Karen Blake

I joined the University of Huddersfield in February 2021 as a senior lecturer with an interest in the BSc Adult Nursing across all three years of the programme, in the Blended Learning approach and started as a Course Leader in August,2021

I trained at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel and qualified as an Adult and Mental health nurse (RGN/RMN) in 1992. Whilst working as a Staff Nurse (RMN) in a mental health unit in Derby and then as an Accident and Emergency Staff Nurse at the Queen’s Medical Centre Nottingham I obtained a BA (Hons) Social Policy and Administration at the University of Nottingham by 1997. I then moved to Stockport to work as a Senior Staff Nurse in an acute medical assessment unit (MAU) and a Ward Sister in Manchester specialising in General Medicine.

I was always interested in Health and Social care partnership working and so undertook a MSc Pre-Registration Social Work Training at the University of Manchester and qualified in 2006 and I am still registered with Social Work England. I started working in Higher education institutions in 2007 and by 2008 I completed my NMC recordable Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Certificate in Management studies (CMS).

I am currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate in Health and Social Care researching the Self-care practices and behaviours of older men living with COPD within a semi-rural context and its Implications for social work practitioners using a Charmazian Social Constructivist grounded theory methodology and a Braun and Clarke data analytical approach to explore the social processes and lived experience of older men and self-care.

• Qualitative Methodologies
• Health related Social Work Practice
• Teaching, Learning and Assessment strategies
• Masculinities and Ageing
• Self-Care and Long-term conditions Agenda

Teaching Interests

• Health Informatics and Telemedicine
• Health and Social care law and Policy
• Health and Social care and partnership working
• Human Factors
• Person-centred care and practice
• Service Improvement Methodologies
• Social Determinants of Health
• Sustainability in Healthcare