GRTA Studentship - Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and Social Work: Professional Knowledge, Professional Practices, and the Lived Experience of Social Work Support and Intervention

GRTA Studentship - Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and Social Work: professional knowledge, professional practices, and the lived experience of social work support and intervention (REF: GRTA-ESW-FASD). Apply Here

Contact for informal enquiries: Dr Tony Armstrong ([email protected] )

The term Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is used as an umbrella term and refers to a range of delays and difficulties associated with alcohol consumption in pregnancy. A large number of children are born every year in the UK with lifelong physical, sensory, behavioural or cognitive disabilities caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The prevalence or occurrence of children born with FASD is not known in the UK, although a recent prevalence study for one area of the UK suggests between 7 – 17% (McQuire et al., 2018) and estimates from international prevalence rates vary between one percent to nine percent depending on the country and socio-economic and socio-cultural variables (BMA, 2016: 7). FASD has a substantial impact on the lives of individuals and those that live with them and support them. Professional social work knowledge about FASD is limited in most areas of practice (Curran, 2022; Gilbert et al., 2021), yet social work is considered an essential service to those living with the condition (Gibbs et al., 2018). It is particularly timely to explore professional knowledge in this field following the publication of the new NICE Quality Standard on FASD (QS204) (NICE, 2022). 

The successful candidate will investigate an area of social work practice relating to FASD. Possible areas of investigation include:

• The social work intervention experiences of individuals with FASD (including, for example, children, young people, adults and/ or their families and carers).
• The role of social work in supporting individuals with FASD, including the specific social work contribution in the context of multi-disciplinary practice.
• The effectiveness of social work in supporting individuals with FASD, in the context of multi-disciplinary practice.
• The professional knowledge and experiences of social workers in relation to pre-natal exposure to alcohol.

Funding Information  

This 48 month (4 year) full-time fully-funded GRTA Studentship comprises of two elements:

1)  0.75 - tax-free stipend of £12,047 per annum (paid monthly). The bursary is renewable annually for up to 48 months in total, subject to you making satisfactory progression within your PhD research.

2)  0.25 fixed term contract of employment (Assistant Lecturer) - renewable for up to 48 months in total, subject to satisfactory performance and progression within your PhD research. Please note that the pro rata salary for 2022-23 will be £7,940.50 (and this may be subject to some taxation).

This funding model also includes a FT Home fees studentship (£4,596 for 2022-23) for up to 4 years, subject to you making satisfactory progression within your PhD research.

This opportunity is open to UK, EU and Overseas applicants. International fee status applicants will be required to meet the difference in fee costs from their own funds

How to Apply

To apply, please complete an online application . In place of a personal statement applicants are required to upload a research proposal explaining their ideas about the selected project topic and how it might be studied. Please ensure you state the project reference GRTA-ESW-FASD on your proposal form.

Deadline for Applications

The closing date for applications is 23.59 on Friday 30th September 2022 for a February 2023 start.