How care-experienced individuals define and achieve career success

The proposal intends to focus on the experiences of care-experienced individuals’ transitioning from the looked after-care system in England and Wales, into employment and what they define as career success, achievement, and enjoyment. Young people leaving care are generally experiencing additional challenges to their so-called non-disadvantaged peers, in terms of adjusting to independent living and navigating the realities of housing accommodation, economic stability and secure employment (Furey & Harris-Evans, 2021).

Young people as care leavers have described that they have not been prepared for the sudden shock and adjustment to independent living and there are calls for more gradual and supportive approaches towards enabling and promoting a resilience and coping strategies for care-leavers in this process of change (Stein, 2019).

This study will include the voices of care-experienced individuals who identify themselves as having made positive and successful transitions towards employment and career success. The research will examine what the significant factors were in supporting them towards their career choices and goals and their gradual independence in life and positive outlook for their longer-term futures (Brihem-Crookall, 2020; Liang, 2022).

Application Process

To begin the application process please go to https://www.worcester.ac.uk/courses/business-mphilphd and click on ‘How to Apply’ in the top menu. This PhD could be caried out on a part time or full time basis so please select the relevant application link. On the application form, please make it clear that you are applying for one of our advertised projects so we can direct it straight to the relevant people.

The Interview

All successful applicants will be offered an interview with the proposed Supervisory Team. You will be contacted by a member of the Research School Team to find a suitable date. Interviews can be conducted in person or over Microsoft Teams.

Funding your PhD

For information about Doctoral Loans please visit: https://www.worc.ac.uk/study/fees-and-finance/doctoral-loans.aspx

During your PhD you can access the Research Student Support Scheme to support dissemination costs associated with your research, up to £500 a year.

Research Group

Interpersonal Relationships & Wellbeing Research Group

The Interpersonal Relationships and Wellbeing Research Group draws together internationally renowned academics from across Psychology, Business and Criminology, with partners in Industry, third sector organisations and local government. Research activity is organised around four themes: Wellbeing for Life; Customer Interactions; People and Work; and Trauma and Violence Prevention.

We study interpersonal relationships, wellbeing and their inter-connectivity from an inter-disciplinary perspective, to generate applied, solution-focussed research. Our research explores how individual, social and environmental factors influence relationships and wellbeing within different contexts, such as in workplaces, schools and online spaces. We are interested in understanding how interpersonal relationships contribute to mental health (construed as both trauma/mental ill-health, and as wellbeing) and how they shape individual and team behaviour in consumer and organizational settings. In doing so, we explore both the ‘dark’ and ‘light’ side of relationships and human behaviour more broadly.

Widening Participation:

As part of its mission statement the University is committed to widening participation for its higher degrees. Although most candidates will have an undergraduate and/or a Masters degree, the University is happy to accept applications from candidates with relevant professional qualifications and work related experience.

Supervisory team

Dr Pamela Murray, Dr Claire McLoone-Richards, Professor Lynn Nichol

Director of Studies:

Dr Pamela Murray (Senior Lecturer in Leadership and Organisational Behaviour, Worcester Business School, Interpersonal Relationships and Well-Being Research Group, People and Work Theme

Supervisors:

Dr Claire McLoone-Richards (Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, Interpersonal Relationships and Well-Being Research Group, Lead Trauma and Violence Prevention Research Theme)

Professor Lynn Nichol (Professor of HRD, Worcester Business School, Interpersonal Relationships and Well-Being Research Group, Lead People and Work Research Theme).

Research Group: Interpersonal Relationships and Wellbeing Research Group

For further information or an informal discussion on this project, please contact Dr Pamela Murray (Director of Studies) via email at p.murray@worc.ac.uk

Applications can be made at: https://www.worcester.ac.uk/courses/business-mphilphd