Projects per year
Personal profile
Career
Professional Qualifications and professional memberships
- CQSW 1981
- ASW (Approved Social Worker) 1984-1994
- Registered Social Worker 2004-present
Research interests
- Elder Abuse – including institutional violence
- Adult protection/adult safeguarding
- Domestic and intimate partner violence
- Interpersonal violence and family violence
- Attachment and intergenerational relationships in later life
- Mental health of older people
- Social care and older people
- Loss, grief and bereavement in later life
- Ethics and social care
- Social care outcomes of stroke
- Social work and health
Career summary
During the first sixteen years of my career I gained wide clinical social work and managerial experience across a variety of hospital and community services including: generic social work and specialisation with older people, including Approved Social Worker status (mental health). My first academic post was a joint appointment split between the School of Social Work, UEA and Norfolk Social Services (1989-1992). I later moved to a full-time post at the University of Hull (1996) and subsequently (in 2004) to the University of Sheffield, where I was predominantly involved in research concerning older people. Between 2006-2008 I held a joint appointment between the University of Sheffield and the Institute of Health and Social Care Studies, Guernsey, where I held a post as Head of Research.
Key Research Interests
Most of my research career, which has developed over the last 14 years, has been focused on elder abuse, the protection of vulnerable adults and domestic violence. The emphasis on elder abuse and vulnerable adults has developed in conjunction with the growing professional and political awareness about abuse and violence, which I have contributed to. I am acknowledged as a national expert in relation to both elder and adult abuse and have received international recognition in elder abuse.
· I have received funding for projects on Impact of ward changes on NHS staff (1996-7); Reminiscence and Dementia (1997-8) an EU funded comparative project in 3 countries, which I co-ordinated; Administrative justice and charging for care (1998-2000) funded by the Nuffield Foundation and Maternal mental health and child protection (1998-2000), which was funded between the University of Hull and the NHS.
· I was PI for a 3-year Department of Health funded (£250,000) study from 2004-2007, as one of 9 projects, which formed the Modernising Adult Social Care Research Programme. This study explored Partnerships and Regulation in Adult Protection and was the first major study of Adult Protection to attract government support and funding.
· I acted as project manager for the UK Study on Elder Abuse, 2005-2007, received EC funding for a 6-month review on elder abuse (by restricted tender), 2007-8. I also acted as Academic facilitator for a RIPfA Change Project on Adult Protection (2007-2009).
· I was Scientific advisor to the DH/Comic Relief Research Programme on Abuse, Neglect and Lack of Dignity in Care Settings (2008-2012).
· I have also recently been involved in 5 other research projects (2 UK based; 3 European initiatives). UK based studies were as co-applicant in an ESRC New Dynamics of Ageing grant (2008-2010) and as co-applicant in a DH/SCIE grant (2008 - 2009).
Selected publications:
STOECKL, H., WATTS, C. and PENHALE, B. (2012) Intimate Partner Violence Against Older Women in Germany: Prevalence and Risk factors, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27(13) 2545–2564
DE DONDER, L., LANG, G., LUOMA, M-L., PENHALE, B., ALVES, J-F., TAMUTIENE, I., SANTOS, A., KOIVUSILTA, M., ENZENHOFER, E., PERTTU, S., SAVOLA, T., and VERTE, D. (2011) Perpetrators of abuse against older women: a multi-national study in Europe, Journal of Adult Protection, 13, 6, 302-314
DE DONDER, L., LUOMA, M-L., PENHALE, B., LANG, G., SANTOS, A., TAMUTIENE, I., KOIVUSILTA, M., SCHOPF, A., FERREIRA-ALVES, J., REINGARDE, J., PERTTU, S., SAVOLA, T., and VERTE, D. (2011) European Map of Prevalence: rates of elder abuse and its impact on future research, European Journal of Ageing, 8, (2), 129-143
DAVIES, M., HARRIES, P., CAIRNS, D. STANLEY, D., GILHOOLY, M., GILHOOLY, K., NOTLEY, E., GILBERT, A., PENHALE, B., and HENNESSY, C. (2011) Factors used in the detection of elder financial abuse: A judgment and decision-making study of social workers and their managers International Social Work 2011; 54, (3), 404-420
