2019 PhD in Social Care and Social Work, Manchester Metropolitan University
2015 MPhil in Interdisciplinary Studies, Manchester Metropolitan University
2015 PGLTHE Post Graduate Teaching Diploma (Leading to becoming a Fellow of the HEA), Manchester Metropolitan University
2012 BA (Hons) Abuse Studies, Manchester Metropolitan University
2019 to present - Non-executive Director, PSS Liverpool
PSS is a charity based in Liverpool that seeks to support vulnerable people in a way that listens through the co-production of services. I am a member of the Board of Trustees and serve on the Audit and Governance committee.
2017 to 2020 - Research Associate, Policy Evaluation and Research Unit, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester.
In this role, I developed skills in research methodologies including Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), Rapid Evidence Assessments (REAs), and Comparative Analysis. Research focuses included measuring impact, economic evaluation, and building evidence to shape policy and practice. Project management experience included the evaluation of the Greater Manchester Integrated Police Custody Healthcare and Wider Liaison & Diversion Scheme, incorporating data from NHS England, Greater Manchester Police, and the Court Service, and the Addaction Cornwall A&E Frequent Attenders Programme. Both of these programmes seek to understand the wider social and holistic issues associated with mental health and the consequences that may occur as a result of decisions made by multi-agency partnerships.
2012 to 2017 - Lecturer of Abuse Studies and Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Crewe
For this role, I wrote courses, programmes, set learning objectives, and also set assignments for students from Level 3 to Level 6. I supported four Abuse Studies Master's Students with their final dissertations on FGM, Roma children in UK schools, Domestic Violence programmes for Perpetrators, and Domestic Violence within the Polish Community in the UK. During my five years as a Lecturer, I was nominated and shortlisted for the Student Union Awards for Outstanding Feedback, and consistently raised student satisfaction levels each year in the ISS and NSS. Abuse studies is a highly sensitive topic, and I took my duty of care towards my students very seriously.
I am Community Psychologist, a Fellow of the HEA and Non-Executive Director of the charity PSS (Person Shaped Support) in Liverpool. I am an expert in Rapid Evidence Assessments, qualitative and quantitative research analysis, and evaluations of projects working with vulnerable people. I have recently concluded an evaluation of the Staying Close projects, funded by the Department of Education, and have been evaluating community projects run by Macmillan (Qualitative Lead) and Addaction (PI). I have worked as a Research Associate for three years, previous to this position, I was a Lecturer on the Abuse Studies BA and the BPS accredited Psychology BSc.
K. Heyes, A. Smith, C. Fox, J. Harrison, Z. Kiss, et al. A. Bradbury. (2018). The effectiveness of probation supervision towards reducing reoffending A Rapid Evidence Assessment. Probation Journal. 65(4), pp.407-428.
B. Brahic, K. Heyes, S. Arun (2023). At Whose Cost? Vulnerable Female Migrants with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) during the COVID-19 Crisis in England. In: Women and COVID-19. Routledge, pp.227-242.
K. Heyes (2021). Socialization or Social Isolation?: Mental Health Community Support in the Digital Age. In: Research Anthology on Mental Health Stigma, Education, and Treatment.. IGI Global,
K. Heyes (2021). Socialization or Social Isolation?. In: Research Anthology on Mental Health Stigma, Education, and Treatment. IGI Global, pp.360-380.
K. Heyes Bringing Activism Back to Community Psychology. University of Brighton, 13/9/2019.
K. Heyes Virtual Support for People with Mental Health Issues – an Innovative Approach. Manchester Metropolitan University, 5/11/2016.
K. Heyes Socialisation or Social Isolation: Mental health community support in the digital age. Aston University, Birmingham, 6/4/2016.
K. Heyes, C. Fox, A. Smith, S. Baines, A. Fraser Cornwall Frequent A&E Attenders SIB Evaluation – Interim Report 1. , Addaction.
C. Fox, K. Heyes Junior University: Report. Manchester Metropolitan University, Which?.
K. Heyes Bringing Activism Back to Community Psychology. University of Brighton, 13/9/2019.
K. Heyes Virtual Support for People with Mental Health Issues – an Innovative Approach. Manchester Metropolitan University, 5/11/2016.
K. Heyes Socialisation or Social Isolation: Mental health community support in the digital age. Aston University, Birmingham, 6/4/2016.
K. Heyes (2018) Socialisation or social isolation? Virtual ethnography and mental ill health. Answering social science questions with social media data. 8 March 2018, Wellcome Collection, London.
2020 NIHR c£1,000,000 - IMPROVE-Act Improving experiences for black males who have been detained under the Mental Health Act. Co-Investigator, with Joy Duxbury and Laura Serrant.
2020 Bristol Council £10,000 – Follow-on Evaluation of Staying Close. Co-Investigator, with Chris O’Leary.
2020 Nesta £5,000 – A Review of Youth of Youth Mentoring Programmes. Co-Investigator, with Chris O’Leary and The Alliance for Useful Evidence.
2019 Macmillan £88,000 - Money and Work Service Evaluation. Co-Investigator, with Andrew Smith.
2018 Addaction £100,000 - Cornwall A&E Frequent Attenders programme. Project Manager, with Chris Fox and Sue Baines.
2018 Global Challenges Research Fund £10,000 – Women Empowerment through Microfinance around Tanzania (WEMA Tanzania). Principal Investigator, with Jessica Ozan.
2018 Volunteering Matters £20,000 - Grandmentors Evaluation. QCA lead and Co-Investigator, with Chris O’Leary, Jessica Ozan and Kirstine Szifris.
2017/2018 GMCA £50,000 - Liaison and Diversion Evaluation. Co-Investigator, with Kevin Wong and Stephen Morris.
2017 Department for Education £250,000 - Evaluation of the Staying Close Projects. Co-Investigator, with Chris O’Leary, Jessica Ozan, Kirstine Szifris, Zinnia Mitchell and Dan Allen.
2016 CELT SoTL Grant £3880 – Student Academic Innovations Journal. Principal Investigator, with Marcin Wozniak and Elaine Craig.
Bids awaiting outcomes
MRC/AHRC/ESRC £3,300,000 - The Empower Study: Co-producing a Trans-professional Framework for Fostering Young People's Resilience in the Face of Adversity. Co-Investigator with Joy Duxbury and Sarah Parry.
The Spencer Foundation £350,000 - Co-Creation of Learning to Improve outcomes for Children from single parent families (CoCLIC). Co-Investigator with Shoba Arun, Taylor’s University Malaysia and Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
eNurture £32,000 - Co-producing a Model of Family Interconnection: understanding intergenerational attitudes to digital and social media (CoMFI). Co-investigator with Bex Lewis.
Here is a video about the project:
http://www.celt.mmu.ac.uk/good_practice/gpentry.php?id=96
I am a Non-Executive Director of the Charity PSS.
I am the Secretary of the Cheshire East Green Party.
Fellow of the HEA
Fellow of the Association of Internet Researchers
Member of the Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network (VAMHN)