Journal of Social Work. 50 (7), 1937-1941
Ioakimidis, V. and Maglajlic, RA., (2020). Editorial: Black Lives Matter, Biopolitics and the Social Work Response. The British Journal of Social Work. 50 (6), 1647-1651
Campbell, J., Ioakimidis, V. and Maglajlic, RA., (2019). . European Journal of Social Work. 66 (2), 1073-1084
Giannou, D. and Ioakimidis, V., (2019). . Critical Social Policy. 40 (3), 370-388
Harrop, D. and Ioakimidis, V., (2018). . European Journal of Social Work. 21 (5), 724-736
Ioakimidis, V., (2018). Domesticating radicalism or radicalising domestic politics? A reply to Trimikliniotis. Global Discourse. 8 (2), 321-324
Dominelli, L. and Ioakimidis, V., (2017). The local鈥揼lobal nexus in social work education and practice. International Social Work. 60 (2), 265-270
Lavalette, M. and Ioakimidis, V., (2017). . Social theory, Empirics, Policy and Practice. 13 (2016), 117-132
Dominelli, L. and Ioakimidis, V., (2016). The Challenges of Realising Social Justice in 21 st Century Social Work. International Social Work. 59 (6), 693-696
Ioakimidis, V. and Dominelli, L., (2016). The challenges of dignity and worth for all: Social work perspectives. International Social Work. 59 (4), 435-437
Ioakimidis, V., (2015). The two faces of Janus; Rethinking social work in the context of conflict.. Social Dialogue. 10 (10)
Ioakimidis, V., Santos, CC. and Herrero, IM., (2014). . International Social Work. 57 (4), 285-300
Ioakimidis, V., Maria Ines, M. and Clara, S., (2014). Reconceptualizando el Travajo Social en Europa Del Sur; El retorno de la pol铆tica 鈥渆n tiempos de malestares鈥� Servicios Sociales y Pol铆tica Social. Servicios Sociales y Pol铆tica Social. 2 (10), 11-24
Martinez Herrero, MI., Ioakimidis, V. and Cruz Santos, C., (2014). Reconceptualizando el trabajo social en Europa del sur: El retorno de la pol铆tica 鈥渆n tiempos de malestares鈥�. Servicios Sociales y Pol铆tica Social. XXXI (106), 11-24
Ioakimidis, V., Yanarda臒, U., Bennett, CF. and Teloni, D., (2013). Austerity and social work in Europe: listening to the voices of resistance. Critical and Radical Social Work. 1 (2), 253-261
Ioakimidis, V., (2011). Expanding imperialism, exporting expertise: International social work and the Greek project, 1946鈥�74. International Social Work. 54 (4), 505-519
Books (5)
Ioakimidis, V., Social Work for Social Justice (in Greek). Ion Publishers
Ioakimidis, V. and Wyllie, A., (2023). . Policy Press. 1447364287. 9781447364283
Lavalette, M. and Ioakimidis, V., (2020). Social Work and the COVID-19 Pandemic International Insights. Policy Press. 1447360362. 9781447360360
Ferguson, I., Ioakimidis, V. and Lavalette, M., (2018). . Policy Press. 1447322673. 9781447322672
Lavalette, M. and Ioakimidis, V., (2011). Social work in extremis: Lessons for social work internationally. Policy Press. 1847427189. 9781847427182
Book chapters (11)
Ioakimidis, V., Social Work in Global Context 鈥� Reflections on a Rapidly Changing Profession. In: Social Work Case Analysis; Global Perspectives. Editors: Lotko, M., . Riga Stradins University Publications
Ioakimidis, V. and Wyllie, A., (2023). . In: Social Work's Histories of Complicity and Resistance A Tale of Two Professions. Editors: Ioakimidis, V. and Wyllie, A., . Policy Press. 3- 28. 9781447364283
Martinez Herrero, M. and Ioakimidis, V., (2020). Las 鈥渉istorias oscuras鈥� del trabajo social y su importancia desde el enfoque de derechos humanos. In: Los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible desde una perspectiva de los Derechos Humanos, el Trabajo Social y la Comunicaci贸n. Editors: Herranz de la Casa, JM. and G贸mez Ciriano, EJ., . Tirant lo Blanch. 185- 206. 9788413782089
Ioakimidis, V. and Trimikliniotis, N., (2019). Imperialism, colonialism and a Marxist epistemology of 'critical peace'. In: The Routledge Handbook of Critical Social Work. Editors: Webb, S., . Routledge International Handbooks. 560- 571. 1138578436. 9781138578432
Ioakimidis, V. and Trimikliniotis, N., (2019). Social Work and the Cyprus Problem: The Challenges of Reconciliation in the De Factor Divided and Crisis-Ridden Societies. In: International Perspectives on Social Work and Political Conflict. Editors: Duffy, J., Campbell, J. and Tosone, C., . 1138557307. 9781138557307
Ioakimidis, V. and Dora Dimitra, T., (2019). Reflections on the development, ideology and practice of anti-racist social work in Greece.. In: Anti-Racist Social Work; International Perspectives. Editors: Singh, G. and Masocha, S., . Red Globe Press. 1352008165. 9781352008166
Ioakimidis, V., (2015). Neocolonialism and Social Work. In: International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences. Elsevier. 456- 461. 9780080970875
Ioakimidis, V., (2011). Conclusion: Social work in extremis - some general conclusions. In: Social Work in Extremis: Lessons for Social Work Internationally. 167- 171
Hinestroza, C. and Ioakimidis, V., (2011). In search of emancipatory social work practice in contemporary Colombia: working with the despalzados in Bogota. In: Social work in extremis. Policy Press. 81- 92
Ioakimidis, V., (2011). Welfare under warfare: the Greek struggle for emancipatory social welfare (1940鈥�44). In: Social work in extremisLessons for social work internationally. Policy Press. 115- 132. 9781847427182
Lavalette, M. and Ioakimidis, V., (2011). International social work or social work internationalism? Radical social work in global perspective. In: Radical Social Work Today: Social Work at the Crossroads. 135- 152
Reports and Papers (1)
O'Connell, L., Baxter, V., Ioakimidis, V. and Speed, E., (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on families and services in Southend
Grants and funding
2022
Development of Research Group focussed on Critical Public Health and Social Care Policy
East Suffolk and North 糖心Vlog NHS Foundation Trust
2021
Exploring opportunities for innovation and impact in improving outcomes for children and families. Mid and South 糖心Vlog Health Care Partnership (MSEHCP)
A BETTER START SOUTHEND
Summative Evaluation of the A Better Start Southend programme
Southend Borough Council
2020
NIHR CRN Eastern Social Care Research Readiness Project
National Institute for Health Research
NIHR CRN Eastern Social Care Research Readiness Project
National Institute for Health Research
NIHR CRN Eastern Social Care Research Readiness Project
National Institute for Health Research
Knowledge, Research and Evaluation Strategy - A Better Start Southend
A BETTER START SOUTHEND
Evaluation of the YMCA project in Southend: 'Our Voice, Our Passions, Our Future'
Southend YMCA
NIHR CRN Eastern Social Care Research Readiness Project
National Institute for Health Research
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