After being awarded an SSCR studentship in 2020, I completed my PhD, titled ‘Experiences and actions of inclusivity and cultural competence in community based social care for older LGBTQ+ adults: A qualitative study‘ in 2024, graduating in early 2025. I have been working as a Research Associate since my Viva and am now pursuing an academic research career.
Older people, especially those with marginalised identities often require social care but are at increased risk of inequitable or discriminatory experiences. Following a scoping review of current literature, interviews and focus groups with 23 older LGBTQ+ people and staff/volunteers were carried out to understand perspectives of using and delivering inclusive community based social care. Thematic and narrative analysis of findings was undertaken. The importance and relevance of sexual identity differed between LGBTQ+ people and staff. A range of complexities and lack of external drivers impacted on actions of providers although there was general motivation to improve inclusivity and cultural competence. It was important but perceived as complex to collect sexual identity data. Clear signals or markers of inclusion and recognition and validation of identity were felt to be key to creating inclusivity.
Read more about Liz’s Career Development Award plans
Development of workforce cultural competence in homecare
I will write a fellowship application for research into scenario based training interventions on cultural competence for homecare workers. I will undertake a range of learning and development activities to further my understanding of how to construct and carry out complex intervention research. I will complete an accredited course and other learning on the topic and around training in homecare settings particularly focused on cultural competence.
I shall undertake a placement at Kings College London within the Adult Social Care Workforce Research Partnership, where I will be involved in projects being planned and undertaken and build networks with researchers working in this area. I will also undertake some learning at Northumbria University, focused on implementing research in practice and Bristol University focused on building aligned research networks. I will also attend and present at conferences and seminars to meet researchers in the area and share the work I am doing.
I am going to focus on building robust research, community and practice networks, and will link with these to broaden my learning throughout the award through working with the workforce development team at Doncaster Council. I will network with people who work in homecare and community groups to involve them in developing the fellowship application.
Throughout my award I will have supervision and mentorship from experienced academics to help me develop my critical thinking skills, my skills around designing training interventions, and my broader research career development.
At the end of the award, I will submit my fellowship application.
