Dr Richard Brunner

Since August 2023, I have worked part-time (12 months fixed-term) in the Faculty of Social Sciences on behalf of the IMPACT social care implementation project, led from University of Birmingham. With my Stirling colleague Rhiann McLean, I am supporting social care stakeholders with using evidence to improve the wellbeing of Personal Assistants for disabled people. I am also part-time Research Associate in the Centre for Disability Research, Department of Sociology, University of Glasgow where my research is in collaboration with Glasgow Disability Alliance, a disabled people's organisation. Our focus is 'Future Visions for Social Care'. Prior to these, I researched disabled peoples' experiences in England and Scotland during Covid-19, in a collaboration between University of Glasgow and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. My Ph.D. in Sociology (University of Glasgow, 2011-2015) explored what people are able to do and be after being in psychiatric hospital using qualitative methods and the capabilities approach. From 2015-2019 I became Research Associate with What Works Scotland also at University of Glasgow, facilitating Collaborative Action Research with public services. Prior to these I worked as Research Fellow at University of Strathclyde in the School of Education (2008-11), conducting qualitative research into topics including disabled parents, educational transitions, domestic abuse prevention, and teaching and human rights. My previous career included support work with homeless people, mental health advocacy, community development, and policy work in the statutory and third sectors with a focus on equality and diversity, disability and mental health. I have written, published, collaboratively produced, and disseminated widely from my research, seeking conceptual and empirical impact in academic, policy, practice and social contexts. I have an MSc. in Social Policy (LSE, 2002), an MSc. in Social Research (GCU, 2010), and a degree in Sociology from the University of East London (1989).

I have conducted extensive qualitative social scientific research, including action research approaches, with a wide range of marginalised groups and also with professionals. My ongoing research seeks to understand the experiences and inequalities of disabled people and other easy-to-ignore groups, using sociological concepts. I have an increasing body of research focused on social care. I seek to use these empirical and conceptual understandings to empower marginalised groups, challenge oppression, influence public policy, and improve social justice outcomes. I also have an ongoing interest in the role of public services in improving outcomes for marginalised groups and individuals. I have an ongoing interest in applications of the capabilities approach to frame how we understand human outcomes. A lot of my research has been interdisciplinary and collaborative.