Katie Powell BA, MA 

Section of Public Health
School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR)
University of Sheffield
Regent Court
30 Regent Street
Sheffield
S1 4DA

Office:  Room 2037, 2nd Floor, Regent Court

Tel:  +44 (0) 114 222 6120
Fax: +44 (0) 114 273 0547

email: k.powell@sheffield.ac.uk

Biography

In 2003 I completed a BA degree in American Studies at the University of Birmingham.  Following my degree, I became a Welfare Officer at the University of Chester and completed an MA in Sociology at the University of Manchester.  I joined the Centre for Public Health Research at the University of Chester as a Researcher in February 2007. 

In November 2008 I started my PhD at the University of Chester, exploring, through a sociological perspective, the social processes through which area-based health initiatives are implemented in areas of socio-economic deprivation.  I joined ScHARR in December 2011 as a University Teacher in Public Health. 

Research Interests

I have an interest in the ways in which reproduction of disadvantage and deprivation can be influenced by social interventions and have varied experience evaluating public health initiatives such as Sure Start and Children's Fund projects.  Within my postgraduate dissertation I explored experiences of a mentoring scheme designed to encourage young people from socially deprived areas to apply to University.  This research used a qualitative approach, informed by Bourdieu's concepts of cultural capital and habitus, to explore to what extent and in what ways university mentors were able to influence school leavers' perceptions of higher education.

I am particularly interested in the ways in which health inequalities are shaped by social networks of interdependency and how this influences conceptualisations of 'place' and its relation to health.  I have a broader interest in experiences of inequality that are influenced by socio-eneonmic status, ethnicity, gender and disability.  I am interested in participatory action research as a means for exploring the experiences of disadvantaged groups and influencing social change.

Teaching Interests

I am interested in supporting students to develop an understanding of the social processes that shape experiences of health.  I currently lead Philosophical and Social Issues in Research on the MSc in Health and Social Care Research within ScHARR and perform the role of Dissertation Co-ordinator within the School.

 Professional Activities

Member of the British Sociological Association

Conference Presentations

Powell K.
A figurational analysis of an area-based health initiative:  A vehicle for social change?  
(2011, 8 April) Presentation delivered to the British Sociological Association Annual Conference, London School of Economics.

Powell K.
Area-based initiatives as a vehicle for social change:  Assessing the scope for health improvement.
(2010, 24 March) Paper presented at the 18th UKPHA Annual Public Health Forum Conference, Bournemouth

Thurston M, Powell K.
Delivering evidence-based behaviour change interventions: A model that works?
(2009, 25 March) Paper presented at the 17th UKPHA Annual Public Health Forum Conference, Brighton

Ward F, Powell K & Thurston M.
The impact evaluation of the RESPECT Programme.
(2008, 4 November) Paper presented at the RESPECT Conference, Chester.

Thurston M, Powell K & Perry C.
Recruiting the 'hard to reach': Involving sensory impaired people in research.
(2007, 29 November) Paper presented at the 10th Annual Conference of the UK Federation of Primary Care Research Networks, Cambridge

Publications

Ward F, Powell K & Thurston M.
RESPECT: A personal development programme for young people at risk of social exclusion.
(2008)On the Streets Impact Report. Chester: University of Chester, Centre for Public Health Research.

Powell K & Thurston M.
Commissioning training for behaviour change interventions: evidence and best practice in delivery.
(2008) Chester: University of Chester, Centre for Public Health Research.

Ward F, Powell K, Thurston M & Cleary P.
Use and experiences of front-line health services amongst Black and Minority Ethnic residents of western Cheshire.
(2008) Chester: University of Chester, Centre for Public Health Research

Powell K, Perry C & Thurston M.
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in Cheshire and Merseyside: perspectives of people with a sensory impairment.
(2008) Chester: University of Chester, Centre for Public Health Research.

Ward F, Powell K & Thurston M.
Understanding the impact of the Cheshire Children's Fund: findings from 11 family case studies.
(2007) Chester: University of Chester, Centre for Public Health Research.

Powell K, Perry C & Alford S.
Sure Start Widnes Children's Centres: an evaluation of a new programme.
(2007) Chester: University of Chester, Centre for Public Health Research.