My mother, Gloria Jenkins, who has died aged 86, embarked on a career in social work and education in the late 1950s. She first worked as a house mother in children’s homes, then as a childcare officer in Camberwell, south-east London, and Glamorgan, south Wales.
In 1972 Gloria was appointed lecturer in social work at Gwent College of Higher Education and thus embarked on 25 years of social work education and latterly university administration. Just as she had been a professional, skilled and empathetic social worker she became an inspirational teacher. As course director for the certificate of qualification in social work she supported hundreds of social workers in their desire to join the profession.
