Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Aug 29

NHS night cleaners are often not seen and not heard by the public they serve. Through Lewis Khan’s photographs and interviews, they reveal the vital role they play in keeping our hospitals safe.

wellcomecollection.org

Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Aug 26

@drsoapsub.bsky.social @spaemploysocsec.bsky.social @benbgeiger.bsky.social @pollardtom.bsky.social @wilsontony.bsky.social @kayleyhignell.bsky.social @moneyandmentalhealth.org @beccastacey.bsky.social @ingunborg.bsky.social @kingscsmh.bsky.social @profsharonwright.bsky.social

Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Aug 26

Read our open access research article in the Journal of Poverty and Social Justice: bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...

bristoluniversitypressdigital.com

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Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Aug 26

What if we took a more holistic approach to understanding capacity for work? What might change if the benefits system created a safe space for people to talk about the whole range of barriers they face, instead of the preoccupation with assessing and categorising people based on health alone?

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Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Aug 26

We argue that the climb in mental health related benefit claims is (in part) a result of these structural mechanisms of medicalisation. Ill health is the only thing that ‘counts’ in the benefit system; therefore, it’s the thing that gets counted.

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Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Aug 26

But the Work Capability Assessment is only interested in the effects of health symptoms. It neglects the wider range of barriers people face. It individualises and medicalises a much more complex picture and diverts the focus away from structural and socioeconomic barriers to work.

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Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Aug 26

Mental health problems are real. But they’re rarely people’s only barrier to work. People with experience of mental distress describe a wide range of social, economic, relational and structural barriers to work – in addition to the challenges posed by symptoms. It’s more than a mental health issue 🧵

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Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Aug 6

There’s got to be some active labour market metaphor in there somewhere!

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Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Aug 1

"The key is to give people enough support so they could stabilise their situation, allowing the space to think beyond getting by each day. This can be achieved by higher UC rates, less pressure from conditionality, and high-quality
employment support" (2/2)
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

Work incentives aren't working: is the Universal Credit review asking the right questions?

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

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Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Aug 1

Crucial message from Citizen's Advice: "When both working full-time and claiming maximum benefit entitlement leaves one in a low-income limbo, focusing on making the former slightly more financially beneficial than the latter is only ever going to have a limited impact on outcomes..." (1/2)

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Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Jul 22

Very thought-provoking article on the sometimes uneasy (and perhaps not uneasy enough) relationship between social science and lived experience @drcrmatthews.bsky.social you might enjoy link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Engagement and qualitative sociology in health research: proximal, but incongruent - Social Theory & Health

This paper argues that sociology’s distinctive value in health research lies not in amplifying experiential accounts but in analysing the social structures and norms that shape them—a contribution oft...

link.springer.com

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Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Jul 7

@ingunborg.bsky.social @benbgeiger.bsky.social @kingscsmh.bsky.social

Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Jul 7

This was an excellent piece of exploration and analysis seeking a better understanding of how to engage residents in the LCWRA group in an initial conversation about work. Sign up to hear the key lessons learned! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/camden-emp... @spaemploysocsec.bsky.social

Camden employment support test & learn

An online event about work in Camden to foster voluntary engagement with employment support among ill & disabled people on Universal Credit

www.eventbrite.co.uk

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Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Jul 4

You inspire me Ruth. All those things make you the amazing and unique researcher that you are xx

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Reposted by Annie Irvine

Dr Uisce Jordan @uiscejordan.bsky.social · Jun 27

Job opportunities on both the amazing @changingrealities.bsky.social and @safety-nets.bsky.social projects!

Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · Jun 25

🔥Not one, not two, not three, but FOUR job vacancies now live working at @uofglasgow.bsky.social on @safety-nets.bsky.social @changingrealities.bsky.social with some amazing colleagues

first: a research assistant post on Changing Realities

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNQ284/r...

🧵for links to vacancies

Research Assistant at University of Glasgow

Searching for an academic job? Explore this Research Assistant opening on jobs.ac.uk! Click to view more details and browse other academic jobs.

www.jobs.ac.uk

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Reposted by Annie Irvine

Amy Chandler @amychandler.bsky.social · Jun 19

It's a busy time on @d-liveability.bsky.social!

We are hiring a 12 month #postdoc Research Fellow to contribute to #qualitative analysis of suicide prevention policies + parliamentary debates:

elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

Research Fellow (Discovering Liveability)

Research Fellow (qualitative methods) to join the Discovering Liveability: Co-producing alternatives to suicide prevention project, contributing to innovative suicide research that centres liveability...

elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com

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Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Jun 20

Hi Connor! Massive congratulations - this is great news! I’ve worked with the Welfare Conditionality data as a secondary analyst, so would be very happy to chat when you get under way!

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Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Jun 9

@kingscsmh.bsky.social

Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Jun 9

Two Policy Assistant roles available for people just starting out in this sector. Could be a great opportunity for those just about to graduate from @uoysbs.bsky.social

Octo Candidates - Application Form - Vacancy Details

jrf.octo-firstclass.co.uk

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Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Jun 5

Thanks so much Ceri!

Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Jun 4

@ceridwenhughes.bsky.social @katyjones.bsky.social @sionedps.bsky.social @benbgeiger.bsky.social @drvanesafuertes.bsky.social - please share! 👍

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Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · Jun 4

Are you a post-doctoral researcher with strong qualitative skills, a critical mind and a love for digging into the complexities of how people navigate work and health? Check out our vacancy at the Uni of York School for Business and Society: jobs.york.ac.uk/vacancy/rese... @uoysbs.bsky.social

Jobs - The University of York

jobs.york.ac.uk

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Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social · May 28

I've been thinking for a while that we should be talking more about the "social determinants of work". David Kingsley has got there first; great piece naming "the social determinants of employability" - housing insecurity, digital exclusion, mental health, access to care www.myiep.uk/blogs-and-op...

Detached but Not Disengaged: Reframing Employability Practice Through Community-Rooted Youth Work - The Institute of Employability Professionals

28/05/2025

www.myiep.uk

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Reposted by Annie Irvine

Tom Pollard @pollardtom.bsky.social · May 28

For all the recent focus on incentives in the benefits system, it's a lack of suitable & supportive jobs that prevents many disabled people moving into work

This online @neweconomics.bsky.social event (June 19th 10am) will explore the changes needed to fix this www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/its-not-me...

It's not me, it's you: better employment opportunities for disabled people

An online event to hear from expert speakers and open up a debate about how to improve employment opportunities for disabled people

www.eventbrite.co.uk

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Reposted by Annie Irvine

Ben Baumberg Geiger @benbgeiger.bsky.social · May 21

Want a 3yr quali postdoc job leading the UK fieldwork for an amazing international project on how it feels to claim benefits? And also to do important work on benefits and mental health?

Then see this job ad! Closing date being changed to 8th June www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/114985-...

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Welfare Experiences & Mental Health

www.kcl.ac.uk

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