Supporting families with children who are neurodivergent or have special educational needs, when an adult with significant caregiving responsibilities has cancer

Summary

Background

Many families are unsure how best to support their children throughout the cancer experience, from diagnosis to end-of-life (Semple & McCance, 2010; Hanna et al., 2019). Despite health and social care professionals (professionals) having an important role in supporting the family, often they feel ill-equipped to provide family-centred-cancer-care in clinical practice (Hanna et al., 2021).

Educational interventions have been shown to increase professionals’ knowledge and skills in the provision of family-centred-cancer-care (Hanna and Semple, 2024; Semple et al., 2024). However, existing educational interventions have not been specifically developed to support professionals caring for families of children who are neurodivergent or have special educational needs (SEN).

These children may process information, communicate and regulate emotions differently, requiring tailored supportive care approaches. Despite this, there is currently little evidence to equip professionals to meet the needs of these families, representing a gap in cancer care.

Aim

To develop and feasibility test an intervention for professionals to support families with children who are neurodivergent or have SEN, when an adult with significant caregiving responsibilities for children (<18) has cancer

Objectives

1) systematically identify and evaluate existing educational resources for professionals,

2) explore the experiences, challenges and needs of families and professionals,

3) co-design an interactive, self-guided intervention,

4) investigate the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention (obj 3) through a process of testing and refinement.

Methods

Using the Medical Research Council framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions, this PhD will adopt a sequential mixed-methods design comprising four phases: (1) a systematic review of existing educational resources; (2) qualitative interviews with adult family members and professionals to understand experiences and support needs; (3) co-design workshops involving families, researchers and professionals to develop a theory-informed, interactive self-guided intervention underpinned by a logic model; (4) refinement of the intervention prototype using think-aloud interviews.

AccessNI clearance required

Please note, the successful candidate will be required to obtain AccessNI clearance prior to registration due to the nature of the project.

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.

• Practice-based research experience and/or dissemination
• Experience or knowledge of research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project
• Track record of peer reviewed publications
• Experience of presentation of research findings
• Relevant professional qualification

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

This project is funded by:

• Department for the Economy (DfE)
• Vice Chancellor's Research Scholarship (VCRS)

PhD Scholarships are available for this project and will cover:

• Tuition fees.
• A maintenance allowance of approximately £22,000 (exact rate is to be confirmed) per annum for three years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
• A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of approximately £900 per annum.

To be eligible for these scholarships applicants must: be a UK or Irish national; or have pre-settled or settled status; or have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

Applicants should also meet the residency criteria which requires that they have lived in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar for at least the three years preceding the start date of the research degree programme i.e. September 2027.

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, funded from any source, including self-financing students, are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Students in full-time employment are not eligible for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies.

Part-time PhD scholarships may be available at a 0.5 pro rata rate of the full-time scholarship, which would require a six-year registration period.

The University will award a successful candidate one of the following scholarships for the project, depending on the funding available at the time an admissions offer is made:

1. Department for the Economy (DfE) PhD Scholarships
2. Vice Chancellor’s Research Scholarships (VCRS)

Please note that the Terms and Conditions for scholarships are subject to change for 2027/28.