ESRC Wales DTP Collaborative Studentships - Judicial Review in Wales: Understanding the Low Numbers of Social Care Challenges at Cardiff University on FindAPhD.com

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Dr Daniel Newman No more applications being accepted Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

About the Project

Cardiff School of Law and Politics at Cardiff University supported by the ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership for Wales (Wales DTP), invites applications for funded PhD study. These particular studentships, known as ‘collaborative studentships’, involve liaison with a non-academic organisation, often at many key stages of the research programme. They will commence in October 2023. The following collaborative studentship is available:

Judicial Review in Wales: Understanding the Low Numbers of Social Care Challenges

Cardiff School of Law and Politics are a leading centre of socio-legal studies with a longstanding track record in empirical legal studies. Applications are invited from exceptional candidates with a first class or strong upper second class honours degree, or appropriate Master’s degree. The university values diversity and equality at all levels and encourages applications from all sections of the community, irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation. In line with our commitment to supporting and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, and to increase recruitment of currently underrepresented groups, applications from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic applicants, LGBTQ+ applicants, disabled applicants, and working class applicants are particularly encouraged and welcomed. We welcome applications for both full and part-time study, and studentships are available as either ‘1+3’ (i.e. one full time year of research training Masters followed by three years of full-time Doctoral study, or the part-time equivalent), or ‘+3’ (i.e. three years of full-time doctoral study or its part-time equivalent), depending on the needs of the applicant.

For further information please contact Dr Daniel Newman ([Email Address Removed]).

Application Deadline: 12:00pm GMT on3^rd February 2023.

RESEARCH DESCRIPTION

Judicial Review in Wales: Understanding the Low Numbers of Social Care Challenges

SUPERVISION

Dr Daniel Newman ([Email Address Removed]) and Dr Alison Tarrant ([Email Address Removed]).

NON-ACADEMIC ORGANISATION

Public Law Project

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The project will explore the specific reasons for the low rates of judicial review in Wales in the field of adult social care. Previous research has found that few judicial reviews are being brought in this area. This is echoed by a lack of other forms of challenge to social care decisions in Wales and England – a matter currently the subject of an inquiry by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. The findings of the project will inform the broader discussion about access to justice and the future of judicial review in Wales.

Likely research questions are:

What is the level of legal advice on adult social care issues that is currently available within Wales in both the private and third sectors?
Why are legal aid advice deserts in relation to social care occurring in Wales (or in relation to the law applicable in Wales) and what is their impact?
Do legal practitioners fully understand the distinctions between social care law in Wales and in England?
What is the level of knowledge among individuals in Wales as to their rights to bring social care challenges, and what are their opinions about the use of judicial review as a (potential) challenge mechanism in relation to the issues they face?
What is the impact of discrimination regarding protected characteristics and intersectional disadvantage on the use of judicial review as a means of challenging social care decisions in Wales? How many and what type of complaints are being brought to local authorities about (the lack of) social care provision in Wales? Would judicial review be a valuable tool in resolving these issues?
What issues are being brought to the ombudsman in Wales in relation to adult social care? Would judicial review be a valuable tool in resolving these issues and/or clarifying specific areas of legislation?
What are the constitutional impacts for Wales, and the impacts on social justice, equality and human rights in Wales?

The project will use a mixed method approach and will include interviews with individuals using or seeking to use social care support; interviews with legal practitioners in Wales and England; freedom of information requests to local authorities and analysis of responses, and; thematic analysis of ombudsman reports.

The student will be working with Public Law Project. Public Law Project was established to ensure those marginalised through poverty, discrimination or disadvantage have access to public law remedies and can hold the state to account. They employ specialist lawyers who assist disadvantaged groups as well as expert academics and researchers. Public Law Project undertakes three distinct strands of activity: research and policy; providing training and support to lawyers, and legal casework.

Further details for ESRC Wales DTP Collaborative studentships

These studentships are ‘collaborative’ awards. Applicants should take careful consideration of the working title and description of the project, and may wish to contact the supervisors of the project Dr Daniel Newman ([Email Address Removed]) and Dr Alison Tarrant ([Email Address Removed]) for a discussion prior to applying.

