Research Funding Opportunities

The All-Wales Academic Social Care Research Collaboration Academy (ASCCA) is pleased to announce funding for two PhD Fellowships in Social Care to commence in 2014. Applications are invited from eligible social care practitioners, managers and educators. One Fellowship will be based at Bangor University and the other one will be based at the University of South Wales.

PhD appointments will be full-time for three years. Part-time applications will be considered at no less than three days per week commitment to study. 

Applications can include studies into many aspects of social care. They should fall within one or more of the following priority areas:

  • Supporting the implementation of the Social Services and Wellbeing Bill.
  • Workforce development.
  • Citizen-directed support.
  • Prevention and early intervention.
  • Role of the 3rd sector in social care delivery.
  • Community development and community capacity building.
  • Devolution and social care.

The programme of study will have a primary focus on quantitative research methods or use quantitative methods within a mixed methods study design.

Fellowships will include:

  • Student stipend £13,500 per annum
  • Training, fieldwork and dissemination costs £1,500
  • Tuition fees

Eligibility criteria:

  • Applicants require a first degree (graded 2:1 or above) and/or a good Masters level degree in a relevant discipline (for example, social work, sociology, social policy, criminology, psychology, health and social care).
  • Applicants must be based within a Welsh social care organisation or Welsh Higher Education Institution at the time of applying. 

Recruitment for the PhD Fellowships will be managed by Bangor University with input from collaborating Universities.

The application process is in two stages:

  1. Completed applications must be submitted by 5pm on Monday 31st March 2014.  Applications should be emailed to asccacademy@bangor.ac.uk
  2. Applications will be reviewed by ASCCA panel members and shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview. Fellowships will commence from 1st September 2014 or earlier by agreement.

General enquiries may be addressed to either Catherine Robinson, ASCC National Lead (01248 382238; catherine.robinson@bangor.ac.uk) or Carolyn Wallace, Reader in Integrated Care and Frailty (0144 348 3178; Carolyn.wallace@southwales.ac.uk).

For information about the specific opportunities, please contact the relevant institutions directly (details listed below).

Contacts in Bangor University and University of South Wales are:

Bangor University – Diane Seddon, ASCC Regional Lead, North Wales, 01248 388220; d.seddon@bangor.ac.uk

University of South Wales – Carolyn Wallace, Reader in Integrated Care and Frailty, 0144 348 3178; Carolyn.wallace@southwales.ac.uk

Collaborating institutions are:

Bangor University - Diane Seddon, ASCC Regional Lead, North Wales (01248 388220; d.seddon@bangor.ac.uk)

University of South Wales – Carolyn Wallace, Reader in Integrated Care and Frailty, (0144 348 3178; Carolyn.wallace@southwales.ac.uk).

Cardiff University - Sally Holland, Reader in Social Work (02920876910; HollandS1@cf.ac.uk)

Swansea University - Judith Phillips, ASCC Regional Lead, South West Wales (01792 602341; Judith.E.Phillips@swansea.ac.uk)

Publication date: 3 March 2014