PhD Studentship: Developing and Validating the CASEE: Children Adolescent Sexual Exploitation Evaluation

Applications are invited for a PhD (via MPhil) studentship in the School of Psychology and Humanities. The studentship is funded through the school and is part of the UCLan Doctoral Training Centre for Industry Collaboration and is tenable for up to 3.5 years full time [subject to satisfactory progress].  Both Home and EU/International Applicants may apply, but EU/International Applicants will be required to pay the difference in tuition fees between the UK and EU/International fee rates. The studentship will provide successful applicants with an annual stipend in line with UKRI rates (2024/25 rate £19237 per year) subject to satisfactory progress.

It is expected the successful applicant will commence September 2024. 

Project Description:

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is child sexual abuse. The CASEE is a tool developed (version 1), informed by UCLan research, looking at the vulnerability and protective factors for CSE, aiming to support professionals working with young people at risk. The focus is to assist professionals with an empirically developed assessment tool, to aid understanding, management and support. The CASEE has 18 vulnerability and 9 promotive/protective factor items. It has made use of various UClan PhD’s, UCLan published work, and is underpinned by the Protect and Vulnerability Model against CSE (PVM:CSE). This model was developed following a UCLan PhD programme of studies, and is now published in a multi-study paper (Alderson et al, 2022). The CASEE has further been informed by research conducted as a result of a UCLan internal grant, and is looking to build directly on the UCLan research.

This research project is to further develop and validate the CASEE, so it can be effectively and robustly be used by professionals working with children at risk of CSE (e.g. actual risk/suspected). This project will allow further empirical basis and validation. There are currently no validated and robust tools in use.

The successful candidate will be based at CCATS, which is an Adult and Child Therapeutic Service in Poulton-le-Fylde (near Blackpool) (www.ccats.org.uk), and also at the University of Central Lancashire (Preston). As such, this project affords the opportunity to work in both a stimulating university environment, as well as a first-class therapeutic environment. These settings provide unsurpassed clinical and academic support and expertise, robust research and clinical environments and thriving research student communities which together cultivate research talent and maximise opportunities for professional development.

Further information

Informal project related enquiries about the post can be made to Dr. Carol A. Ireland (caireland@uclan.ac.uk)

For the full details go to: https://www.uclan.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/studentships

Applications should be completed on our online application system, selecting the following options:

• Type of Study - Research Degree (Postgraduate)
• Course - Master of Philosophy/Doctor of Philosophy
• Campus - Preston Campus
• Mode of Study - Full Time

Please quote the Studentship reference number DTC12-22-64 on the online application form.

Closing Date: 12^th April 2024

Proposed Interview Date: 13^th May 2024

Expected Start Date: 23^rd September 2024

CURRENT UCLAN RESEARCH STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS RESEARCH STUDENTSHIP

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