Part Funded PhD Studentship in Creative Leadership in Healthcare

The Arts and Health subject area, in Arts and Humanities at Brunel University London is offering a part-funded PhD studentship to start in the academic year of 2024/25.

The studentship is for up to 4 years (48 months) starting in January 2025. The successful applicant will receive an annual stipend of £6,500 for research-related costs only, plus payment of home tuition fees. The studentship is open to all UK/home applicants. The school fees and stipends will be at home rate.

Those awarded the studentship will also assume the role of General Teaching Assistant (GTA) and be required to assist in the University’s teaching and/or assisting research for up to 150 hours a year in the following subject areas: ‘Arts and Health’ at Brunel University as well as contributing to Leadership Programmes with our health partner CNWL NHS Foundation Trust.

About the PhD

Investigation into creativity, power relations, leadership and coaching have generated meaningful discourses about the future of the NHS and how organisational change can have meaningful impact on delivery of services and patient experience. The complexity of intersections between physical health, mental health, cultures, populations and staff support/wellbeing are key factors of consideration with the development of NHS leadership environments.

In recent years, we have seen powerful changes in politics, society, global concerns, communities and within these domains the pressures on healthcare to perform more effectively. The NHS is a dynamic and changing site for exploring the potentiality of creative leadership, changes in healthcare and what the future of leadership could look like. Leadership can be redefined according to the ways in which we understand the transversal relationships between healthcare staff, infrastructures, physical environment, politics, culture and society. We are particularly interested in theoretical discourse and creative mixed research methods that are developed in the context of recent theories regarding leadership and the more-than-human.

We are interested in applications that explore questions and issues within the theory and practice of leadership within the context of healthcare. Potential areas of enquiry could look at models for healthcare leadership including coaching leadership styles, place-based roles and power relations; the role of the creative leader within the development of inclusive healthcare models; the relationship between cultural groups, creative leadership and healthcare; and the role of co-creation, leadership and heritage in partnership healthcare making. These are only some of the lines of enquiry and responses that are welcomed to inform the development of future creative leadership models in healthcare.

We positively encourage applications from groups under-represented in postgraduate research, including (but not limited to) women, LGBTQ+ candidates, Global Majority / BAME candidates, candidates with disabilities, candidates with caring responsibilities, and care leavers.

This research will be conducted with our NHS partner CNWL NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) one of the largest, most progressive healthcare providers in the UK.

Eligibility

The studentship is awarded based on outstanding academic merit.

Candidates should have an undergraduate degree (first or upper second class) in a relevant subject. A master’s degree is an advantage but not essential, preferably at distinction level or equivalent.

How to apply

If you wish to apply, please email Prof. Dominik Havsteen-Franklin, dominik.havsteen-franklin@brunel.ac.uk no later than 30 October 2024.

To apply you will need:

Your up-to-date CV
A one A4 page personal statement setting out why you are a suitable candidate (i.e. your skills and experience)
A research proposal explaining the research theory and design.
Your proposal should be a minimum of 2000 words (and no more than 3000 words including references).
Your degree transcripts and/or certificates
Names and contact details for two academic referees

Interviews will take place online, exact date and times to be confirmed.

Any offer will be subject to a successful application for our Arts and Health PhD degree programme.

If you are offered a place, you will need to complete an online application via the following website, meeting the University academic entry requirements and being offered a place on the course:

How to apply for a research degree | Brunel University London

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Dominik Havsteen-Franklin - Dominik Havsteen-Franklin is a Professor of Practice (Arts Therapies) at Brunel University, with a Ph.D. in Art Psychotherapy and Metaphor. He is also head of the International Centre for Arts Psychotherapies Training (ICAPT) for Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, Vice President for the European Federation of Art Therapy and a member of the Council for the British Association of Art Therapists. His research focuses on applying empirical methods to investigating and evaluating the use of arts to facilitate changes in health conditions. His recent research has centred on co-designing and investigating Arts-based Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (ADIT) for depression, Creative and Resilience Engagement (CaRE) for frontline healthcare workers, developing arts-based psychosocial practice in South Africa, and is a co-applicant for an NIHR funded large scale RCT (ERA) investigating the effectiveness of arts therapies for heterogenous groups in mental health services. Dominik supervises PhD students from a range of arts disciplines. He also continues to work as a consultant, an art psychotherapist and a clinical supervisor for the National Health Service.