The University of Kent is offering a scholarship for a 3-year PhD to research one or more key topics in the field of adult social care. This studentship is linked to the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex which aims to develop applied health and social care research across the region for the benefit of patients and the public.The social care system in England provides support and care to people with long-term conditions, impairment or disability. A range of support is available, from more conventional care home and home care services to more innovative forms of person-centred support, drawing on the support of the local community, involving new technology and housing solutions. Social care in England is often delivered by private and voluntary sector organisations, in markets, with a mix of public and private funding.
There is substantially growing national attention to issues around social care, as the population ages, where long-term conditions such as dementia continue to affect many people’s lives, and also most recently in the COVID-19 pandemic. But the evidence base remains somewhat under-developed, and as such this PhD offers the chance for research to make a real contribution from a variety of disciplines – including for example, economics, psychology, social policy, health sciences and implementation sciences – and on a variety of topics.
Some relevant topics for research include investigation of following:
We welcome applications to undertake research commencing on 18 January 2021. The NIHR ARC Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS) is one of 15 ARCs across England, part of a £135 million investment by the NIHR to improve the health and care of patients and the public. Each NIHR ARC is made up of local providers of NHS services, local providers of care services, NHS commissioners, local authorities, universities, private companies and charities. These collaborations work together to conduct high quality, generalisable, applied health and care research that addresses the specific health or care issues in their region. NIHR ARCs also act to close the second translational gap and increase the rate at which research findings are implemented into practice. The 15 ARCs work collaboratively to address national research priorities, with individual ARCs providing national leadership in their areas of expertise.
The research studentship will be based within PSSRU in the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR). PSSRU is a research centre with more than 40 years of experience in delivering high-quality, policy relevant research about social care and related fields.
Scholarship value
The studentship will cover tuition fees at the standard postgraduate home/EU (£4,407 per annum plus an annual maintenance stipend £15,009 per annum. In addition, there is an annual Research Training Support allowance of £200 to cover conference attendance, training courses, equipment and books. The research studentship will be linked to the ARC KSS academy.
The studentship holder will also have the opportunity to link with other PhD students and academic colleagues in the ARC KSS programme (and potentially in related programmes). This could include research across the Kent, Surrey and Sussex area covering primary and community care, child and adolescent mental health and dementia, as well as social care and social work research. The programme also includes cross-cutting themes that relate to social care, including digital innovation, co-production, public health, and health and social care economics.
How to apply
Applicants should apply here for PhD in Social Policy and ensure that all documents are submitted by the deadline of 23.59 on 30 November 2020. Informal enquiries regarding the application process and studying for a PhD should be made to Professor Julien Forder.
PSSRU is one of the leading social care research groups in the UK and internationally. The Unit was established at the University of Kent in 1974 and carries out policy and practice social care research with a national and international remit. PSSRU’s research encompasses all aspects of the delivery of social care and produces the annual volumes of Unit Costs of Health and Social Care, which are widely used by policymakers, providers and the research community. Further information about PSSRU is available at www.pssru.ac.uk
We are looking for students who are enthusiastic about research and can become part of the research communities within ARC KSS and University of Kent.
Applicants will need an excellent (minimum 2:1) undergraduate degree and a good Masters in a relevant discipline (equivalent to merit or distinction with a substantial research training component, or be willing to undertake additional research methods training), or have an equivalent health or social care related postgraduate training course at Master's level.
Kent is a leading academic institution: 97% of our research was judged to be of international quality in the Research Excellence Framework. We are a forward-thinking research institution, committed to the transformative power of education and research and to the development and support of our students and staff.
Our objective is to secure our position as a top 20 UK university and be a globally recognised research institution by 2020. We will achieve this through The delivery of research of the highest quality, meeting international standards of excellence across the full range of our subjects, The provision of an excellent education to our students, delivered by world-class researchers, Strengthening our reputation for excellence, regionally, nationally and internationally, through effective engagement and communication with our communities and the wider world
By 2020, we will have firmly secured our position as a UK top twenty university and be a globally recognised research institution. We will build on our distinctive position as the UK’s European university to extend our reach and impact across the world and become a beacon of excellence in education and research in our region, the UK and internationally. Our global reputation will be built on the application of our knowledge and expertise to find solutions to some of the world’s major challenges.
We aim to attain the highest standards of research, judged by international comparators, across our range of subjects; to raise Kent’s research standing and visibility worldwide and embed a research culture in our academic and innovation activities.
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