Robert Hagan

Dr Robert J Hagan

Senior Lecturer

My profile

Biography

I have taught on undergraduate and postgraduate social work programmes since 2012 and been employed in academic posts since 2014.  Prior to becoming a lecturer, I worked in a range of statutory and third sector organisations.  I was a statutory social worker with a primary focus on looked after children, though also had experience in services for children with disabilities.  In terms of the community/voluntary sector, I was a drugs educator in an area of multi-deprivation in Derry, N Ireland, and have worked in social housing and for a homelessness charity.  I have voluntary experience of working in youth and community work, including some involvement in Childline.  Although most of my working life has been in N Ireland, I have worked in Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle under Lyme. 

My research interests are primarily gerontological and look at the social lives of older people.  I have carried out studies on the response of statutory day services to loneliness, the use of community transport in rural areas, and participants’ views on a service user led empowerment service for those with early stages dementia.  I also have an interest in comics scholarship.

I am also an external examiner for the MSci Social Work programme at the University of Huddersfield and contributed to the validation of the Deafblindedness Studies programme at Birmingham City University.  I also teach on the Postgraduate Adult Safeguarding programme at Keele University.

Academic and professional qualifications

PhD Ulster University

PG Certificate in Professional Development in Social Work, Ulster University

BA (Hons) Social Work, Ulster University

Fellow (HEA)

Expert reviewer

I have reviewed submissions to over a dozen journals including:

  • Health & Social Care in the Community
  • Journal of Social Work
  • British Journal of Social Work
  • Ageing & Society
  • Social Work Education

I have also reviewed manuscripts and proposals for Sage and Palgrave publishers.

Community, charity and NGO links

Board member, Engage with Age, Belfast: community organisation focusing on the social integration of older adults

Membership of professional associations

I am a member of BASW and the British Society of Gerontology

Personal website address

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robert_Hagan2

Get in touch

0161 247 5983
2.22 Brooks Building
8 am to 4 pm

Teaching

I teach on the following modules:

Human growth & development (Step Up to Social Work)

Journey through the life course (BA & Apprentices)

ASPIRE (Apprentices)

Critical and international perspectives in social work (BA/MA)

Critical perspectives on children, young people and families (Integrated Health & Social Care)

Supervision

I currently supervise the following: 

PhD supervision

Alcock, R. The policy and practice of independent advocacy.

Dennis, S. Well-being of families who experience children’s court proceedings.

Jay, B. Emotion work in residential children’s services.       

Kelly, P. Housing associations’ role in providing place-based mental health support.

Prof Doc supervision

Davies, Y. The loss of identity for people living with alcohol dependency.

Research outputs

My primary research interests are social gerontology, especially the social lives of older people.