Debby Watson

Qualifications

Role

(Honorary) Research Fellow

Contact details

Email: debby.watson@bris.ac.uk

Biography

Debby Watson is an Honorary Research Fellow at the Norah Fry Research Centre. She has recently been working on a research project entitled ‘Participation in Education’, looking at ways in which disabled children with little or no speech can be involved in their education. She was previously a social worker, including running a short break service for children with learning difficulties.

Research interests

Her main research interests concern the involvement of disabled children in research and services, particularly children with complex health care needs and communication difficulties. Other interests include issues for families bringing up a disabled child, housing issues and research ethics.

Current research projects

An Independent Evaluation of the Kingfishers Project

Recent projects

Participation in Education

Disability Data Collection for Children’s Services (with University of Bath)

Publications

Abbott, D., Townsley, R. & Watson, D. (2005) Multi-agency working in services for disabled children: what impact does it have on professionals? Health and Social Care in the Community.13(2), pp155-163

Abbott, D., Watson, D. & Townsley, R. (2005) The proof of the pudding: What difference does multi-agency working make to families with disabled children with complex health care needs? Child and Family Social Work (10), pp 229-238

Lewis, A., Parsons, S., Robertson, C., Feiler, A., Tarlton, B., Watson, D., Byers, R., Davies, J., Fergusson, A. and Marvin, C. (forthcoming) The role and working of reference, or advisory, groups involving disabled people: reviewing the experiences and implications of three contrasting research projects. The British Journal of Special Education.

Simons, K. and  Watson, D. (1999).   The View from Arthur’s Seat. Review of Services for People with Learning Disabilities: A literature Review of Housing and Support Options Beyond Scotland. Scottish Executive: Edinburgh

Simons, K. and  Watson, D. (1999). New Directions? Day services for people with learning disabilities in the 1990s. Exeter: Centre for Evidence Based Social Services

Townsley, R., Abbott, D. and Watson, D. (2004) Making a Difference?  Exploring the Impact of Multi-agency Working on Disabled Children with Complex Health Care Needs, their Families and the Professionals who Support Them.  Bristol: Policy Press

Townsley, R., Watson, D. & Abbott, D. (2004) Working partnerships?  A critique of the process of multi-agency working in services to disabled children with complex health care needs, Journal of Integrated Care.(12) 2, pp 24-34

Ward, L. and Watson, D. (2001) Doing Research - and Doing It Right: a brief guide to resources on ethical research practice Community Fund www.community-fund.org.uk/index2.htm

Ward, L., Fyson, R. and Watson, D. (2004) Planning for Change? Learning Disability Joint Investment Plans and Implementing the Valuing People White Paper Journal of Integrated Care 12(3) pp11-19

Watson, D. The Road Ahead: A review of the resources available to support transition. Appendix C. www.scie.org.uk

Watson, D., Abbott, D., Townsley, R. (2007) ‘Listen to me, too!’Lessons from involving children with complex healthcare needs in research about multi-agency services Child Care, Health and Development  33 (1), 90-95.

 Watson, D., Feiler, A. and Tarleton, B. (2007) I want to choose too: A resource for teachers and others for including primary school age children with little or no speech in their education Bristol: Norah Fry Research Centre

Watson, D., Townsley, R., Abbott, D. (2002) Exploring multi-agency working in services to disabled children with complex healthcare needs and their families Journal of Clinical Nursing 11: 367-375

Watson, D., Townsley, R., Abbott, D. and Latham, P. (2002) Working Together?:Multi-agency working in services to disabled children with complex health care needs and their families, A literature review. Birmingham:The Hansel Trust

Watson, D., Williams, V. and Wickham, C.(2005) A Valued Part of the Workforce? Final report of the Sequal project on employment and disabled people Sequal: Surrey University

Williams, V. and Watson, D. (2001) Behind the scenes: Work in Europe Mencap/ Norah Fry Research Centre: London

Williams, V., Abbott,D. Rodgers, J., Ward, L. and Watson, D. (2007) Money, rights and risks: A scoping review of financial issues for people with learning disabilities in the UK
Dorking:Friends Provident Foundation/Norah Fry Research Centre

Williams, V., Tarleton, B., Watson, D. and Johnson, R. (2003)  Nice Job – if you can get it.  Work and people with learning difficulties. Norah Fry Research Centre/ CACS, Bristol University, Bristol.