PARKER, J., PENHALE, B. and STANLEY, D. (2010) Problem or safeguard? Research ethics review in social care research and the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Journal of Social Care and Neuro-disability, 1, 2, 22-32
HUSSEIN S., MANTHORPE J., REID D., PENHALE B., PERKINS N., and PINKNEY L. (2010) Working together in adult safeguarding: findings from a survey of local authorities in England and Wales, Research Policy and Planning 27, (3), 163-176
PODNIEKS, E and PENHALE, B. (2010) Elder Mistreatment: An International Narrative, Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 22 1, 131-163
REID, D., PENHALE, B., MANTHORPE, J., PERKINS, N., PINKNEY, L. and HUSSEIN, S. (2009) Form and function: views from members of Adult Protection Committees in England and Wales, Journal of Adult Protection 11, 4, 20-29
PEREZ-ROJO, G., IZAL, M., MONTORIO, I. and PENHALE, B. (2009) Risk Factors of Elder Abuse in a community dwelling Spanish sample, Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 49, 1, 17-21
HUSSEIN, S., MANTHORPE, J. & PENHALE, B. (2007) Public Perceptions of the neglect and mistreatment of older people: findings from a UK survey, Ageing & Society, 27, 6, 919-940
ALAZEWSKI, A, ALAZEWSKI, H. POTTER, J. AND PENHALE, B. (2007) Working after a stroke: Survivors' experiences and perceptions of barriers to and facilitators of the return to paid employment, Disability and Rehabilitation, 29, 24, 1858-1869
MANTHORPE, J, PENHALE, B, PERKINS, N, PINKNEY, L, and KINGSTON, P. (2005) Modernising Adult Protection: An Inside or an Outside Job? Journal of Integrated Care, 13, 6, 26-33
PENHALE, B. (2003) Older women, domestic violence and elder abuse: a review of commonalities, differences and shared approaches, Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect: an International Journal, 15, 3-4, 163-183.
PENHALE, B. (2003) Financial abuse and charging for care: the views of social work and legal professionals, Journal of Adult Protection, 5, 2, 11-20.
STANLEY, N, PENHALE, B, RIORDAN, D., BARBOUR, R. and HOLDEN, S. (2003) Working on the Interface: Professional Responses to Families with Identified Mental Health and Child Care Needs, Health and Social Care in the Community, 11, 3, 208-218.
PENHALE, B. (2002) Ethical dilemmas in charging for care: contrasting the views of social work and legal professionals, Journal of Inter-professional Care, 16, 3, 235-247.
Key Responsibilities
Areas of Expertise
Teaching Interests
Teaching activity in past four years has been mainly focussed on research degree and taught postgraduate students (PGR and PGT). I also regularly teach sessions on Adult Safeguarding and Domestic Violence for the BSc Nursing Programme. I am the Course Director for the PG Certificate in Leadership in Dementia Care and module organiser for the module Advanced Practice in Dementia Care.
Contributions to national and international reports/position papers:
PENHALE, B. (2009) Adult Safeguarding: a Literature Review, Totnes: Dartington Trust (Research in Practice for Adults)
PARKER, J., PENHALE, B. and STANLEY, D. (2009) Mental Capacity Act & University Ethics Committees, London: SCIE
KALAGA, H., KINGSTON, P., PENHALE, B. and ANDREWS, J.A, D. (2007) A Review of the Literature in Effective Interventions that prevent and respond to harm against Vulnerable Adults, Edinburgh: Scottish Executive
PENHALE, B., PERKINS, N., PINKNEY, L. REID, D., HUSSEIN, S. and MANTHORPE, J. (2007) Partnerships and Regulation in Adult Protection: Final Report to the Department of Health, Sheffield: University of Sheffield
PENHALE, B. (2007) Stopping Elder Abuse (a public information booklet), London: Help the Aged
HAGEMANN-WHITE, C. et al (2007) Gendering Human Rights Violations: The case of interpersonal violence Coordination Action on Human Rights Violations (CAHRV) Final Report 2004-2007, Brussels: European Commission
SCHROTTLE, M., MARTINEZ. M., CONDON, S., JASPARD, M., PIISPA, M., WESTERSTRAND, J., REINGARDIENE, J., SPRINGER-KREMSER, M., HAGEMANN-WHITE, C., BRZANK, P., MAY-CHAHAL, C. and PENHALE, B. (2006) Comparative re-analysis of prevalence of violence against women and health impact data in Europe – obstacles and possible solutions. Testing a comparative approach on selected studies, Bielefeld, Germany: University of Bielefeld
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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CARECOACH
Cross, J., Fox, C., Cross, J., Fox, C., Gracey, F., Penhale, B., Poland, F., Shepstone, L., Turner, D., Colles, A., Goodall, K., Hojas Garcia, E., