PhD Study : The use of a Regional Hospital Passport for people with learning disabilities as a means of providing ‘reasonable adjustments’ in general hospitals.

Summary

Project Summary (Max 500 words)It is recognised internationally that people with learning (intellectual) disabilities have poorer health than people in the wider general population.  Such poor health may be compounded by difficulties in accessing timely investigation and treatment, as well as the necessary follow up action. In particular, challenges for people with learning disabilities have been identified internationally in relation to accessing general hospital services. It has been argued that this contributes to the higher levels of premature and avoidable deaths among people with learning disabilities (Heslop, et al., 2013).

The major issues that have been identified are the failure to make ‘reasonable’ adjustments to facilitate the access to services and difficulties in communication within and between people and services involved. In order to improve the effective communication between people with learning disabilities, family members and staff within general hospital services, a Regional HSC Hospital Passport for people with learning disabilities was launched in Northern Ireland by the Public Health Agency in May 2017. The development of this Passport was led by Professor Owen Barr on behalf of PHA. The aim of this project is to establish the impact of the HSC Hospital Passport for people with learning disabilities in achieving reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities using general hospital services.

This project will examine:

i) how people with learning disabilities obtain a HSC Hospital Passport

ii) the experience of people with learning disabilities in completing their HSC Hospital Passport

iii) the use staff in general hospitals make of the HSC Hospital Passport as perceived by people with learning disabilities, family and other carers, and staff in general hospital services

iv) evidence of ‘reasonable adjustments’ make to support people with learning disabilities use general hospital services as perceived by people with learning disabilities, family and other carers, and staff in general hospital services.

At present, it is expected that the project will use a mixed methods approach and include:

i) Qualitative interviews with service users; using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith et al. 2009),

ii) Qualitative interviews or focus groups with service providers and family and other carers using thematic analysis (Newell and Burnard 2011),

iii) Quantitative surveys of service providers to examine their understanding of the health needs of people with learning disabilities, the requirement for reasonable adjustments and their views on caring for people with learning disabilities in general hospitals.

Participants in this project will be recruited through Health and Social Care Trust learning disability and general hospitals services and major regional voluntary groups supporting people with learning disabilities and their families. The project will also be overseen by a steering group comprising the stakeholders, including Mencap, Inspire, and Association for Real Change (ARC).

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.

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Relevant professional qualification and/or a Degree in a Health or Health related area

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