Dr Nicola Moran

Profile

Areas of expertise

• Mental health social work
• Policing and mental health
• Unpaid carers and mental health
• Improving social connections and mental wellbeing for people with mental health problems
• Development of mental health training programmes for non-mental health professionals (including police officers and social workers)
• Developing and delivering training on research methods
• Individual Budgets / Personal Budgets in health and social care – outcomes for service users and unpaid carers

Advisory positions

• Deputy Chair of the SPSW Departmental Ethics Committee
• Member of the ESRC Peer Review College

Academic biography

I have been a qualitative researcher for over 20 years post-PhD, specialising in evaluations of interventions in health and social care. My research interests lie predominantly around the field of mental health: social interventions for people experiencing mental ill health, unpaid carers and mental health, mental health training for non-mental health professionals, and the interface of mental health and the criminal justice system.

Although I am predominantly a qualitative researcher I have experience of using a range of research techniques and methodologies, including interviews, focus groups and workshops, randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental trials, systematic reviews and scoping reviews, questionnaires and surveys. Studies have included children and young people, working age and older adults, service users, carers, and practitioners. I also have substantial experience in working with non-academic partners. This includes work with mental health trusts, police forces, Local Authorities and NHS Trusts in England, health and social care services across Europe, and an organisation providing social services in the United States.

In 2017 I began lecturing on the MA in Social Work Practice (Think Ahead), becoming the module lead for the Practice Research module and the academic coordinator for year two of the MA programme. During this time, I also supervised 45 MA students undertaking empirical research studies, a number of which have been published, and was awarded Supervisor of the Year 2021.

Since 2022 I have been a Lecturer in Social Work and I am leading the new mental health and disability module, ‘Enabling Places and Spaces: Social perspectives on disability and mental health’ (2023/24).

Research

Current research

• Section 17 Leave: Supporting unpaid carers (2020-2023), This study aims to develop a standard to define the support to be provided to carers before, during and after periods of s.17 leave (when a patient detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 is permitted temporary leave from hospital), and test if it shows promise in practice. The study is funded by the NIHR SSCR.

Recent research projects

• Connecting People in the USA: adapting the Connecting People model to support social workers to enhance the social capital and mental wellbeing of homeless and prison populations in the state of New Jersey (Webber, M., Rodgers, L., Tartaro, C. and Moran, N., 2019-22). Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, USA.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of face-to-face versus telephone tutorials for distance learners (Moran, 2019- 20). Unfunded.
• Embedding Mental Health Support within Police District Control Rooms: developing an evaluation framework for innovative multiagency responses (Hughes, N., Hobbs, E. and Moran, N., 2019-2020). Funded by the N8 Policy Research Programme.
• Supervised 45 MA student empirical research projects around mental health (2017-21), including social workers’ perspectives on the ethical and privacy implications of utilising service users’ social media; practitioner views of the reasons behind the increase in rates of detention under the Mental Health Act; unpaid carers’ experiences of involvement in planning s.17 leave for people detained under the Mental Health Act 1983; services users’ experiences of a psycho-education group for people experiencing first
  episode psychosis; links between physical and mental health and access to services; service user and practitioner views on mental health practitioners disclosing their own mental health conditions; social workers’ perspectives on wellbeing when practising in hospital versus community settings; and social workers’ experiences of remote working during the covid-19 pandemic.
• Connecting People Implementation Study: an investigation into whether the Connecting People model of enhancing mental health service users’ social capital and mental wellbeing can be implemented with high fidelity in community mental health teams in England (Webber, M., Moran, N., Ngamaba, K., Morris, D., Pinfold, V., Knapp, M. and Henderson, C., 2017-19). Funded by the NIHR SSCR.
• Co-producing, Embedding and Evaluating Mental Health Awareness Training within North Yorkshire Police: adapting the mental health training for police staff in public-facing roles (Moran, N., Scott, W., Webber, M., Kilmurray, B. and Smith, M., 2018). Funded by the ESRC IAA.
• Supporting the mental health of looked after children: using co-production to develop a training package for children’s social workers. The development and evaluation of a mental health training package for social workers working with children in and leaving care (Moran, N., Dixon, J., Webber, M. and YoungMinds, 2017-18). Funded by the ESRC IAA.
• Connect (formerly Co-Production of Policing Evidence, Research and Training: Focus Mental Health): co-development and evaluation of a mental health training programme for frontline police officers (training package developed by Moran, N., Webber, M. and Scott, W., 2015-16; evaluated by Moran, N., Webber, M., Torgerson, D., Hewitt, C., Booth, A., McDaid, C., Payne, R., Scantlebury, A., Fairhurst, C., Parker, A. and Scott, W. (2015-17). Funded by the Home Office and College of Policing via the Police Knowledge Fund.

