Dr Sue Caton

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Dr Sue Caton

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My profile

Biography

I am a Reader in the Department of Social Care and Social Work in the Faculty of Health and Education. My work is mainly qualitative social research in the area of the social and health inequalities experienced by people with learning (intellectual) disabilities.

Interests and expertise

My current work is mainly focussed on the following research projects:

1) Digital Lifeline (PI Dr Sue Caton).For many people with learning (intellectual) disabilities, using the internet can be difficult. In the pandemic, the Government paid for 5,500 digital devices (tablets) to be sent to people with learning disabilities, along with some support with how to use the internet. This was called the Digital Lifeline Fund. As well as Digital Lifeline, other organisations supporting people with learning disabilities also sent digital equipment to people, mainly to support social connections. As life begins to return to normal, this project aims to find out what difference the new digital devices made to the lives of people with learning disabilities who received them and what kind of support was the best.

2) Medications and My Mental Health (PI Dr Sue Caton). This co-produced research project aims to develop a set of resources and information to support people with learning disabilities to become more confident shared decision-makers about their medications for mental health. Funded by NIHR, RfPB Grant Reference Number NIHR204107

3) Our Digital Health  (PI Dr Darren Chadwick). This study focuses on how people with learning disabilities take part in online health provision, including how well people are able to use technology, including the internet, and how people are able to understand and use health information (health literacy). NIHR RfSC

4) Coronavirus and People with Learning Disabilities Study (PIs Prof Chris Hatton and Prof Richard Hastings). The Coronavirus and People with Learning Disabilities Study aimed to track people’s experiences to understand the impact of the pandemic on the lives of people with learning disabilities. Funded by UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council), and supported by the Department for Health and Social Care (National Institute for Health Research) as part of the UKRI-DHSC COVID-19 Rapid Response Rolling Call. UKRI: MR/V028596/1 NIHR: COV0196

Get in touch

0161 247 6716
2.22 Brooks Building

Projects

Current Research Projects:

1)  Digital Lifeline (PI Dr Sue Caton).For many people with learning (intellectual) disabilities, using the internet can be difficult. In the pandemic, the Government paid for 5,500 digital devices (tablets) to be sent to people with learning disabilities, along with some support with how to use the internet. This was called the Digital Lifeline Fund. As well as Digital Lifeline, other organisations supporting people with learning disabilities also sent digital equipment to people, mainly to support social connections. As life begins to return to normal, this project aims to find out what difference the new digital devices made to the lives of people with learning disabilities who received them and what kind of support was the best. Funded by NIHR RfSC

2) Mental Health Medications in the Lives of People with Learning Disabilities (PI Dr Sue Caton). This co-produced research project aims to develop a set of resources and information to support people with learning disabilities to become more confident shared decision-makers about their medications for mental health. Funded by NIHR, RfPB Grant Reference Number NIHR204107

3) Digital Health and People with Learning Disabilities (PI Dr Darren Chadwick). This study focuses on how people with learning disabilities take part in online health provision, including how well people are able to use technology, including the internet, and how people are able to understand and use health information (health literacy). The project started in May 2023 and will run until the end of 2025. It is being led by Dr Darren Chadwick at Liverpool John Moores University with partners at Dudley Voices for Choice as well as the Universities of Dundee, Warwick, Kent, and Birmingham City.

Previous Research Projects:

  • 2020-2024 Coronavirus and People with Learning Disabilities Study (PIs Prof Chris Hatton and Prof Richard Hastings). The Coronavirus and People with Learning Disabilities Study aimed to track people’s experiences to understand the impact of the pandemic on the lives of people with learning disabilities. The study has tracked the experiences of approximately 800 adults with learning disabilities. The UK-wide project interviewed about 500 adults with learning disabilities and surveyed a further 300 family members or support workers of adults with learning disabilities who could not take part in an interview. Funded by UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council), and supported by the Department for Health and Social Care (National Institute for Health Research) as part of the UKRI-DHSC COVID-19 Rapid Response Rolling Call. UKRI: MR/V028596/1 NIHR: COV0196
  • 2019-20: Shared Lives 16+ Evaluation. Funder: Department for Education
  • 2018-20: GM GOLD (Greater Manchester Growing Older with Learning Disabilities). Funder: Ambition for Ageing. 
  • 2018-21: Evaluation of the ‘Us too’ project on domestic abuse and women with learning disabilities. Funder: ARC/Comic Relief 
  • 2018: Get SMART (Social Media Awareness and Resilience Training). Funder: ISD Innovation Fund/Google.org 
  • 2017-20: Evaluation of ‘Let’s Have a Good Week’ project. Funder: Breakthrough UK/Big Lottery 
  • 2014-15: Evaluation of a ‘Hard to Reach’ Dental Service. Funder: Greater Manchester Academic Health Science Network 

Teaching

Supervision

I have supervised 4 PhD students to completion.

Current PhD students:

  • Digital Inclusion: transforming the lives of people with learning disabilities (Faculty scholarship - Sally Ferguson-Wormley)
  • Working Towards an Evidence Base: Developing Meaningful Outcome Measures for Animal Assisted Interventions for Children and Young People with Autism (WRDTP funded - Alexandra Northover)
  • Incorporating family voices in the planning and delivery of parenting support (White Rose DTP funded - Rachel Prest)
  • Playful memories of yesterday, playful memories of tomorrow: assembling an understanding of how toys come to matter in familial environments and how disability pertains to this mattering (White Rose DTP funded - Heidi Mapley).

Current MPhil students:

  • Understanding Mental Health Issues Among Kurdish Refugees in Finland: A Life Story Approach (Afrouz Zibaei)

Research outputs