PhD Study : An examination of the impact of turnover and retention on workforce stability in Social Work in Northern Ireland with ‘safe staffing’ implementation as a Legislative and Policy Priority

Apply and key information  

Summary

This PhD research will be embedded within a wider research team, with experienced academics who are from cross-disciplinary professions, including social work, nursing, psychology, and Human Resources. A full time Post Doctorate Research Assistant is also part of the team, led by Dr McFadden since the start of HSCWR-I project in 2020. All roles in the team are explicit.  A link to all reports, executive summaries and publications are available here www.hsc.workforcestudy.co.uk

The main aim of this PhD research study is to examine safe staffing levels in social work in Northern Ireland. This will relate to one of a range of social work areas, specifically related to older people social work or child protection social work.  The PhD researcher will undertake a literature review on approaches to workload and safe staffing in either adult of children’s social work practice on an international scale. The area of focus will depend on the practice knowledge of the successful candidate.

The research will involve leading on analysis of the current workforce and workload for social workers, considering the context and demands on the service area, flow processes and impact on service users and carers in Northern Ireland. The research will involve gaining key stakeholder views on challenging issues, possible solutions, and existing approaches to workload management.  This will involve input from front line workers, managers, senior managers, executive directors of social work, regulators, professional bodies and service users. The project will conclude with recommendations on safe staffing guidance in NI, in preparation for impending future (estimated 2024/5) legislation and policy changes in this area.

Desirable criteria - A Masters’ degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

  • Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
  • Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
  • Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

  • Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
  • Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
  • Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
  • Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

Recommended reading

Department of Health Workforce Data: Annex A. (2022). https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/workforce-policy-guidance-2022

Gillen P, Neill RD, Mallett J, Moriarty J, Manthorpe J,. Schroder, H., Currie, D., McGrory, S., Nicholl, P., Ravalier, J., McFadden, P. (2022). Wellbeing and coping of UK nurses, midwives and allied health professionals during COVID-19-a cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE 17(9): e0274036. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274036

Gillen, P.; Neill, R.D.; Manthorpe, J.; Mallett, J.; Schroder, H.; Nicholl, P.; Currie, D.; Moriarty, J.; Ravalier, J.; McGrory, S.; McFadden, P. (2022). Decreasing Wellbeing and Increasing Use of Negative Coping Strategies: The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the UK Health and Social Care Workforce. Epidemiologia 3, 26-39. https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia3010003

Manthorpe, J., Iliffe, S., Gillen, P., Moriarty, J., Mallet, J., Schroder, H., Currie, D., Ravalier, J., McFadden, P. (2022). Clapping for carers in the Covid-19 crisis: Carers' reflections in a UK survey. Health Soc Care Community. 2022; 30: 1442– 1449. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13474

McFadden, P., Neill, R., Mallett, J., Manthorpe, J., Gillen, P., Moriarty, J., Currie, D., Schroder, J., Ravalier, J., Nicholl, P., Ross, J. (2022). Mental well-being and quality of working life in UK social workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A propensity score matching study, The British Journal of Social Work, Volume 52, Issue 5, July 2022, Pages 2814-2833, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab198

McFadden, P., Neill, R.D., Moriarty, J., Gillen, P., Mallett, J., Manthorpe, J., Currie, D., Schroder, H., Ravalier, J., Nicholl, P., McFadden, D., Ross, J. (2021). A Cross-Sectional Examination of the Mental Wellbeing, Coping and Quality of Working Life in Health and Social Care Workers in the UK at Two Time Points of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Epidemiologia 2021, 2, 227-242. https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia2030017

McGrory, S.; Neill, R.D.; Gillen, P.; McFadden, P.; Manthorpe, J.; Ravalier, J.; Mallett, J.; Schroder, H.; Currie, D.; Moriarty, J.; Nicholl, P. (2022). Self-Reported Experiences of Midwives Working in the UK across Three Phases during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 13000. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013000

Neill, R.D.; Gillen, P.; Moriarty, J.; Manthorpe, J.; Mallett, J.; Schroder, H.; Currie, D.; Nicholl, P.; Ravalier, J.; McGrory, S.; McFadden, P. (2022). Comparing Psychological Wellbeing and Work-Related Quality of Life between Professional Groups within Health and Social Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK. Merits 2022, 2, 374-386. https://doi.org/10.3390/merits2040026

Neill, R.D.; Wake, J.; Ohwa, M.; Manthorpe, J.; Gillen, P.; McFadden, P. (2022). Comparing the Mental Wellbeing and Quality of Working Life among Nurses and Social Care Workers in the UK and Japan in Older Adults’ Care Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Psych 2022, 4, 843–855. https://doi.org/10.3390/psych4040062

Office of Social Services, Department of Health, Northern Ireland.  Social Work Workforce Review (2022). https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/social-work-workforce-review-northern-ireland-2022

Ravalier, J., McFadden, P., Gillen, P., Mallett, J., Nicholl, P., Neill, R., Manthorpe, J., Moriarty, J., Schroder, H., & Curry, D. (2022). Working conditions and well-being in UK social care and social work during COVID-19. Journal of Social Work, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/14680173221109483

Ravalier, J., Jones, D., Truell, R., & McFadden, P. (2022). Global social work working conditions and wellbeing. International Social Work, 65(6), 1078–1094. https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728221112731

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Monday 26 February 2024
04:00PM

Interview Date
16 and 18 April 2024

Preferred student start date
16 September 2024

Applying

Apply Online  

Contact supervisor

Dr Paula McFadden

Other supervisors