Funded PhD: What matters to older people in their care home to enhance or assail their sense of wellbeing?

Project in brief

This study will be based on an established existential theory of wellbeing which prioritises a sense of home in the following domains: social, spatial, temporal, embodiment and mood (Galvin and Todres, 2011). The purpose of the study will be to develop a theory-based assessment of everyday wellbeing experienced by older people for application in a residential care facility and use this new knowledge to develop an assessment tool. Findings will be translated into practical assessment, measurement and practice guidance for use by Belong Villages.

The research questions will explore:

What does wellbeing mean for individuals living in care?
How can wellbeing be assessed in long term residential care settings?
What could be done to enhance wellbeing of care home residents?

Key Facts

Location: Brighton: Falmer campus with field work in north of England at Belong Village facilities and interim visits to Birmingham City University

Themes: Theory-based assessment of everyday wellbeing experienced by older people | Residential care | Existential wellbeing which prioritises a sense of home

Research centre: Centre for Arts and Wellbeing

Deadline: Thursday 26 May 2022, 17.00hr

Interviews: Early June 2022

Start date: July 2022

Find out how to apply

University of Brighton supervisors

Prof Kathleen Galvin

My supervisory interests include the meaning of wellbeing in varied contexts, the meaning of care and dignity, practice improvements, patient experiences, and older person perspectives. The major methodological approaches I supervise are qualitative, particularly phenomenology and philosophical directions. My PhD candidates include postgraduate researchers undertaking programmatic research in studentships, part time researchers also working in practice and candidates undertaking PhD by publication.

Dr Kay Aranda

I am interested in supervising students in the areas of health and social inequalities, gender, sexuality and age, and/or using feminist and material feminist theories or socio-materialist and practice related theories for revitalising approaches to health inequalities and social justice.

I have supervised in the areas of community nurses and weight, midwives roles, domestic violence, women's experiences of birth, living with back pain and supporting children with disabilities, as well as coproducing participatory research in mental health and mental health, identiy and gender.

I am currently supervising postgraduate researchers in the areas of feminist phenomenology, embodiment and sea swimming; involvement and engagement in GP Commissioning using social material approaches; in occupational therapy and exploring narratives and the socio-material pracitces of embroidery; exploring coproduction of care for frail older people with district nurses; and revising supervision in a community trust using communities of practice and social learning theories

Dr Catherine Aicken

I am interested in supervising postgraduate students in qualitative and mixed methods research projects, in all areas of Public Health and Health Promotion. I have particular interest in the following areas:

sexual health (broadly conceived, i.e. may include sexual wellbeing as well as STIs/HIV or contraception);
development and/or evaluation of complex interventions, e.g. health promotion interventions, digital health interventions;
breastfeeding;
e-health at the interface with patients and the public;
the (patient) experience of living with long-term conditions, e.g. motor neurone disease, frailty.

I'm happy to work with prospective postgraduate research (PhD) students to develop research proposals.

Birmingham City University supervisors

Prof Fiona Cowdell

Dr Judith Dyson

Other collaborators

Belong Villages

Project in detail

Background: Belong villages are founded on the vision that older people have the right to enjoy the same community belonging and richness of experience that they have always known. The priority is to enhance wellbeing and quality of life and provide excellent personal care. Our approach will be highly inclusive and take intersectionality as a priority. Whilst it is relatively straightforward to measure personal care, assessment of wellbeing is more elusive, particularly for residents who may have a degree of cognitive impairment. Existing measures, for example, the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT) are a valuable resource but do not focus on what wellbeing means to individual residents or how this can sensitively be assessed. Our project will be underpinned by the process used to develop the Humanised Care Theoretical Framework, (Galvin et al., 2018; 2021) developed by the lead supervisor and applied in practice settings with positive care outcomes. The theoretical framework proposed for use in this present study is based on an existential theory of wellbeing which priortises a sense of home in the following domains: social, spatial, temporal, embodiment and mood (Galvin and Todres, 2010, 2011).

We have strong links with Belong though INNOVATEDIGNITY partnerships. Belong are currently hosting a doctoral student who is living in a Belong village and undertaking ethnographic work concerning gender issues in care. This present studentship will project will build on that best practice, collaboration and experience.

Entry requirements

Academic entry requirements

Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:1 undergraduate degree and desirably hold or expect to achieve excellent grades in a masters degree, in a relevant subject from a UK university or comparable qualifications from another recognised university.

It is essential that the applicant has substantial experience of qualitative research at masters level or in practice together with some experience in quantitative data management and analysis.

The ideal candidate will be also be interested in an existential approach to wellbeing and new theoretical perspectives from phenomenological philosophy. They will have some knowledge of care home sector challenges and an understanding of ethical challenges posed by research with older people in care settings. A background in nursing, with experience in older person care or expertise in older person issues would be useful.

Applicants are required to submit a research proposal of 750-1,000 words. The proposal should respond to the project outlines and highlight how the candidate would take the research forward, using their background experience.

Residential eligibility

Due to the post’s funding it is only open to home applicants as defined by the Fees Regulations.

Demographic eligibility

The University of Brighton is a member of the Race Equality Charter and is committed to improving the representation, progression and success of ethnically diverse staff and students at the university. This studentship is only open to applicants who self-identify as being from Black, Asian and/or racially/ethnically diverse backgrounds.

English language entry requirements

Applicants who will require a student visa to study as a Postgraduate Research student in the UK will need to prove their knowledge of English language when they apply. They must have successfully completed a Secure English language Test (SELT) in the last two years. Applicants who have obtained a UK degree within the last 3 years or are studying for a UK degree may apply without a SELT. However, the university may request a SELT is taken as part of any award made.

English language IELTS requirements are minimum of : 7.0 overall, 7 for writing, and none below 6.0 in each component

We accept a number of English language qualification including IELTS. Please contact us if you have any queries arising from this.

Further details can be found on the UK Government website: Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT)

Funding

This studentship is being jointly funded by Belong Villages and University of Brighton.

The studentship consists of full UK tuition fees as well as a Doctoral Stipend for 3 years at the UKRI rate together with a research training support grant of £1500 p.a.

Contact us

If you have any questions about the project, please contact Professor Kathleen Galvin, k.galvin@brighton.ac.uk and Professor Fiona Cowdell Fiona.Cowdell@bcu.ac.uk

If you have any questions about the funding or application process, please contact Fiona Sutton, Doctoral College f.j.sutton@brighton.ac.uk

Guide to making your application

We will only consider complete applications. The research degree application is complete once you have uploaded all of the following:

Your research proposal (maximum 1,000 words)
Copies of your degree certificates, including transcripts
Copy of your IELTS (or equivalent) certificate (if applicable)
Copy of your passport
Two references uploaded or requested - one must be an academic reference from your most recent period of study. Both must have been written within the last year.

To submit your application please follow these steps:

1. Click the 'apply online now' button, on the right.
2. Select 'register and start a new application', to create your user account.
3. Once you are logged in, select 'apply to a new course'.
4. Select the type of course 'research degree'.
5. Select mode of study 'full-time'.
6. Select 'Doctoral College'.
7. Select 'Sense of wellbeing for care home residents’.
8. Select the course 'PhD'.
9. Click 'apply'.

You will now be able to complete the online application form.

Apply Online Now