Dr Paula Holland
Senior LecturerResearch Overview
My research focusses on: the relationship between work, disability and health; barriers to disabled people’s employment; and interventions to support disabled workers’ employment, including workplace adjustments. Disabled people have lower employment rates than non-disabled people, and are also more likely to be employed in insecure, lower-skilled and low-paid work. These employment inequities have severe consequences for their financial independence, health and wellbeing, and provide a mechanism for producing and exacerbating social inequalities in health.
I am a member of the Versus Arthritis/MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work which aims to find cost-effective ways to reduce work disability among individuals with musculoskeletal disorders.
Current and recent research includes:
- I am PI on a mixed methods study funded by the Nuffield Foundation on designing remote and hybrid working arrangements so that they are inclusive of disabled workers’ needs and preferences. This builds on a previous collaboration with the Work Foundation funded by City Bridge Trust;
- I am PI on a qualitative research funded by the Versus Arthritis/MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work which explores the challenges disabled entrepreneurs face when establishing their businesses
- Co-Investigator on the WORKWELL trial of job retention vocational rehabilitation for employed people with inflammatory arthritis
- Qualitative research and evidence synthesis on the role of workplace adjustments and organisational policies in facilitating work retention for people with musculoskeletal disorders.
External Roles
Editorial Board member of the Disabilities journal.
Board member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Inclusive Entrepreneurship, chaired by Lisa Cameron MP. Secretariat for this APPG is provided by Universal Inclusion, which campaigns for the interests of disabled entrepreneurs and for inclusive economic growth.
Current Teaching
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).
I am module convenor for DHR403 Principles of Research Design, a core year 2 module on the Division of Health Research’s Blended Learning PhD programmes .
PhD Supervision Interests
◦Gender and social inequalities in health;◦Chronic illnesses (including musculoskeletal disorders) and their impact on employment, income and quality of life;◦Impact of work on health; impact of health on work;◦Long-term sickness absence and its management in the workplace;◦Workplace adjustments for people with chronic illness/long-term conditions;◦Lifecourse research.
The Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work; from research to impact
01/10/2023 → 31/07/2024
Research
Designing inclusive remote and hybrid working to support disabled workers
02/01/2023 → 31/12/2024
Research
Designing inclusive remote and hybrid working to support disabled workers
02/01/2023 → 31/12/2024
Research
Caucus Disability Project
01/09/2022 → 30/04/2023
Research
The changing workplace: Enabling disability-inclusive hybrid working
01/12/2021 → 30/06/2022
Research
What are disabled workers’ experiences of hybrid working, and how do they perceive its role in supporting job entry, return-to-work and job retention?
01/11/2021 → 30/04/2022
Research
BeatIt: Behavioural activation for depression in adults with severe intellectual disabilities. A feasibility randomised controlled study of BeatIt versus treatment as usual
01/09/2020 → 31/05/2021
Research
Arthritis Research UK/MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work
01/10/2019 → 30/09/2024
Research
NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast
01/10/2019 → 31/03/2026
Research
NHSA Health Inequalities Report
01/07/2018 → 30/11/2018
Research
WORKWELL
01/03/2018 → 30/11/2021
Research
Cost-Effectiveness of Policies Aimed at Prolonging Working Careers: The Role of Health
01/09/2014 → 30/09/2016
Other
Arthritis Research UK/MRC Centre in Reducing Workplace Disability from Musculoskeletal Disorders
01/07/2014 → 30/06/2019
Research
Children, Young People and Families Using Social Work Services in Four UK Cohort Studies: Patterns, Outcomes and Change
01/10/2013 → 30/04/2015
Research
E-modules on health and wellbeing for the World Class Manager Programme
Consultancy
Conference of the British Association of Brain injury and Complex Case Management: Keep up the Good Work
Invited talk
Vocational Rehabilitation Association conference on Employment Inclusivity
Invited talk
Amplifying Underrepresented Voices conference, University of Birmingham
Invited talk
British Sociological Association Work, Employment and Society conference
Oral presentation
Presentation to the Department for Work and Pensions: Future of Economy, Work and Skills
Invited talk
Accommodating Diversity in the Workplace Conference, University of Reading
Invited talk
British Sociological Association conference
Oral presentation
British Sociological Association 70th anniversary virtual conference 2021: Remaking the Future
Oral presentation
Well@Work Lancashire and South Cumbria: Musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace.
Invited talk
Time to Talk about Wellbeing at Work, 2019.
Invited talk
Panel Member for the debate on Closing the Disability Employment Gap
Invited talk
Arthritis Research UK (External organisation)
Membership of committee
- Centre for Health Inequalities Research
- Work and Health Forum