Selection of previous research projects:

• The evaluation of the Individual Budget Pilot Projects in adult social care (IBSEN). Funded by the Department of Health, 2006-8.
• A linked study looking at the impact and outcomes of Individual Budgets on carers (IBSEN Carers). Funded by the Department of Health, 2007-9.
• Transition from children’s to adult services for children with disabilities and complex health needs. Funded by the Department of Health, 2009-2011.
• A linked study focusing on transition from children’s to adult services for children on the autistic spectrum. Funded by the Department of Health, 2011-2012.
• Taking On and Taking Over: physically disabled young adults and their care and support arrangements. Funded by the NIHR School for Social Care Research, 2012-13.

Teaching

Current teaching

• Module lead: Enabling Places and Spaces: Social perspectives on disability and mental health (from 2023/4).
• PhD supervisor to Emma Whitfield (with Martin Webber), 2023-6.
• Tutor on Communication Skills (2021-2023) / Social Work Practice Skills (from 2023-4).
• Research Dissertation supervisor (from 2022).
• Academic supervisor (from 2022).

Previous teaching

• Year 2 lead, MA Social Work Practice (Think Ahead) (2018-2021).
• Module lead: Practice Research (2017-2021).
• Development and delivery of research methods training for senior police officers. University of York, 2018-20.
• Development of mental health awareness training for police officers. University of York, 2015-17.

Examiner

• External Examiner (Monash University, Australia, 2022)
• Internal Examiner (University of York, 2019)
• External Examiner (Ulster University, 2018)
• BSc Criminology (University of Northampton, 2008-11)

Publications

Publications List

Ngamaba, K. H., Moran, N. & Webber, M. (2023). The recovery process and access to the social capital of people with severe mental health problems: a secondary analysis of a six months follow-up study in five Community Mental Health Teams in England. Journal of Recovery in Mental Health, 6(1), 45–64. https://doi.org/10.33137/jrmh.v6i1.39260

Naughton-Doe, R., Moran, N., Wakeman, E., Wilberforce, M., Bennett, L. & Webber, M. (2022) Interventions that support unpaid carers of adult mental health inpatients: a scoping review, Journal of Mental Health, DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2022.2069702

Meadows, K. and Moran, N. (2022) Searching for a Social Work Language of Human Rights: Perspectives of Social Workers in an Integrated Mental Health Service, The British Journal of Social Work, Volume 52, Issue 3, April 2022, Pages 1398–1415, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab126

Thornton-Rice, A. and Moran, N. (2022) The Invisible Frontier: Practitioner Perspectives on the Privacy Implications of Utilising Social Media in Mental Health Social Work Practice, The British Journal of Social Work, Volume 52, Issue 4, June 2022, Pages 2271–2290,https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab184

Wakeman, E. and Moran, N. (2022) The Missing Voices: Carers’ Experiences of Section 17 Leave (Mental Health Act 1983) in England, Practice, 34:2, 133-147, DOI: 10.1080/09503153.2021.1928620

Webber, M., Moran, N., Ngamaba, K., Knapp, M., Henderson, C., Morris, D., Pinfold, V. and Boehnke, J. R. (2022) Connecting People Implementation Study: Research Findings. NIHR: School for Social Care Research. https://www.sscr.nihr.ac.uk/projects/p114/

