The health and social inequality research programme is wide-ranging, and includes a focus on social justice. We research broad policy issues, including those related to the consequences of unequal societies and matters of community connectedness and cohesion. We also care about issues at the individual level, for example some of our research examines unequal access to services, or considers how individual children can be supported to become more resilient. However, much of the research attempts to join up micro and macro concerns, and some of it encourages political self-reflection and action by health and social care professionals and providers. Actively engaging in challenging current approaches to health and social care, and finding new ways of doing things are key aspects of the research programme.
The research programme is not just about what we study, but also the way we study it. We are passionate about responding to the needs and experiences of marginalised and disadvantaged groups, often researching alongside them. Methodological and political issues around the inclusion of disadvantaged people (including gypsies, parents of disabled children, young people with complex needs, etc.), in the research process, and the subsequent knowledge construction, inform the research programme. Pragmatically, the inclusive approach operates in many ways, ranging from seeking advice and guidance from service users and community members, to involving them in research design and implementation. Moreover, some of our research is concerned with university employed researchers’ self-identification as service users. Ultimately, our aim is that the research programme is constituted by work that strives to make a difference to individuals, policy and practice.
