Dr Serena Vicario

About

I am a Postdoctoral Researcher Associate at the University of Kent, affiliated to the ESRC Centre for Care. The CfC is a collaboration between the Universities of Kent, Sheffield, Oxford, Birmingham, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, government and care sector partners. It leads innovative and multi-method studies regarding the ways children, young people and adults experience social care, the pressures and inequalities experienced by carers, and the changing political and cultural landscape shaping care activities.

Background

My profile is characterised by an integration between theoretical and practical knowledge in the fields of social policy and public health, and by a multidisciplinary orientation. I joined CHSS in 2022, after the completion of a PhD at the University of Sheffield’s School of Health and Related Research. Before this, I worked in Italy as a social worker in several local councils and within the National Health System. I have a long experience in the field of addiction prevention and treatment. I was pleased to supervise and tutor numerous students during their professional and research internships.

Education

I completed a PhD in Public Health at the University of Sheffield, School of Health and Related Research. Previously, I gained a MA in Social policies from the University of Padua and a BA in Social sciences and social work from the University of Venice.

See also: https://centreforcare.ac.uk/team/serena-vicario/ 

Currently researching

In my current role of qualitative researcher, I am working on the project Care Workforce Change – Organisation, delivery and development. This project explores innovations involving the social care sector workforce and  significant system developments which are expected to drive workforce change in the next decade.

Research interests

As a qualitative researcher, my interests are at the intersection between social policies, medical sociology, and health- and social services research. I have particular interest in innovation processes, socio-economic and health inequalities, gendered negotiation of health practices, and advanced qualitative research methods. As part of my background, I have a consolidated interest in drug- and alcohol-related studies.

Supervision

Supervision activity of PGR students enrolled in CHSS training programmes

Professional

Italian Professional Association of Social Work and Social Workers (Veneto, n. 2467/2007, B)