Cochrane, C., Moran, N. and Newton, E. (2021) Exploring the impacts of a carers’ psycho-education group: personal insights from the family of people with early psychosis, Psychosis, 13:3, 253-264, DOI: 10.1080/17522439.2020.1861073

Samuels, E. and Moran, N. (2021), "Accessing and engaging with primary health care services following discharge from forensic secure services: the perspectives of service users and mental health practitioners" The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. 23 No. 2, pp. 117-131. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-12-2020-0049

Webber, M., Ngamaba, K., Moran, N., Pinfold, V., Boehnke, J. R., Knapp, M., Henderson, C., Rehill, A. and Morris, D. (2021) The Implementation of Connecting People in Community Mental Health Teams in England: A Quasi-Experimental Study, The British Journal of Social Work, Volume 51, Issue 3, April 2021, Pages 1080–1100, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcaa159

Turner, K., Moran, N., Moretti, A. and Hughes, N. (2021) Embedding mental health support within district police
stations, 20 April 2021. N8 PRP. https://n8prp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Embedding-MH-nurses-N8-4Page-Report-1.pdf

Bonnet, M. and Moran, N. (2020) Why Do Approved Mental Health Professionals Think Detentions under the Mental Health Act Are Rising and What Do They Think Should Be Done about It?, The British Journal of Social Work, Volume 50, Issue 2, March 2020, Pages 616–633, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcaa001

Kang, K.K. and Moran, N. (2020), "Experiences of inpatient staff meeting the religious and cultural needs of BAME informal patients and patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983", Mental Health Review Journal, Vol. 25 No. 2, pp. 113-125. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-11-2019-0041

Moran, N., Webber, M., Dosanjh Kaur, H., Morris, D., Ngamaba, K., Nunn, V., Thomas, E. and Thompson, K.J. (2020) Co-producing practice research: The Connecting People Implementation Study. In Joubert, L. and Webber, M. (eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Social Work Practice Research (1 st  edition). London: Routledge.

Scantlebury, A., Fairhurst, C., Booth, A., Parker, A., McDaid, C., Moran, N., Payne, R., Scott, W.J., Webber, M., Torgerson, D. and Hewitt, C. (2017) Effectiveness of a training programme for Police Officers who come into contact with people with mental health problems: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. PLoS ONE 2017; doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0184377 (Published 8 September 2017)

Mitchell, W., Beresford, B., Brooks, J., Moran, N. and Glendinning, C. (2016) ‘Taking on choice and control in personal care and support: The experiences of physically disabled young adults’. Journal of Social Work. Volume 17, Issue 4, 413-433, DOI: 10.1177/1468017316644700

Asbury K, Moran N, Plomin R (2017) Do MZ twins have discordant experiences of friendship? A qualitative hypothesis-generating MZ twin differences study. PLoS ONE 12(7): e0180521. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180521

Asbury, K., Moran, N. and Plomin, R. (2016) Nonshared Environmental Influences on Academic Achievement at Age 16: A Qualitative Hypothesis-Generating Monozygotic-Twin Differences Study. AERA Open. October-December 2016, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 1–12. DOI: 10.1177/2332858416673596

Laragy, C., Davidson, C. & Moran, N. E. (2016) ‘A framework for providing information in individualised funding programs, Qualitative Social Work, 15 (2): 190-208.

Moran, N. (2016) ‘SPA Annual Awards 2015’. Social Policy Association Newsletter. Issue 3. January 2016, pp1-5. Published on the SPA website (http://www.social-policy.org.uk/)

Fraser, L.K., Jarvis, S.W., Moran, N.E., Aldridge, J., Parslow, R.C. and Beresford, B.A. (2015) Children in Scotland Requiring Palliative Care: Identifying numbers and needs (the ChiSP Study) University of York.

Moran, N. (2015) ‘SPA Awards 2014’. Social Policy Association Newsletter. Issue 1. March 2015, pp2-4. Published on the SPA website (http://www.social-policy.org.uk/)

Mitchell, W., Brooks, J., Beresford, B., Moran, N., and Glendinning, C. (2015) Taking On and Taking Over: Choice and control for physically disabled young adults, SSCR Research Findings, NIHR School For Social Care Research, London.

Mitchell, W., Brooks, J., Beresford, B., Glendinning, C. and Moran, N. (2014) Taking on and Taking Over: Supporting physically disabled young adults to achieve their preferred levels of control over care and support arrangements, Research Findings. Working Paper No.
SSCR 2622. April 2014.

Moran, N. and Baxter, K. (2014) ‘Think piece: Older people and adult social care’. Prepared for Age Northern Ireland and ARK (joint University of Ulster and Queen’s University research organisation), submitted August 2014.

Moran, N., Beresford, B., Wood, H. and Glanville, J. (2014) 'Sunlight Exposure: Communicating the Benefits and Risks of Ultraviolet Light to the General Population: A Qualitative Documentary Analysis of UK Newspapers and Magazines (print and online)'. Social Policy Research Unit (SPRU) and York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC), University of York. Final report for NICE, June 2014.

Jones, K., Netten, P., Rabiee, P., Glendinning, C., Arksey, H., and Moran, N. (2014) "Can individual budgets have a positive impact on carers and the caring role?", Ageing and Society, 34 (1): 157-175.

Wilberforce, M., Jacobs, S., Challis, D., Manthorpe, J., Stevens, M., Jasper, R., Fernandez, J-L., Glendinning, C., Jones, K., Knapp, M., Moran, N. and Netten, A. (2014) 'Revisiting the Causes of Stress in Social Work: Sources of Job Demands, Control and Support in Personalised Adult Social Care', British Journal of Social Work Volume 44, Issue 4: 812-830.

Moran, N. (2014) 'SPA Awards 2013', published in PolicyWorld, Spring 2014, pp10-11.

Beresford, B., Moran, N. and Clarke, S. (2013) My Life: Growing up and living with Ataxia-Telangiectasia: young people's and young adults' experiences, Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, York.

Beresford, B., Moran, N., Sloper, P., Cusworth, L., Mitchell, W., Spiers, G., Weston, K. and Beecham, J. (2013) Transition to Adult Services and Adulthood for Young People with Autistic Spectrum Conditions, Working Paper, no: DH 2525, Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, York.

Moran, N., Glendinning, C., Wilberforce, M., Stevens, M., Netten, A., Jones, K., Manthorpe, J., Knapp, M., Fernandez, J-L., Challis, D. and Jacobs, S. (2013) “Older people’s experiences of cash-for-care schemes: evidence from the English Individual Budget pilot projects”, Ageing and Society, 33 (5): 826-851.

Jacobs, S., Abell, J., Stevens, M., Wilberforce, M., Challis, D., Manthorpe, J., Fernandez, J-L., Glendinning, C., Jones, K., Knapp, M., Moran, N. and Netten, A. (2013) The personalization of care services and the early impact on staff activity patterns, Journal of Social Work, 13, 2, 141-163.

Netten, A., Jones, K., Knapp, M., Fernandez, J-L., Challis, D., Glendinning, C., Jacobs, S., Manthorpe, J., Moran, N., Stevens, M. and Wilberforce, M. (2012) “Personalisation through Individual Budgets: Does It Work and for Whom?”, British Journal of Social Work, 42 (8): 1556-1573.

Jones, K., Netten, A., Fernández, J.L., Knapp, M., Challis, D., Glendinning, C., Jacobs, S., Manthorpe, J., Moran, N., Stevens, M. and Wilberforce, M. (2012) “The Impact of Individual Budgets on the targeting of support: findings from a national evaluation of pilot projects in England”, Public Money and Management, 32 (6): 417-424.

Moran, N., Arksey, H., Glendinning, C., Jones, K., Netten, A. and Rabiee, P. (2012) "Personalisation and Carers: Whose rights? Whose benefits?", British Journal of Social Work, 42, 461-479.

Moran, N., Glendinning, C., Stevens, M., Manthorpe, J., Jacobs, S., Wilberforce, M., Knapp, M., Challis, D., Fernandez, J-L., Jones, K., and Netten, A. (2011) “Joining up Government by Integrating Funding Streams? The Experiences of the Individual Budget Pilot Projects for Older and Disabled People in England”, International Journal of Public Administration, Vol. 34 (4): 232-243.

