Mental capacity in relation to sexual decision-making for people with learning disabilities is a complex issue affecting people with learning disabilities and the health and social care (HSC) practitioners who support them. This fully-funded PhD studentship will explore the challenges HSC practitioners face when applying the Mental Capacity Act to assess the capacity of people with learning disabilities to consent to sexual relationships and investigate the implications for the daily lives and sexual and reproductive rights of people with learning disabilities. The student may choose to focus on the perspectives of practitioners, people with learning disabilities, or both.
Co-supervised by the Department of Social Care and Social Work and Manchester Law School, this interdisciplinary PhD will examine, from the perspectives of people with learning disabilities and practitioners, how practitioners can be better supported to navigate legal frameworks related to sexual consent. The project offers the opportunity to work with partner organisation Supported Loving to co-create outputs such as practitioner training and easy-read materials with people with learning disabilities.
The successful candidate will join the Learning Disabilities and Autism research group, a vibrant team focused on social justice, offering a supportive, collaborative environment with mentorship from experts in the field.
Project aims and objectives
The project aims to explore how the Mental Capacity Act impacts the intimate lives of people with learning disabilities and to understand how health and social care practitioners can be better supported to apply the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) in assessing the capacity to consent to sexual relationships for people with learning disabilities.
Objectives may include:
Essential criteria:
Desirable attributes:
The studentship is fully funded by the NWCDTP, with fees paid plus an annual stipend at the UKRI standard rate (£19,237 per year for 2024-2025).
Please note, this project is only available to Home students only due to the nature of the funding source.
Interested applicants should contact Dr Monique Huysamen (m.huysamen@mmu.ac.uk) for an informal discussion.
To apply you will need to complete the online application form for a full-time PhD in Social Care and Social Work (or download the PGR application form).
You should also complete the PGR thesis proposal form addressing the project’s aims and objectives, demonstrating how the skills you have maps to the area of research and why you see this area as being of importance and interest.
If applying online, you will need to upload your statement in the supporting documents section, or email the application form and statement to PGRAdmissions@mmu.ac.uk.
Closing date 14 March 2025
Expected start date: October 2025
Please quote the reference: H&E_SCSW_MH_2025_MCAct
This project is only available to Home students only due to the nature of the funding source.
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