PhD studentship in the International Centre for Mental Health Social Research

Three full-time NIHR SSCR funded PhD studentships in the International Centre for Mental Health Social Research. The award will cover fees at the UK rate plus a maintenance grant of £15,500 per annum, with a total additional resource of up to £10,000 to support research, travel and training costs.

  • Funding: £15,500 per annum, plus fees and expenses
  • Academic year: 2022/23
  • Open to: International (including EU) and UK (home) students
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate research
  • Number available: 3
Applications for 2022/23 are closed.

We are seeking appropriately qualified and skilled PhD applicants to join the International Centre for Mental Health Social Research at the University of York. Our research focuses on the social dimensions of mental health, with a particular focus on social care and social work practice with people with mental health problems. We have expertise in the development and evaluation of social interventions; social outcome measurement; mental health social work; use of qualitative and quantitative methodologies; and the involvement of service users, carers and practitioners in our work.

We are currently working on the following studies:

  • Evaluation of effectiveness of Community Navigators for people with depression
  • Evaluation of effectiveness of social contact coaches for people with psychosis
  • Evaluation of supported volunteering within a museum
  • Evaluation of support provided to carers during periods of leave for people detained under the Mental Health Act
  • Evaluation of community-enhanced social prescribing

We welcome applications which are aligned with our expertise, research interests and current studies. We are particularly interested in proposals which have the potential to impact on social work or social care practice in mental health settings and welcome proposals from practitioners who have some research training or experience. Proposals must focus on social work or social care practice with adults.

The work will be fully situated at York and will be supervised by Professor Martin Webber (Director of the International Centre for Mental Health Social Research).

Eligibility

Open to International (including EU) and UK (home) students.

In order to be eligible you must also have an offer for a place on this course: PhD Social Policy and Social Work

Fees are covered at the UK rate only. International students may still apply, but if successful would need to pay the difference between UK and international fees.

Due to funding constraints we can only offer a full-time PhD and the start date is fixed as 1 October 2022.

How to apply

Application deadline: Thursday 11 August 2022, 11.59pm BST

You should express your interest in this scholarship when submitting your application for the PhD in Social Policy and Social Work.

Interviews will take place in late August.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Martin Webber by email to martin.webber@york.ac.uk.

How we allocate

The University is committed to excellence in recruitment and admissions practices and service which are designed to contribute to its aims of admitting students of high quality. The University aims to provide a professional and fair service for all enquirers and applicants. The University aims to select students who:

  • have the ability and motivation to benefit from the academic opportunities offered
  • will contribute to the research-led environment of the University
  • will fully engage with and contribute to university life.

The NIHR SSCR is keen to support the development of research training for colleagues from UK practice. Experience of both practice and academic training will be viewed as a whole, though some Masters-level research training would be advisable.

Contact details

Martin Webber
martin.webber@york.ac.uk

The National Institute for Health and Care Research School for Social Care Research (NIHR SSCR) invites applications for PhD studentships in each of its member universities. This is part of NIHR SSCR’s ongoing commitment to build research capacity in adult social care.

Launched in May 2009, NIHR SSCR is funded by the National Institute for Health Research until April 2024. NIHR SSCR works to develop the evidence base for adult social care practice in England by commissioning and conducting high-quality research. We are developing a programme to build research capacity in adult social care in England supported by the Department of Health and Social Care and NIHR Academy.

We use a broad, inclusive description of adult social care, encompassing the wide range of care and support available to and used by adults; the diversity of services and service providers of adult social care; and care and support provided through and with unpaid care, communities, self-care and self-funded care. We are interested in all aspects of this plurality of care and support arrangements, and their development in the current context of adult social care in England. Areas of overlap and/or integration with other sectors also fall within our remit.