Clarke, S., Sloper, P., Moran, N., Cusworth, L., Franklin, A. and Beecham, J. (2011) Multi-agency transition services: greater collaboration needed to meet the priorities of young disabled people with complex needs as they move into adulthood, Journal of Integrated Care, 19, 5, 30-40.

Glendinning, C., Moran, N., Challis, D., Fernández, J-L., Jacobs, S., Jones, K., Knapp, M., Manthorpe, J., Netten, A., Stevens, M. and Wilberforce, M. (2011) “Personalisation and Partnership: competing objectives in English adult social care? The Individual Budget pilot projects and the NHS”, Social Policy and Society, Vol. 10 (2): 151-162.

Stevens, M., Glendinning, C., Jacobs, S., Moran, N., Challis, D., Manthorpe, J., Fernandez, J-L., Jones, K., Knapp, M., Netten, A., and Wilberforce, M. (2011) “Assessing the role of increasing choice in English social care services”, Journal of Social Policy, Vol. 40 (2): 257-274.

Wilberforce, M., Glendinning, C., Challis, D., Fernandez, J-L., Jacobs, S., Jones, K., Knapp, M., Manthorpe, J., Moran, N., Netten, A. and Stevens, M. (2011) Implementing consumer choice in long-term care: the impact of individual budgets on social care providers in England, Social Policy & Administration, 45, 5, 593-612.

Moran, N. (2011) “Co-Production and Personalisation in Social Care: Changing Relationships in the Provision of Social Care, Susan Hunter and Pete Ritchie (eds.), 2007, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers”, Book review for Ethics and Social Welfare, Vol 5, Issue 1, April 2011.

Sloper, P., Beecham, J., Clarke, S., Franklin, A., Moran, N., & Cusworth, L. (2011). Transition to adult services for disabled young people and those with complex health needs. University of York, York: Social Policy Research Unit.

Sloper, P., Beecham, J., Clarke, S., Franklin, A., Moran, N. and Cusworth, L. (2011) “Transition to adult services for disabled young people and those with complex health needs”, Research Works, 2011-02, Social Policy Research Unit.

Sloper, P., Beecham, J., Clarke, S., Franklin, A., Moran, N. and Cusworth, L. (2010) Models of Multi-agency Services for Transition to Adult Services for Disabled Young People and Those with Complex Health Needs: Impact and costs, Social Policy Research Unit.

Rabiee, P., Moran, N., Glendinning, C. (2009) “Individual Budgets: Lessons from early users’ experiences”, British Journal of Social Work 2009, Vol. 39 (5): 918-935.

Glendinning, C., Tjadens, F., Arksey, H., Moree, M., Moran, N., and Nies, H. (May 2009) Care Provision within Families and its Socio-Economic Impact on Care Providers. Report for the European Commission DG EMPL. Working Paper No. EU 2342.

Glendinning, C., Arksey, H., Tjadens, F., Moree, M., Moran, N. and Nies, H. (2009) Care Provision within families and its socio-economic impact on care providers across the European Union. Research Works, 2009-05, Social Policy Research Unit.

Glendinning, C. and Moran, N. (2009) Reforming Long-term Care: Recent lessons from other countries, Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, York.

Glendinning, C. and Moran, N. (2009) Reforming long-term care: Recent lessons from other countries. Research Works, 2009-06, Social Policy Research Unit.

Glendinning, C., Arksey, H., Jones, K., Moran, N., Netten, A., Rabiee, P. (2009) Individual Budgets Pilot Projects: Impact and outcomes for carers, Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, York.

Glendinning, C., Arksey, H., Jones, K., Moran, N., Netten, A., Rabiee, P. (2009) Individual budgets: Impacts and outcomes for carers, Research Findings, Social Policy Research Unit.

Manthorpe, J., Stevens, M., Challis, D., Netten, A., Glendinning, C., Knapp, M., Wilberforce, M., Jacobs, S., Jones, K., Moran, N., and Fernandez, J-L. (2008) “Individual budget projects come under the microscope”, Mental Health Today, December 2008.

