Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS II) Awards in the School of Social Sciences

We are pleased to announce that the School of Social Sciences has been awarded two KESS scholarships: one 12 months Masters by Research grant and one three year PhD grant. KESS projects provides opportunities for funded PhD and Masters by Research students in collaboration with a company partner.

Masters by Research project

A social value exploration of Hospices in North Wales

Professor Jane Noyes & Dr Lindsay Eckley

Company Supervisor: Trystan Pritchard, Chief Executive of St David’s Hospice, Llandudno

Advisors: Dr Carys Jones, Research Officer at the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation & Dr Marlise Poolman, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Palliative Medicine at the North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research in Wrexham.

Hospices are under increasing pressure from several sources - stretched financial resources, high demand due to an aging population and the need to demonstrate the value of their activities. This research project will utilise principles from the Social Return on Investment framework; allowing the student to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the effect Hospices have on important stakeholders who experience a change in their lives because of the work Hospices do. The research findings will be important in understanding the wider implications and value of Hospices in North Wales and deliver a point of reference for them to promote their impact and attract funding.

The project is being undertaken by Nicole Hughes, a former undergraduate of the School of Social Sciences. She gained a First class degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice in 2015.

PhD

Everyday lives: exploring the experiences of people with a learning disability in the early stages of the new Social Services and Wellbeing Act (2014) Wales

Dr Diane Seddon & Dr Anne Krayer

Company Supervisor: Wayne Crocker, Director of Mencap Cymru

This three year research project will explore safeguarding under the new Social Services and Wellbeing Act for Wales, with a particular focus on people with learning disabilities (LD) who experience disability hate crime. Specifically, it will:

• explore the challenges of promoting greater independence, choice and social inclusion for people with LD and its impact on safeguarding & protection from harm and exploitation.
• reflect on the experiences of people with LD who have been subject to hate crime and/or exploitation, focusing on their narrative journey entering into and travelling through services.

Recommendations from the research project will: support collaborative working across organisations to prevent people with LD being subject to hate crime and help those who are affected and inform future policy, practice and workforce development across relevant sectors (health, social care, criminal justice).

The research will be undertaken by Daron Owens, who gained a first class honours degree in criminology and criminal justice in 2015 at the School of Social Sciences. 

Publication date: 18 February 2016