PhD Studentship: NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South West Doctoral Award: The implementation of poverty-aware practice and poverty-proofing in family services
Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship. The studentship will start on 1 October 2026.
DoS: Dr Nick Axford (nick.axford@plymouth.ac.uk)
2nd Supervisor: Dr Amy Bond
3rd Supervisor: Professor Vashti Berry
The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South West is inviting applications for a PhD studentship, funded by an ARC South West Doctoral Award, to commence on 1 October 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. For eligible students the studentship will cover Home tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend of at least £21,805 for 3 years full-time. We welcome applicants who wish to study less than full-time, provided they are intending to complete their studies within the ARC funding period. The student would be based at the University of Plymouth. A training and development budget will also be provided to support the activity of the student.
Project Description
Poverty and financial stress contribute to a range of poor outcomes for parents and children. While national policies to prevent and reduce this exist, some families fall through the gaps. This means that family services must step in. However, frontline practitioners working with parents often avoid talking about or addressing family financial well-being. Reasons include a lack of knowledge or confidence, and not viewing it as part of their job. Moreover, the system can leave low-income families feeling stigmatised and practitioners unsupported.
Addressing these problems has individual and structural aspects. ‘Poverty-aware practice’ focuses on how individual practitioners interact with individuals and families. It includes avoiding judgmental language, understanding how poverty affects behaviour, supporting choice and advocating for families’ rights to material and other support. ‘Poverty proofing’ focuses on policies and systems, seeking to ensure that services do not make life harder for people in poverty. It includes removing hidden costs from services, not penalising families for non-payment and assessing how new policies might affect people in poverty.
However, there is limited research on how to implement such approaches effectively in family service settings (e.g., social care, education, early years), especially in the UK. Addressing this gap is important for reducing health inequalities. It also ties closely with the Government’s Child Poverty Strategy and Best Start for Life guidance for Family Hubs.
The PhD aims to better understand how poverty-aware practice and poverty proofing are implemented in children and family services. What are the barriers and facilitators to implementing them? How do organisational context and resources shape take-up? How do practitioners and service settings apply these approaches? Findings will inform the development of training materials and implementation guidance to support the delivery of poverty-aware practice and poverty proofing in practice.
Potential applicants working in community, social care and public health are welcome to contact us to explore their suitability.
If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact Dr Nick Axford (nick.axford@plymouth.ac.uk). Queries about the award itself can be directed to arcsouthwest@exeter.ac.uk.
The closing date for applications is 21 July 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview in August 2026 shortly after the deadline.
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