Glendinning, C., and Moran, N. (2008) Individual Budgets and the interfaces with NHS funding and services. Report to the Department of Health. SPRU working paper no.: DH 2268.

Glendinning, C., Arksey, H., Jones, K., Moran, N., Netten, A., and Rabiee, P. (2008) The Individual Budgets Pilot Projects: Impact and Outcomes for Carers. Report to the Department of Health. SPRU working paper No.: DHP 1902.

Glendinning, C., Challis, D., Fernandez, J-L., Jacobs, S., Jones, K., Knapp, M., Manthorpe, J., Moran, N., Netten, A., Stevens, M., and Wilberforce, M. (2008) Evaluation of the Individual Budgets Pilot Programme: Final Report IBSEN: Social Policy Research Unit, University of York. ISBN: 978-1-871713-64-0.

Glendinning, C., Challis, D., Fernandez, J., Jacobs, S., Jones, K., Knapp, M., Manthorpe, J., Moran, N., Netten, A., Stevens, M., Wilberforce, M. (2008) Evaluation of the Individual Budgets Pilot Programme: Summary report. IBSEN: Social Policy Research Unit, University of York.

Glendinning, C., Challis, D., Fernandez, J., Jacobs, S., Jones, K., Knapp, M., Manthorpe, J., Moran, N., Netten, A., Stevens, M., Wilberforce, M. (2008) The national evaluation of the Individual Budgets Pilot Programme: Research Findings, Social Policy Research Unit, University of York.

Glendinning, C., Challis, D., Fernandez, J., Jacobs, S., Jones, K., Knapp, M., Manthorpe, J., Moran, N., Netten, A., Stevens, M., Wilberforce, M. (2008) The national evaluation of the Individual Budgets Pilot Programme: Experiences and implications for care coordinators and managers: Research Findings. Social Policy Research Unit, University of York.

Griffin, M., Shickle, D. and Moran, N.E. (2008) “European Citizens’ Opinions on Water Fluoridation”, Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 2008; 36: 95–102.

Gainotti, S., Moran, N.E., Petrini, C. and Shickle, D. (2008) “Ethical models underpinning responses to threats to public health: A comparison of approaches to communicable disease control in Europe”, Bioethics special issue, The Bioethics of Security 2008; 22(9): 466-476.

Moran, N.E., Gainotti, S., Petrini, C. (2008) “From Compulsory to Voluntary Immunisation: Italy’s National Vaccination Plan (2005-7) and the ethical and organisational challenges facing public health policy-makers across Europe” Journal of Medical Ethics 2008; 34: 669-674.

Moran, N.E., Shickle, D. and Richardson, E. (2008) “European Citizens’ Opinions on Immunisation”, Vaccine 2008; 26: 411-418.

Wlodarczyk, C., Czabanowska, K., Shickle, D. and Moran, N.E. (eds.) (2007) Public Health in European Countries – selected problems Krakow: The Jagiellonian University Press.

Moran, N.E. (2007) “Fluoridation of public water supplies in Europe: The practice and the ethical debates”, in Wlodarczyk, C., Czabanowska, K., Shickle, D. and Moran, N.E. (eds.) Public Health in European Countries – selected problems Krakow: The Jagiellonian University Press.

Moran, N.E. and Hunt, A. (2007) “Communicable disease control across Europe”, in Wlodarczyk, C., Czabanowska, K., Shickle, D. and Moran, N.E. (eds.) Public Health in European Countries – selected problems Krakow: The Jagiellonian University Press.

Moran, N.E. (2007) “Immunisation policies across Europe”, in Wlodarczyk, C., Czabanowska, K., Shickle, D. and Moran, N.E. (eds.) Public Health in European Countries – selected problems Krakow: The Jagiellonian University Press.

Moran, N.E. (2007) “Genetic testing in employment: Regulations on testing and the prohibition of discrimination across Europe”, in Wlodarczyk, C., Czabanowska, K., Shickle, D. and Moran, N.E. (eds.) Public Health in European Countries – selected problems Krakow: The Jagiellonian University Press.