Dr Jolie Keemink

About

I joined CHSS in February 2023 as part of the social care team. Prior to working in CHSS, I worked in PSSRU for the social care theme of the Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey, Sussex (ARC KSS) for 2.5 years.

I am a creative and ambitious early career researcher with extensive experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods, and working with minoritised groups across the age spectrum, from infants to care home residents. My research interests are varied and include studying effective ways of promoting inclusive social care practice, exploring the benefits and effectiveness of early, personalised support systems, as well as optimizing training and education to make social care inclusive and fitting for the future. These interests come together in my passion for translating research to practice and enhancing people’s lives through high-quality science. Public and community involvement and engagement play a key part in my work.

I have a PhD and MSc in Developmental Psychology from The University of Kent, a PGCert in Education from the Open University, and a BSc Psychology from The University of Amsterdam. I am also an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

I have experience teaching and supervising both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Research interests

• Inclusive practice within social care
• Gender and sexuality
• (Evaluation & development of) inclusivity training for care staff
• Development across the lifespan
• Autism and access to care
• Mixed methods research

Current research

I am currently leading on the CIRCLE project (Creating Inclusive Residential Care for LGBTQ+ Elders), funded by NIHR ARC KSS, which aims to support residential care providers for older people to be more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ population.

I am leading a study exploring the role of care commissioners in the promotion of LGBTQ+ inclusion in older people care.

I am working on a NIHR-funded realist review of overdose prevention centres led by Professor Alex Stevens from The University of Kent.

I work for the NIHR-funded Kent Research Partnership, led by Professor Ann-Marie Towers, supporting the team with theory of change development and evaluation.

I am involved in identifying shared lessons from six NIHR-funded social care research capacity-building partnerships located across the country. This work is led by Dr Sarah Hotham.

Past research projects

• LYPSA (LGBTQ+ Young People in Social Care) led by Dr Jason Schaub (funded by What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care) – I worked as a research fellow subcontracted to The University of Birmingham. We conducted a randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of training on how to support LGBTQ+ young people for children’s social workers.
• Scoping review on the role of adult social for the prevention of long-term care needs.
• Scoping review on care planning interventions for care home residents.
• Adult social care priority setting – In the ARC KSS social care theme (led by Professor Julien Forder), I led on a study identifying regional priorities for adult social care research.

Supervision

I welcome interest from postgraduate students in areas related to my research interests and experience.

Currently co-supervising:

• Dr Helen Bintley

Professional

I am a co-chair for the Staff Disability Network at The University of Kent.