Dr Gurbax Matoo

Dr Gurbax Matoo is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work.
I have undergraduate and post graduate qualifications from Coventry University and the University of Birmingham. I completed my PhD at the University of Birmingham and my thesis focussed on Social Work Interventions and Approaches to South Asian Mothers who Kill or Seriously harm their Children.
I have held Senior Lectureships and Programme Director/Leader roles for both the BA and MA Social Work programmes at the University of Northampton, Coventry University and University of Greenwich. I have also held the role of Associate Lecturer with The Open University.
I have several peer reviewed publications and have presented nationally and internationally. I am currently in the process of writing a monograph focussing on South Asian mothers who seriously harm or kill their children. I am also jointly writing on areas within social work.
I qualified as a social worker in 1997 and practised as a social worker and manager within statutory children's services. I am currently registered as a social worker with Social Work England.

• Matoo, G (2025) Book Chapter ‘Identifying the Potential Barriers South Asian Mothers Navigate when Accessing Health and Social Care Services in the UK’ in Beyond Belief: South Asian Narratives on Religion, Environment and Gender, Vernon Press, (Due for publication)
• Matoo, G. (2021) Othered Subjects: Marginalised Voices of Black and South Asian Mothers. Critical and Radical Social Work, 10 (1), 109-126 (18) Policy Press. (Peer Reviewed)
• Tedam, P., Matoo, G., Mano, I., Singh, S. (2016) Group support for transformational social work education: a study of the Black Academics Forum (BAF) Groupwork in Education, 25(2), 89-111 Whitingbirch. (Peer Reviewed)
• Matoo, G. (2015) Disciplining the boundaries of South Asian women’s sexuality: an analysis of the representation of women in independent South Asian ‘lesbian’ cinema. University of Birmingham MRes thesis

• Child protection
• Children and families
• South Asian mothers and criminality
• Women/mothers and mental health
• Mothering; motherhood
• Violence and abuse against women and girls

• Research informed practice
• Human growth and development
• Understanding the lifespan
• Understanding the professional practice in social work

• PhD: University of Birmingham
• Master of Research: University of Birmingham
• BA (Hons) in Social Work: Coventry University
• Diploma in Social Work: Coventry University
• Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education: University of Northampton
• Diploma in Social Work Practice Learning & Assessment: Coventry University
• Practice Teaching Award: General Social Care Council
• Post Qualification in Social Work: CCETSW

• BA Social Work
• MA Social Work

• Associate Editor: Child Abuse Review  - Current
• Reviewer: Journal of Family Social Work  - Current
• External Examiner  - Current

• Association of Child Protection Professionals  - Current
• Member of the National Organisation for Practice Teaching  - Current

• Registered Social Worker: Social Work England  - Current
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

• International Conference: Progressive Connexions Interdisciplinary Life. Bad Mothers A Global Inclusive Interdisciplinary Conference
• Online Conference: 6-7th March 2021. Paper Presentation: ‘Deadly Mothers.’
• Warwick University: Feminist Dissent presents Bhaji on the Beach (directed by Gurinder Chadha) Panel Member Discussion (8th May 2019)
• Television/Media: Akaal Channel: Panel Discussion: Child Sexual Abuse and Black, Indigenous and People of Colour Communities (September 2018)