Ruth Townsley

Qualifications

PhD, BA

Role

Honorary Research Fellow

Contact details

Biography

Ruth is an experienced social policy researcher and project manager and worked at the Norah Fry Research Centre between 1992 and 2011. She has a PhD in young children’s literacy development from the University of Sheffield and joined the University of Bristol in 1992 to take up a JRF Research Fellowship. Formerly a senior research fellow (2002-2011), deputy director (2003-2006) and acting co-director (2006-7), Ruth played a central role in the strategic and operational management of the Norah Fry Research Centre, alongside leading on numerous national research projects, teaching on post-graduate programmes and supervising post-graduate research students. She has published and presented her work nationally and internationally, in the academic and professional press, including 6 authored books/published reports, 14 refereed journal articles and numerous other research outputs such as book chapters, training materials, web-based reports and accessible booklets and summaries.

Ruth left the Centre in March 2011 and is now working as an independent researcher, but retains honorary status with the University of Bristol until 2016.

Research interests

Ruth has researched and published widely in the social policy arena, with a particular interest in empowerment and social justice for disabled children, young disabled people, adults with learning disabilities and their families. She has been responsible for initiating and leading numerous pieces of research, evaluation and review work for major national and international policy and practice organisations. Some key work over the past ten years includes:

An evaluation of the impact of the recently established Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy service, for the Social Care Institute of Excellence/Department of Health (2010-11)
An evaluation of the National Autistic Society’s Parent Support Programme for parents of young people with autistic spectrum disorder, for NHS Bristol (2010-11)
A scoping study for the Office for Disability Issues/Department for Work and Pensions on access to independent advocacy for disabled people(2009)
A review for the EU concerning progress towards independent living for disabled people in European member states (2009)
A scoping exercise for the NHS Service Delivery Organisation (SDO) R&D Programme (now NIHR) to establish research priorities in Learning Disabilities for the next ten years (2007-8)
An evaluation and review of community based day activities for adults with learning disabilities, for the Social Care Institute of Excellence (2006)
A review of the work of Care Co-ordination Network UK, a national umbrella organisation for those associated with the policy and practice of keyworking for disabled children - for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2005-6)
An action research project to investigate how adult learning professionals can promote progression and effective transition to adulthood for young disabled people, for the Learning and Skills Development Agency (2003-4)
A literature review on transition to adulthood for young people with learning disabilities, for the Social Care Institute of Excellence (2004)
A systematic review leading to production of evidence-based guidance on producing accessible information for people with learning disabilities (with RNIB), for the Department of Health (2002-4)
An evaluation of multi-agency working in services to severely disabled children with complex health care needs and their families (with the Family Fund Trust), for the Big Lottery Fund (2001-4).

Full listing of publications and conference contributions 1992 - 2011

Selected publications

Townsley, R. And Laing, A. (2011) Effective relationships, better outcomes: Mapping the impact of the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate Service (1^st April 2009 to 31^st March 2010). London: Social Care Institute for Excellence. http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/imca/files/IMCAreportFINALv35.pdf

Marriott, A., Williams, V. and Townsley, R. (2010) ‘It is time to stop talking and start doing’: The views of people with learning disabilities on future research’, Mental Health & Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, 7(2), pp131-148.

Townsley, R. and Marriott, A. (2010) ‘More than giving people a voice’, Learning Disability Today, June 2010, pp 35-37.

Williams, V., Marriott, A. and Townsley, R. (2009) ‘Whose agenda?’, Learning Disability Today, December 2008, pp 32-35

Townsley, R., with Ward, L., Abbott, D., and Williams, V. (2009) The implementation of policies supporting independent living for disabled people in Europe: synthesis report. Brussels: Academic Network of European Disability experts (ANED). http://www.disability-europe.net/content/aned/media/ANED-Task%205%20Independent%20Living%20Synthesis%20Report%2014.01.10.pdf

Townsley, R., Marriott, A. & Ward, L. (2009) Access to independent advocacy: an evidence review. London: Office for Disability Issues. http://odi.dwp.gov.uk/docs/res/iar/iar-full.pdf

Williams, V., Marriott, A. & Townsley, R. (2008) Shaping our future: a scoping and consultation exercise to establish research priorities in learning disabilities for the next ten years. Report for the National Co-ordinating Centre for NHS Service Delivery and Organisation R&D (NCCSDO). London: HMSO. http://www.sdo.nihr.ac.uk/files/project/152-final-report.pdf

Watson, D., Abbott, D. & Townsley, R. (2007) 'Listen to me, too! Lessons from involving children with complex health care needs in research about multi-agency services', Child: Care, Health & Development.

Swift, P. & Townsley, R. with Cole, A., Lloyd, A., Major, V., Mattingly, M. McIntosh, B and Williams, V (2006) Having a Good Day? A Study of Community-based Day Activities for People with Learning Disabilities. A Review of the Research, London: Social Care Institute for Excellence. http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/knowledgereviews/kr14.pdf

Ward, L. & Townsley, R. (2005) ‘‘It’s about a dialogue…’ Working with people with learning difficulties to develop accessible information’, British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 33, pp 59-64.

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?' Jnl of Child & Family Social Work, 10 (3) 229-238.

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.

Townsley R. (2004) The Road Ahead? Literature Review: What Does the Literature Tell Us About the Information Needs of Young People with Learning Difficulties and their Families at Transition. London: Social Care Institute of Excellence. http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/tra/literature/index.asp

Townsley, R., Abbott, D., & 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: The Policy Press.

Townsley, R., Rodgers, J. & Folkes, L. (2003) ‘Getting informed: Researching the production of accessible information for people with learning disabilities’, Journal of Integrated Care, 11(3), pp 39-43.

Watson, D., Townsley, R. and Abbott, D. (2002) ‘Exploring multi-agency working in services to disabled children with complex health care need and their families’, Journal of Clinical Nursing, 11, pp1-9.

Robinson, C., Jackson, P. and Townsley, R. (2001) ‘Short breaks for families caring for a disabled child with complex health needs’, Child and Family Social Work, 6, pp 67-75.

Townsley, R., Howarth, J., Graham, M. & LeGrys, P. (2002) Committed to change? Promoting the involvement of people with learning difficulties in staff recruitment. Bristol: The Policy Press.

Townsley, R. and Robinson, C. (2000) Food for thought? Effective support for families of disabled children who are tube fed. Bristol: Norah Fry Research Centre.