Lecturer
I am a Lecturer in the Childhood, Health and Society Studies team at the University with over eight years of experience as a lecturer and teacher, in higher, further, special, and mainstream education. My background is in mental health and also working with children and vulnerable adults. I have also worked in both health and social care settings for over five years prior to becoming an educator.
I joined the University of Sunderland in 2012 where I completed my FD, BSc, PGCE, MA, and FHEA.
I am currently undertaking a PhD at the University which explores domestic violence experiences from the perspective of abused women in Bulgaria.
Teaching and supervision
- SSC227 Working Together to Safeguard Vulnerable Children, Young People and Adults
- SSC230 Lifecourse Approaches in Health, Social Care and Ageing
- SSC312 Substance Use and Society
- SSC330 Lifecourse Approaches In Health, Social Care And Ageing
- SSC310 Practical Application
Research interests for potential research students
- Effects of domestic violence on children
- Woman and child abuse
- Gender inequality issues
Research
I am an experienced researcher, competent in both qualitative and quantitative research and analysis. My research interest is primarily focused on practice and how services respond to people. My research specialisms include; health; social care; interventions; food poverty; practice-based research; domestic violence and gender inequality. I have previously conducted a research project that explored how domestic abuse impacts children. Furthermore, I am currently working on the following research projects:
Story of Place – The purpose of this study was to capture the experiences and voices of people living in Wallsend, and also to capture the very essence of families on low income struggling financially, physically, and mentally during Covid-19. Information was gathered from practitioners about the challenges and barriers that families face on a day-to-day basis and the opportunity they perceived in Wallsend.
Practitioner reflection – This research followed a project which explored the impact that Covid-19 had on families from the north east. The first part of the project was approved (Story of Place) by the University of Sunderland following growing concerns in the region about child poverty. The initial project explored this from the perspective of practitioners. This was a longitudinal study, and it might continue in the future.
Currently, I am undertaking a PhD that explores domestic violence experiences from the perspective of abused women in Bulgaria.
In Bulgaria, the issue of domestic violence is still under-researched. Little is known about the real magnitude as well as the details of this problem in the country due to the under-reported number of cases among the victims and survivors of domestic violence. Therefore, my PhD aims to contribute new knowledge regarding the experiences of domestic violence from the perspectives of Bulgarian women.
- Effects of domestic violence on children
- Woman and child abuse
- Gender inequality issues