Career Development Awardee
My research career began in 2008, with an early focus on Gerontology, and I have since developed expertise in qualitative and applied research in health and social care, completing my PhD along the way. Over the past four years I have been instrumental in developing Care & Research North East, a research-practice partnership with care homes. I am now focused on securing competitive research funding to scale this partnership model and deepen my impact in social care research.
Jennifer’s research interests include:
- Care homes and older people
- Research-practice partnerships
- Qualitative methods
- Purposeful activity and quality of life
Read about Jennifer’s Career Development Award plans
Shaping the Future of Social Care: Developing Skills, Knowledge and Connections for Research Leadership
I have worked closely with care home residents, staff and relatives over three years to design and carry out research based on what matters to them. Their views have shown me how social care is often overlooked or misunderstood. want to change this by working in partnership to produce research that has real meaning and impact.
This award will support me to continue working with care home residents and staff in ways that matter to them, ensuring their voices shape future research, while learning from more people working in social care. I aim to:
- Make sure my research reflects what matters to older people and social care professionals
- Grow and maintain a long-term partnership between researchers and care homes
- Develop an application for a major research funding award (NIHR Postdoctoral Award)
designed to help individuals become research leaders
During the award, I will:
- Take part in four training courses on partnership working, inclusive research, quality improvement, and new research methods using Artificial Intelligence
- Learn and connect with experts though placements with well-established care home research partnerships, a national improvement network, and care home providers
- Use these experiences to improve my work and prepare a strong funding application
- Share what I learn at national events and explore new ways to share findings with the public and social care organisations
These activities will help me take the next step in my research career by building the skills, knowledge and connections needed to lead my own social care research.
