PhD Studentship: Nutritional Care of culturally diverse older adults living in care homes

Nutritional Care of culturally diverse older adults living in care homes

DoS: Professor Mary Hickson

2^nd Supervisor: Dr Esther Muriuki

3^rd Supervisor: Professor Jane Murphy

Applications are invited for a four-year PhD studentship. The studentship will start on 01 Oct 2025

Project Description

We are seeking a dietitian or nurse to study for a PhD and explore the nutritional requirements of a culturally diverse care home population. We anticipate seconding an NHS employed dietitian or nurse who is currently working in the care home setting. We are currently running a large trial to investigate the effectiveness of oral nutritional supplements in the treatment of undernutrition in the care home setting – the REFRESH Trial (https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/penctu/refresh-trial).

Your research will be based on the following research questions:

1. What do residents of older adult care homes consume, is it adequate to meet nutritional requirements, and do people with minority cultural backgrounds eat differently?
2. How well is the dietary data collection conducted in care homes, what adaptations are needed to ensure dietary intake can be measured accurately, and does the provision of culturally diverse foods impact the ease of dietary data collection?
3. Do residents with access to fortified food consume more protein (and higher quality protein) and energy than residents without such access and does dietary preference for ethnically diverse diet influence intake?
4. What factors influence dietary intake in care homes for those from minority ethnic groups and how can these population groups be adequately catered for?

You will be part of the REFRESH Trial team and registered for a PhD with the University of Plymouth. Supervision and training can be largely done remotely (if this is your choice) but ability to travel periodically to the university is necessary.

Eligibility

To apply you should:

• Be a UK registered dietitian or nurse (with the Health and Care Professions Council or Nursing and Midwifery Council)
• Hold a 2.1 or 1^st class undergraduate degree or relevant masters qualification
• Have knowledge of the available guidance for nutrition support in the care home setting
• Have a sound knowledge of nutrition and ageing
• An ambition to study for a PhD
• Be willing and able to travel to care homes in Devon, Hampshire and Dorset, and the West Midlands (and other areas as necessary). NB: Care homes may have poor public transport connections.
• Have permanent leave to remain in the UK
• Be fluent in spoken and written English (If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, IELTS Academic score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component test area) or equivalent
• Have agreement in principle to support your studies from your current employer (a letter or email from your line manager indicating their support prior to interview would be ideal)

Ideally you will also have:

• Experience of working with care homes on the management of undernutrition
• Previous research experience
• Proven skills in team working
• Excellent communication skills and ability to rapidly establish good rapport with researchers and care home staff.
• MRes in Clinical Research or similar

To view the full advert and to apply for this position please click on the Apply button above.

Closing date: 23:59 Monday 5^th May 2025.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview online on Tuesday 20^th May.

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