This is a funded MbyRes, including a generous stipend and tuition fees, with well-resourced circumstances for a successful scholarship.
Here is an exciting opportunity to study an important research topic which could lead to entirely new approaches to reintegrating elderly care home residents into social activities after prolonged covid isolation.
The selected candidate will apply their research knowledge, skills and ambition to an under-researched and important area. This project will allow the student to develop transferable knowledge and skills in this most exciting and active field of gerontology research.
This Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship (KESS) project will be held in the Faculty of Life Sciences and Education at the University of South Wales. KESS is a programme funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) awarded by the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) in the Welsh Government. The project will focus on an exploration of the mental, physical, behavioural and environmental barriers which prevent elderly care home residents reengaging in social activities after covid lockdown. Since isolation is detrimental to the health and well-being of this population, this topic is a priority area of research.
The project is backed by Linc Cymru Housing Association, who are committed to ensuring the physical and psychological well-being of residents living across their ExtraCare (Independent Living settings), yet they recognise that the isolation necessitated by the covid19 pandemic has had a negative impact on those living in these settings. They have resolved to address this issue by partnering with the University of South Wales to find solutions to this problem.
Programme of research:
The purpose of the current project is to investigate the specific barriers to social engagement as relayed by the residents themselves and the care home workers. This will necessitate an exploration of both internal (e.g., anxiety about catching the virus) and external (e.g., types of activities) factors which might influence engagement. This will be a mixed methods study incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods, and the findings from this study will be used to develop a plan for re-engagement which will outline psychological, social and situational strategies which might encourage a return to social engagement. The overriding aim of this project is to enhance the well-being and mental health of this vulnerable population, which has been adversely affected by covid19 enforced isolation. This project will be a co-creation between Linc Cymru Housing Association and the University of South Wales. Both organisations will be actively involved in all stages of the research.
Studentship:
The studentship will cover the fees for a full-time MbyRes programme and pay a stipend of circa £11.8k p.a. There is also around £3k project support costs available for consumables, travel, minor equipment, training (including the KESS Grad School) and conference attendance.
The position is available from 3rd January 2022
Eligibility of Student:
To be eligible to hold a KESS studentship, you must:
· have a home address in East Wales area (details below)* at the time of registration.
· have the right to take up paid work in the East Wales area* on completion of the scholarship.
· be classified by the University as ‘home’ or ‘EU’ for tuition fees purposes according to the University’s guidelines.
· satisfy University of South Wales’s admissions criteria: see below, qualifications and experience and application process
*East Wales area covers: Vale of Glamorgan / Cardiff/ Newport/ Monmouthshire/ Powys/ Wrexham/ Flintshire
Qualifications and experience:
Eligible applicants will:
- Have a degree (2i or higher) in an appropriate Psychology discipline
- Possess a reasonable understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods
- Be highly self-motivated, with capacity to learn and develop techniques of data analysis
- Have well-developed and positively collaborative interpersonal skills
- Have an ability to deliver technical reports and communicate findings
Be willing to travel and work in community support settings.
Application Process:
To download an application package, please visit: Participant Application Package
For any queries on eligibility, please contact: KESS Team at Research and Innovation Services, University of South Wales: [Email Address Removed] Tel: 01443 482578
For informal enquiries or further programme information, please contact: Dr Philip Tyson ([Email Address Removed]).
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