Beverley Samways
Social Work
PhD Researcher in Social Work (ESRC 1+3)
University of Bristol, School for Policy StudiesStart date: September 2017
Research topic: Psychological and emotional factors relating to self-injury for young people with complex needs
Research supervisors: Prof. Pauline Heslop
Email: bs17787@my.bristol.ac.uk
Florie Schmits
Social Work
ESRC +3
University of Bristol, School for Policy StudiesStart date: October 2022
Research topic: Sibling placement in State care in England: barriers and facilitators
My mixed-methods study aims to get a detailed view of facilitators and barriers to placing looked after siblings together in care. Because even though studies have shown the positive effects of placing looked after siblings together on placement stability, permanency, mental health and well-being, only one-third of looked after children live with their sibling(s) in care. I will conduct a quantitative case file analysis and hold interviews with social workers to answer my research questions.Research supervisors: Esther Dermott, Dinithi Wijedasa
Email: florie.schmits@bristol.ac.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/florieschmits/
Gitau Gakuo
Social Work
PhD Researcher in Social Work (ESRC +3)
University of Bath, Department of Social and Policy SciencesStart date: October 2019
Research topic: Safeguarding: Personal or Political?
My study seeks to investigate the risk perceptions of safeguarding practitioners that influences their decision making in order to fulfil the legal obligations placed on them by the inception of the Care Act 2014. The Act stipulates that these decision-making processes be as collaborative as possible with the adults deemed to be at risk of abuse. Utilising critical interpretive synthesis to explore the debates surrounding the introduction of the legal obligation in the Care Act 2014, the study will also seek to explore the views of service users who have been involved in safeguarding investigations.Research supervisors: Dr Jeremy Dixon, Professor Judy Laing
Professional memberships/Positions held:
Registered Social Worker.Email: gg505@bath.ac.uk
Maike Klein
Social Work, Student Rep
PhD Researcher in Social Work (ESRC 1+3)
University of Bath, Department of Social and Policy SciencesStart date: October 2017
Research topic: Living through Relapse: Recovery Narratives of Young Adults in the U.K. who have suffered from Multiple Relapses from Substance Misuse
My PhD project seeks to investigate the lived experiences of young adults in the UK, who have suffered from multiple relapses during their recovery journey from substance misuse. By employing qualitative research methods, my project will investigate narratives of those who have relapsed two or more times during their recovery journey, and provide a better understanding of what constitutes relapse and recovery. In addition, my project will explore the similarities and differences between relapse narratives of service users and service providers, which will allow for recommendations within treatment practices and policy.Research supervisors: Dr Jeremy Dixon, Dr Tina Skinner
Professional memberships/Positions held:
I am an ESRC Student Representative and a Professional Member of the Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA).Email: mk2073@bath.ac.uk
Naomi Clarke
Social Work
PhD Researcher in Social Work (ESRC 1+3)
University of Bristol, School for Policy StudiesStart date: September 2016
Research topic: Exploring the narratives, motivations and experiences of women engaging in an online sewalong: #fussycuttingsewalong
My PhD seeks to explore the stories of women engaging in a digital-led sewalong, their experiences, their motivations, the meanings they ascribe both to the sewalong and to sewing more generally, and the role of social media in relation to these factors.Research supervisors: Dr Debbie Watson, Dr Helen Manchester
Email: nc12824@my.bristol.ac.uk
Website/Blog: https://naomialice.co.uk/
Sue Austin
Social Work
PhD Researcher in Social Work (ESRC 1+3)
University of Bristol, School for Policy StudiesStart date: September 2012
Research topic: Post-Adoption Sibling Contact
Sue is a PhD student and practising Social Worker. Sue completed an MSc in Social Work Research at Bristol in 2015, before commencing her PhD studies. Sue is in the second year of a part-time PhD, currently undertaking a literature review and preparing a methodology chapter for a qualitative study, aiming to explore the experiences of adults who have been separated from their siblings through adoption.Research supervisors: Julie Selwyn, Elaine Farmer
Email: sue.austin@bristol.ac.uk
Yu-Ching Liu
Social Work
Social Work +3
University of Bath, Department of Social and Policy SciencesStart date: September 2021
Research topic: Quality of life in family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia
My research seeks to explore the experience of caring of family caregivers, who have been caring for family member with schizophrenia. A sequential explanatory mixed-method study combining quantitative and qualitative research methods will be employed in the project. The correlation between carers’ perceptive burden, family functioning, social and professional support will be examined via quantitative methods. Additionally, an in-depth interview will be employed to explore carers’ attitudes towards long-term care services and their views on whether support services contribute to their ability to meet their caring responsibilities.Research supervisors: Dr Jeremy Dixon , Dr Demi Patsios , Dr Theodoros Papadopoulos
Email: ycl202@bath.ac.uk
South West Doctoral Training Partnership
