By Professor Catherine Needham, Professor of Public Policy and Public Management Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham “When reform comes I hope it will start with how to build full and meaningful lives for people who receive care, and not just be about the demographic time-bomb and how to stop people selling their homes … Continue reading “Social care reform – Always Jam Tomorrow”
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Culturally competent? What does the pandemic tell us?
By Zhu Hua, FAcSS, Professor of Educational Linguistics & Director of the Mosaic Group for Research on Multilingualism, School of Education, University of Birmingham “Seeing cultural competence as a responsibility of those providing health and education programmes is certainly a step in the right direction.” Public Health England’s recent report, Beyond the data: Understanding the … Continue reading “Culturally competent? What does the pandemic tell us?”
Carers and COVID-19: Hunger and mental health
By Dr Matthew Bennett, Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham “We’ve been clapping for carers throughout the pandemic. The profile of carers has risen. Yet a number of them are silently facing unthinkable hardships.” Did you clap for our carers? Despite their recently raised profile, our … Continue reading “Carers and COVID-19: Hunger and mental health”
Under pressure: Children and Young People’s Mental Health, the hidden impacts of COVID-19
By Dr Gemma McKenna, Health Services Management Fellow School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham Originally posted as a blog piece for The Voice of UK Health Services Research (HSR UK). On the 18th March 2020, schools across the UK closed their doors. Children said goodbye to their teachers and friends, some for the … Continue reading “Under pressure: Children and Young People’s Mental Health, the hidden impacts of COVID-19”
How long will we comply with COVID lockdown? 3 tests for legitimate rules
By Dr Claire Mcloughlin & Professor David Hudson International Development Department, University of Birmingham “People are more likely to comply with rules that don’t benefit them if they have some basis in shared values and beliefs and fairness.” Across the world, citizens are facing extraordinary limits on their livelihoods and freedom of association. But as … Continue reading “How long will we comply with COVID lockdown? 3 tests for legitimate rules”
Character in a time of crisis
By Benjamin Miller, Research Fellow Jubilee Centre for Character & Virtues, University of Birmingham “For many teachers, the coronavirus crisis has been a reminder that a holistic education can encompass both the formation of character and the very best academic standards.” The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week this year is kindness. Throughout the week, … Continue reading “Character in a time of crisis”
The importance of the ‘great outdoors’
By Victoria Saunders, Lecturer in Primary Teacher Education School of Education, University of Birmingham “They have the freedom to make a mess, use their imagination and escape from the stress and anxiety of what is going on around them.” It is 6.10am and the first words I hear from my two daughters (aged 2 and … Continue reading “The importance of the ‘great outdoors’”
The beguiling simplicity of common sense
By Steve Gulati, Director of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Programme School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham “So, one person’s common sense could just as easily be another’s reckless risk. ” UK citizens have been told to use “good, solid British common sense” in the face of the revised COVID-19 lockdown rules. This sounds simple enough … Continue reading “The beguiling simplicity of common sense”
Mental Health Awareness Week: Why Kindness?
By Maureen Smojkis, Lecturer in Mental Health Department of Social Work and Social Care, University of Birmingham “We as individuals are worth being kind to.” Mental Health Awareness Week (18-24 May 2020) is co-ordinated by the Mental Health Foundation and focuses this year on kindness, chosen in light of the challenging situation we find ourselves in, … Continue reading “Mental Health Awareness Week: Why Kindness?”
Birmingham Strikes Back
By Professor Paul Jackson and Professor Scott Lucas, School of Government Dr Amaury Triaud, School of Physics and Astronomy Dr Luisa Orsini, School of Biosciences Last November, at the University of Birmingham we held a Star Wars themed event as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science. Our academics brought to light areas of … Continue reading “Birmingham Strikes Back”