Nigel Groome Studentship: Empowering Foster Carers to Support Sleep in Children in Care

3 Years, full-time funded PhD Studentship

Eligibility: Home UK/EU applicants who must be permanently resident in the UK

Bursary p.a.: Bursary equivalent to UKRI national minimum stipend plus fees (current 2024/25 bursary rate is £19,237)

Fees and Bench fees: will be met by the University for the 3 years of the funded Studentship.

Closing date: Friday 17 January 2025 - Midday

Start Date: September 2025 

Supervisors: Prof Luci Wiggs
                       Dr Georgia Cook 

Requirements:

Applicants should have a first or upper second-class honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or acceptable equivalent qualification. EU Applicants must have a valid IELTS Academic test certificate (or equivalent) with an overall minimum score of 6.5 to 7.0 and no score below 6.0 issued in the last 2 years by an approved test centre. 

The studentship requires you to undertake the equivalent of up to 6 hrs teaching per week on average, during semester time, and to include preparation and marking (but no more than 20 hrs per week), and to participate in a teaching skills course without further remuneration. 

Project Description:

Sleep problems are common in children and young people and are associated with many adverse effects on psychological and physical functioning (for the child and their carers). Children in care (CiC) (84,000 in England in 2024) have increased risk for sleep disturbance for many reasons. Our preliminary work has found that UK foster carers (FCs) commonly encounter sleep difficulties in CiC and that they need support to manage these issues as night-time difficulties are a source of stress and a potential cause of placement breakdown. Unfortunately, FCs report numerous barriers to getting the sleep-related help they need, including challenges seeking and accessing appropriate support and also practical difficulties with implementing advice they do receive. Although there are evidenced ways to manage children’s sleep difficulties, the particular requirements of this population need to be understood so that resources and advice can be tailored for this group of children and their carers.

This PhD would aim to: 1) understand the special considerations of managing sleep in CiC 2) co-produce resources to best meet the sleep-related needs of CiC and those who care for them and 3) develop recommendations for how FCs and CiC are supported around sleep. The research would likely utilise qualitative and co-production methodologies with FCs and other professionals involved in their care. The successful applicant will be expected to design studies, collect and analyse data, and report findings. 

Complete applications should include a proposed project proposal (max 1000 words) including background, aims and an outline methodology, applicants can liaise with Dr Luci Wiggs when developing their proposal.

Entry requirements:

This project is advertised on a competitive basis alongside other current Nigel Groome PhD studentship advertisements for Department of Psychology, Health and Professional Development projects. Part time MPhil/PhD study will be exceptionally considered.

Application process: Please contact hls-applications@brookes.ac.uk for details of how to apply.

Contact hls-applications@brookes.ac.uk with any queries.

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