WHAT THE STUDENTSHIP WILL COVER

Studentship Awards commence in October 2023 and will cover your tuition fees as well as a maintenance grant (currently £17,668 p.a. for 2022/23 for full-time students, updated each year); and includes access to an additional Research Training Support Grant (RTSG), though an element of this latter fund may be ‘pooled’ and require separate applications from 2023 onwards. There are other opportunities and benefits available to studentship holders, including an overseas fieldwork allowance (if applicable), internship opportunities, overseas institutional visits and other small grants.

References

WHAT THE STUDENTSHIP WILL COVER

Studentship Awards commence in October 2023 and will cover your tuition fees as well as a maintenance grant (currently £17,668 p.a. for 2022/23 for full-time students, updated each year); and includes access to an additional Research Training Support Grant (RTSG), though an element of this latter fund may be ‘pooled’ and require separate applications from 2023 onwards. There are other opportunities and benefits available to studentship holders, including an overseas fieldwork allowance (if applicable), internship opportunities, overseas institutional visits and other small grants.

ELIGIBILITY

ESRC studentships are highly competitive, candidates should have an excellent academic background in the social sciences, holding a 1st or strong upper 2nd class degree; applications from those also holding a relevant research training Masters degree (or an equivalent background in research training) will be considered for a +3 award. Wales DTP studentships are available to both home and international (including EU and EEA) students. All applicants will be eligible for a full award consisting of a maintenance stipend and payment of tuition fees at the UK research organisation rate. Applicants must satisfy studentship eligibility requirements. For further details see the UKRI web site. Successful international student applicants will receive a fully-funded Wales DTP studentship and will not be charged the fees difference between the UK and international rate.

1+3 OR +3?

With the exception of studentships in the Economics pathway, awards are available on either a 1+3 or +3 basis. A 1+3 studentship provides funding for four years (or part-time equivalent), completing a research training Masters in the 1st year, followed by 3 years research funding for a PhD. A +3 studentship provides funding for the three years PhD research study only (or part-time equivalent).

ASSESSMENT

The closing deadline for applications is 12.00pm GMT on 3rd February 2023. Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview, which are expected to take place in late February/early March 2023. After interview, a final short-list of applicants will be put forward to a panel convened by the ESRC Wales DTP Management Group at which final decisions with regard to studentship awards will be made. In most cases successful applicants can expect to hear by early April 2023.

HOW TO APPLY

A completed online application for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy programme at Cardiff School of Law and Politics must be submitted by the deadline of 12.00pm GMT on 3rd February 2023.

The online application link is https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research/programmes/programme/law . Please ensure you apply for the October 2023 start date and put the ESRC 1+3 scholarship in the funding box.

Incomplete applications or applications received after this specified time will not be accepted.

The application must contain the following documents:

1. Covering letter: Please address to Dr Daniel Newman. The covering letter must name the collaborative studentship being applied for. It must set out your reasons and motivation for applying to study at Cardiff University, and the Empirical Studies in Law Pathway; your understanding, and expectations of doctoral study; and your academic interests generally, and particularly how these relate to the description of the project supplied. The covering letter should be no more than two pages. Please also specify whether you wish to apply on a +3 or 1+3 basis.

2. Academic / Professional Qualifications: Where appropriate, this should also include proof of English Language Competency (see institutional entry requirements).

3. References: All applications require two academic references to be submitted in support. Candidates must approach referees themselves and include the references with their application.

4. Curriculum Vitae: This should be no longer than two pages.

5. Research Proposal: For collaborative studentships, the proposal should build directly on the outline description that has been supplied. The proposal should be up to a maximum of 1000 words, not including bibliographic references. We suggest that you use the following five headings in your research proposal:

·      Your reflections on the title, aims and purpose of the research;
·      An overview of some key research literature relevant to the study;
·      Your proposals for developing the design and methods of the study;
·      A description of potential outcomes of the project for understanding, knowledge, policy and practice (as appropriate to the topic);
·      Bibliographic references

Where will I study?

Cardiff University

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