Martin Partridge
Qualifications
BA (Hons), PG Dip, MARole
PhD Student
Contact details
Biography
Martin Partridge started his PhD studies in October 2007, and is carrying out research about the experiences of people with learning difficulties from Chinese communities in England. He aims to explore the implications of this for services and for how people with learning difficulties live in an increasingly multi-cultural society.
Martin has worked professionally for many years with people with learning difficulties, in many different roles, in both statutory and third sector organisations. He has conducted research in China and involvement in Chinese culture has enabled him to spend time in Beijing in developing contacts with disability services.
Current research
PhD Thesis (Tentative title) Chinese adults with learning difficulties: An ethnographic study.
Current projects
Martin is currently writing with other authors in the field of ethics, culture and the experiences of researchers as insider/outsider when working with Chinese participants in England.
Recent projects
Martin has recently been working collaboratively with Mencap in organising the first UK conference for people with learning difficulties and their families/carers who are from Chinese communities and those who provide services for them. The conference was held in April 2010 and was successfully attended by 130 delegates from around the UK.
Martin has recently completed a short research project that was commissioned by a local Chinese community centre which aimed to examine the attitudes of the Chinese community and how this impacted upon the access, design and delivery of health and welfare services for people with learning difficulties.
Martin has recently worked as a procedure writer in the area of Safeguarding Adults, writing collaboratively with social care practitioners in publishing the:
Birmingham Safeguarding Adults Board (2009) Safeguarding Adults: Policy, Procedure and Good Practice Guide. Birmingham.
Birmingham Safeguarding Adults Board (2008) Birmingham Safeguarding Adults Multiagency Document. Birmingham.
Publications
Partridge, M. (2009) A Service for Chinese Adults with Learning Difficulties? Report. Chinese Community Centre – Birmingham. 2009.
Partridge, M. (2009) Supporting the Chinese Community. Newsletter of the National Learning Disability and Ethnicity Network, 89.
Presentations
Chinese adults with learning difficulties: An ethnographic study of culture and practice. A presentation to the West Midlands Ethnicity Network, Birmingham, March 2009.
Chinese adults with learning difficulties: A life story approach to identity in Britain. Poster presentation to the SACHS School research day, May 2008.
Chinese adults with learning difficulties in Britain: A life story approach to identity. National learning disability and ethnicity annual conference, London, April 2008.
Chinese adults with learning difficulties: A life story approach to identity in Britain. A presentation to the Chinese community centre and Cherish House, Trident housing, Birmingham, April 2008.
Conference papers
Partridge, M (2010) Chinese Adults with Learning Disabilities: An ethnographic study of inclusion, identity and the future of welfare services in England. Paper presented at the 2nd East Asian Studies (BRIDGE) Conference, Bristol, July 2010.
Partridge, M (2010) Ethics, Ethnography and Culture: Ethical Safeguard or Cultural Imperialism? Paper presented to the Ethics seminar: Ethnography, Vulnerable Participants and Genetic research, Bristol, May 2010.
Partridge, M (2009) Chinese Adults with Learning Difficulties in Britain. Paper presented at the 10th Nordic Network on Disability Research conference, Nyborg, Denmark, April 2009.
Teaching
Identity and social inclusion, social processes. MA Social Work, Institute of Applied Social Studies. University of Birmingham, May 2006.
Mentoring
Martin has provided support to social work students in the development of their work in the field and to their academic studies.