Elsewhere on Ulster
We are delighted that you are considering Ulster University for your research studies in Social Work Research Programmes.
The School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences has a vibrant and multi-disciplinary research environment, which is home to a wide range of research projects that tackle important questions in the social sciences. We have an excellent international reputation for producing high quality research which has global impact. Our work is centred around three key themes: persistent and emerging socio-economic challenges, policy and practice in divided societies, and national global social justice.
If you are interested in pursuing doctoral research in Social Work at Ulster University, you’ll be joining a community of academics who are engaged in research with practitioners and services users in Northern Ireland and internationally. We aim to support research awareness in undergraduate students and research skills through our post qualifying training. Our researchers work in partnership with social workers, social work employers, the HSC R&D Division, Northern Ireland, the Office of Social Services (Department of Health Northern Ireland) and the Northern Ireland Social Care Council, to respond to the evolving research needs of the profession. We work in collaboration with the International Federation of Social Work, on global social work workforce research. We also engage in cross-disciplinary research and work in close collaboration with social work academics in the island of Ireland using the Social Work Education and Research Forum, and we are involved in European networks such as European Social Work Research Association, with Special Interest Groups.
Staff within the social work team at Ulster University are engaged in research with employers, practitioners and services users in Northern Ireland and internationally. We aim to support research awareness in undergraduate students and research skills through our post qualifying training.
The social work team produce high quality research outputs and contributes to international networks relating to the following areas of practice:
We aim to:
Our research falls under the following main themes:
Our Impact
Our researchers work in partnership with social workers, social work employers the Health and Social Care Research & Development Department and Northern Ireland Social Care Council to respond to the evolving research needs of the profession. We also engaged in cross-disciplinary research and national and international collaborations in pursuit of social work research goals. We also work in close collaboration with social work academics in the island of Ireland in relation to social work education and research via the Social Work Education and Research Forum.
Subject Experts as Supervisors
We recommend that an interested PhD applicants contact a supervisor with relevant subject expertise in advance of applying so that they receive the best advice available on the specific topic. Early advice enables support from the subject expert to guide the application process and ensure the applicant is informed appropriately from the earliest opportunity.
A list of potential PhD supervisors for social work at Ulster University is available via this link Social Work Research Programmes and listed below.
Professor Paula McFadden
Professor McFadden’s research interests are centred on workforce wellbeing, retention, resilience and burnout. Paula’s most recent research is focusing on the impact of social worker turnover on children, families and carers. This follows a two-year study commissioned by the Department of Health, Northern Ireland, examining safe staffing workloads for social workers and turnover and retention in the workforce – which will inform policy and legislation on safer and effective staffing in social work expected 2025-2027. Additionally, she is involved in research in association with the International Federation of Social Workers and Buckinghamshire New University on Global Social Work Working Conditions across international countries. Professor McFadden is supervising PhD students whose interests are related to social work workforce and related practice issues and welcomes applications from potential PhD candidates who are interested in pursuing research in the realms of social work workforce wellbeing and practice areas associated with this topic.
Dr Rachel Naylor
Dr Rachel Naylor’s current research interests are in the social work workforce, collaborating with Professor McFadden, and community development social work education. She has carried out qualitative and quantitative research in both Northern Ireland and Ghana. Rachel trained in sociology and anthropology, holding a BA from Cambridge and an MA and PhD from Hull, Her BSc in Social Work was gained at Ulster. Rachel practised as a qualified social worker with the NSPCC in Northern Ireland. Currently, Rachel is the social work lead for the Ulster postgraduate social work community development pathway, with its strong participatory research component. She is also actively involved as a board member of the Childcare in Practice journal, with Building a Research Community hosted at the Northern Ireland Social Care Council and with the all-Ireland Social Work Education and Research Forum. Rachel welcomes social work PhD applications related to her research interests.
Dr Campbell Killick
Dr Killick studied social work as an undergraduate at Ulster University from 1989 until1992. He has worked in statutory social work for almost 30 years. Campbell is currently coordinating undergraduate teaching in relation to risk and assessment. He is the Course Director for master’s level research training that welcomes social workers, service users and others. Campbell’s research interest includes risk, safeguarding and professional decision making. Campbell is on the coordinating committee for the DARE biannual symposium on Decision Making, Assessment, Risk and Evidence based Practice.
