Ruben Martin is a senior lecturer in social work at the University of Kent. Having obtained a professional social work qualification at Leicester University 40 years ago, he initially worked as a Probation Officer, and then as a social work lecturer from 1979 – 83 on a CQSW programme at Leicester Polytechnic. Moving to the Voluntary Sector he was for some years National Training Manager for the Salvation Army Social Services. He returned to lecturing on a DipSW programme in 1995 and has been a lecturer and tutor at the University of Kent since 2003, where he is currently director of studies for the BA (Hons) Social Work programme.