24 January 2012
The School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol is pleased to be able to offer PhD studentships in Social Policy or Social Work. Studentships cover maintenance and fees for UK residents for full-time or part-time beginning in October 2012. The School also leads the following Interdisciplinary pathways: Security, Conflict and Justice and Health and Wellbeing. See further details about these here: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/fssl/swdtc.html
23 January 2012
The UK coalition government has a stated commitment to measuring the wellbeing and happiness of society which draws on pre-formulated lists of wellbeing indicators and measurements. After the recent publication of the ONS National Wellbeing Survey, many commentators have pointed out that this survey relies on an objective list of things that are needed to live well (known as the OLT model), such as 'How satisfied are you with your husband or wife?', which is not a good way to assess wellbeing and can in fact alienate participants.
5 January 2012
Three University of Bristol academics are currently in Japan to host a seminar on research that compares the Measurement of Poverty and Social Exclusion in Japan and the UK.
12 December 2011
BA Childhood Studies students enjoyed a performance session with the Misfits Theatre Company last week, in which they explored creative research methods. The session included short performance by six of the Misfits, and there were discussions about the role of performance methods in challenging stereotypes and supporting people with disabilities in having a voice.
5 December 2011
Julie Selwyn, of the Hadley Centre for Adoption and Foster Care Studies, has recently co-authored a book with Hilary Saunders: Adopting Large Sibling Groups - the experience of adopters and adoption agencies, published by BAAF. The book is the first UK study to examine adopters’ experiences of parenting a large sibling group as well as the views of staff in adoption agencies who need to recruit and support adopters willing to take siblings.
28 November 2011
It is widely recognised that parent and toddler groups provide support while also improving life-chances for children from low-income families. However, new research from the University of Bristol has found that nearly a quarter of mothers’ first-time visits to a group were so off-putting that they did not return to that group. One in five mothers then became afraid of attending any group.
28 November 2011
Tony Bunyan and Statewatch were presented with the 'Long Walk' award in Liberty's Human Rights Awards 2011 on 22 November. Tony Bunyan, the Director of Statewatch, is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Poverty and Social Justice in the School for Policy Studies. Statewatch monitors the state and civil liberties in the European Union.
22 November 2011
The School for Policy Studies has been awarded funding to develop a methodology to measure the social and economic impact of voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector infrastructure support organisations.
15 November 2011
The series of workshops seeks to embrace both methodological and theoretical concerns across a range of substantive policy areas and, in turn, to consider the implications and strategies for teaching the subject in higher education.
1 November 2011
A new book, Improving Child and Family Assessments – Turning Research Into Practice, written by Danielle Turney, Dendy Platt, Julie Selwyn and Elaine Farmer (all members of the School of Policy Studies) has been published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. The assessment of children in need and their families is an aspect of social work practice that has attracted considerable attention in recent years, with particular concerns over the implications for vulnerable children of poor quality assessment.