Dr Denise MacDermott
Dr MacDermott is interested in PhD proposals relating to social work education that contributes to, and has an impact on scholarly knowledge, collaboration and professional practice. Dr MacDermott’s research focuses on social work education and collaborations with people with lived experiences and social work students in the co-design of professional education and training of future health professionals that is responsive to meeting changing needs.
Dr MacDermott’s accumulated publications and research contribute to the wider field of social work education and the connections between pedagogic research and innovative curriculum design. She has published widely including her collaborations with the community and voluntary sector. The community and voluntary sector (CVS) is often driven by people who use their services as service users or members. The voice of people accessing services in the CVS can be represented in various ways, for example, user groups with organisational mandates and representation on executive committees to consultation. Denise welcomes applications from potential PhD candidates who are interested in pursuing research in social work education, meaningful participation of people with lived experiences in professional education and interdisciplinary research proposals are welcomed.
Dr Tony McGinn
Dr McGinn is currently researching methods of reducing bureaucracy in social work, and increasing relationship-based practice. Tony has also been involved in research and practice development relating to online child sexual abuse, domestic violence, autism, dementia and learning disability. Tony would like to hear from candidates who are interested in completing qualitative or mixed methods evaluations of social work practice modifications, or candidates who would like to know more about completing an evidence synthesis, on any topic area relating to the helping professions.
Dr Emma McGinnis
Dr McGinnis’ research interests focus on hidden and excluded populations, and their experience of social work, particularly in children and family, and justice services. She has engaged in action research with justice involved young people and their parents and published on their experiences of statutory services. Emma’s research with parents of justice system involved children explored their experiences of formal agencies and processes. Emma’s current research involves parents with lived experience of children’s social care, understanding the trauma of involvement and barriers to inclusion. Emma is interested in PhD proposals from prospective candidates who want to explore and understand the lived experience of excluded or under-represented populations, including their experience of meaningful engagement, advocacy and participation, when involved with statutory agencies and processes. This might apply to any statutory agency or service.
Dr Shaun Roddy
Dr Roddy research interests stem from his social work practice. He has experience working in the field of Looked after Children, adults and substance misuse, and Child and Adolescent Mental Health. His own PhD focused in on substance misuse amongst migrant populations. Shaun has an interest in substance use and misuse amongst children and adult populations. Additional research interests include substance misuse and trauma, service users experience of substance misuse services, child and adolescent mental health, paramilitary intimidation and violence towards children. Shaun is interested in research proposals from prospective candidates who want to explore some of these issues and nuances.
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.
In order to be admitted to research study at Ulster, you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as part of your application.
Get full details on the requirements for both home and overseas applicants can be found on our English language requirements page.
PhD graduates are recognised by employers to hold valuable transferrable skills, as the nature of the degree trains candidates in creativity, critical inquiry, problem solving, negotiation skills, professionalism and confidence.
The most recent Ulster survey of PhD graduates found that 92% had secured employment within the first year since graduation (HESA Destination of Leavers Survey 2015), and while two thirds end up in the Higher Education or Research sectors, the range of skills acquired equips the remainder for employment in a wide range of contexts.
Details of tuition fees can be found under the fees schedule for the academic year of entry.
To work out for which fees you would be eligible and to find out more information about potential sources of funding, please view the Fees and Funding pages on the Doctoral College website.
We are delighted that you are considering Ulster University for your research studies.
Get full details on the application process and further guidance on how to apply, and what you will need to upload as part of your application.
Once you have identified supervisors, discussed a research proposal and are ready to make an application, please apply using the online application system.
Ulster University welcomes applications from all sections of the community and from persons with disabilities. It is University policy to assess all applications using academic criteria and on the basis of equality of opportunity and you should be assured that reasonable adjustments will be made should you require them.
View profile for Professor Paula McFadden
Telephone
+44 28 7167 5028
Email
p.mcfadden@ulster.ac.uk
