Dr Michelle Heward
- Lecturer in Psychology
- BGB
Biography
Michelle Heward is Lecturer in Psychology and Service User and Carer Involvement Lead in the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre at Bournemouth University. Her research focuses on health and social care and support for older people and people with dementia and includes the evaluation of interventions. She is particularly interested in digital technologies and innovation, workforce development and service delivery, inclusive and engaging environments, and co-production and user involvement. She is a social scientist interested in inclusive approaches for research using qualitative and mixed methodologies and the delivery of training using innovative methodologies. She regularly teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate level and facilitates training sessions for care providers, public engagement events, seminars and workshops.
Michelle is passionate about user involvement in research and has experience of involving older people, people with dementia, family carers and other key stakeholders in research... Michelle co-facilitates the ADRC Virtual Research Coffee Mornings, where researchers and practitioners engage with members of the public socially and to share ideas for research.
Michelle is the Co-Chair of the BU Research Staff Association, a BU Research Staff Representative, and a UK Research Staff Association Representative (South of England). She is keen to promote positive research culture at BU and ensure that researchers are aware of the Research Concordat, have opportunities to disseminate their work, discuss career opportunities, and feedback about their experiences of working at BU: https://blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/researcher-toolbox/bu-research-staff-association/
Prior to joining Bournemouth University, Michelle completed an interdisciplinary Doctoral study focused on the role of technology in supporting mobility and independence in later life funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council at the University of Southampton. She was a Research Assistant at the University of Southampton working on a project exploring drug and alcohol use amongst children and young people. Michelle also held a Community Engagement role for the Fire Service, where she gained experience of public engagement methodologies, partnership working and data sharing practices.
Michelle is happy to supervise post-graduate students within her area of expertise.
moreResearch
Digital technologies and innovation
She is currently a National Institute for Health and care Research School for Social Care ‘Individual Research Career Development Award’ holder leading a project focused on digital innovation in care homes, working with colleagues across BU as well as other external collaborators. During this project she is developing a national network of contacts to help understand the research gaps, exchange ideas and co-produce a list of priority areas of focus. The aim is to develop further opportunities for collaboration and grant applications with colleagues within and outside of BU – please get in touch if you are interested in this topic area and would like to find out more.
Her interest in digital technology stems from her Doctoral study which examined the role of information and communication technology in supporting mobility and independence in later life funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Her thesis argues that through the facilitation of virtual mobility, technology can offer older people an important alternative to physical mobility and should be explored in policies aimed at supporting older people’s well-being and social inclusion.
Workforce development and service delivery
Bournemouth University were commissioned by Health Education England (HEE) to develop and evaluate the ‘Dementia Education And Learning Through Simulation 2’ (DEALTS 2) programme. Michelle is taking a leading role in the evaluation of impact of DEALTS2 on clinical practice and has published the findings in academic journals... The simulation approach enables staff to consider experiences from the point of view of a person living with dementia. The team hypothesize that this will enable staff to make positive changes to how they care and support people with dementia.
https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/projects/developing-dementia-education-training
In 2018, DEALTS2 was shortlisted for 9th National Dementia Care Award – Best Dementia Training Initiative.
Inclusive and engaging environments
Co-production and user involvement
This is a developing area of research for Michelle. She has been awarded funding from the British Society of Gerontology to run an event in 2023 to identify future directions for ageing and dementia research with local older people. Michelle would like to support a group of older people interested in becoming co-researchers to take forwards ideas from the event. Please do get in touch if you would like to find out more.
moreExpertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:
Good health and well-being
"Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages"
Quality education
"Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all"
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
"Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation"
