Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Degrees in Health and Social Care
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ into health and social care is undertaken within the School of Health and Social Care.
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ within these departments includes an extensive range of research, evaluation and development work in the field of health and social care. The aim is to provide high quality research and development which has impact and is useful and relevant to policy makers, managers and practitioners. Our research themes include: Cancer and Life Limiting Conditions, Public Health, Wellness and Community Care, Managing Mental and Physical Health, Education and Workforce Transformation.
Our research and evaluation projects are designed specifically to suit individual customer's and funders needs and we undertake both short-term and long term contracts. We work closely with our clients to ensure we deliver services which meet their requirements, and have experience working with a broad customer base, including health authorities, social services departments, local councils, voluntary and community organisations, charities, and government agencies. We have expertise in a broad range of research approaches including evaluation, case studies, action research, participatory methods, surveys and qualitative methods.
In the 2014 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Excellence Framework (REF), our research was submitted to UoA3, 70% of our research was rated as world-leading and internationally excellent (4* and 3*), with 75% of our research environment judged to be 3* or 4*. We have a community of approximately 50 postgraduate students in Health and Social Care who are at the heart of contributing to our research output. All doctoral students are supported by a comprehensive programme of doctoral training and encouraged to present their research findings at national and international conferences.
Our research is divided into four thematic areas, under which a rich variety of research takes place. Visit the research profiles of the members within a theme to find someone who’s research interests complement your own. We recommend that you contact a researcher with a potential project to see whether this is something we could support and work up a project proposal together with a prospective supervisor to ensure research areas fit with research interests of potential supervisors.
Theme 1: Cancer and Life Limiting Illness:
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in this theme focuses on improving:
- Care of the cancer patient, and improving the patient experience.
- Cancer treatment delivery, specifically the technical application of radiotherapy.
- Patient and workforce engagement with cancer prevention strategies.
- Life after cancer; living with and beyond cancer, and rehabilitation in the cancer pathway.
- Understanding of the psychological impact of cancer on patients and carers.
- Dementia and frailty.
Ï㽶ÊÓƵers in this field are:
Professor Heidi Probst
Professor Davina Porock
Dr Maria Burton
Dr Margaret Dunham
Dr Julie Skilbeck
Dr Joan Healey
Theme 2: Public Health, Wellness and Community Care
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ within this theme focuses on:
Public health interventions and pathways of care, Safeguarding, Maternal, infant and reproductive health, Clinical midwifery and service provision, Disparities and global perspectives on health and wellbeing, Child health and epidemiology.
Ï㽶ÊÓƵers in this theme area are:
Professor Hora Soltani
Dr Sue Peckover
Dr Khaled Khatab
Mr Pete Nelson
Dr Nick Pollard
Theme 3: Managing Mental and Physical Health
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ within this theme focuses on:
Assistive devices and rehabilitation technologies, Behaviour change & adherence, Musculoskeletal management, Clinical and non-invasive imaging technologies, Mental health interventions, Improving the service user's experience of mental health care.
Ï㽶ÊÓƵers in this theme area are:
Professor Karen Sage
Professor Charmaine Childs
Dr Chris Smith
Dr Jackie Hammerton
Dr Sionnadh McLean
Dr Russell Ashmore
Dr Jim Turner
Theme 4: Education and Workforce Transformation
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ within this theme focuses on:
Use of simulation in education, Resilience, student support and wellbeing, Workforce transformation and organisation change, Health systems and complex interventions, Overseas health professions development.
Ï㽶ÊÓƵers in this theme area are:
Professor Julie Nightingale
Professor Shona Kelly
Dr Rob Appleyard
Dr Sally Fowler Davis
Dr Hilary Piercy
Dr Kate Grafton
Dr Jo Lidster
Dr Colette Fegan
How to apply
Applicants are requested to email a postgraduate application form, including a 1500 word proposal in section 9. Please discuss with potential supervisors to ensure feasibility and email your form to HWB-DoctoralAdmin@shu.ac.uk by 12 noon on Friday 31 May.
Along with the proposal, please clearly identify:
- the theme with which your proposal is aligned
- your proposed director of studies (principal supervisor)
- whether you are interested in a full-time or part-time scholarship
You are encouraged to find out more about our staff and their current research to inform the development of your proposal, which will help ensure your proposal aligns with our research themes. You are encouraged to contact members of staff listed here to discuss detailed project plans. However, the details of any successful project could potentially change, given input from the supervisory team.
Where English is not your first language, you must show evidence of English language ability to the following minimum level of proficiency: an overall IELTS score of 7.0 or above, with at least 6.5 in each component or an accepted equivalent. Please note that your test score must be current, i.e. within the last two years. Please view our eligibility criteria before submitting an application.
Selection process
Interviews will take place in June 2019.
Applicants are required to give a short 10–15 minute presentation followed by an interview. Interview panel members will include the Head of Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Degrees for the College and local Postgraduate Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Tutors and a prospective Director of Studies. Where travel to Sheffield is not possible, interviews may be conducted by Skype or conference call.
For application enquiries please contact: HWB-DoctoralAdmin@shu.ac.uk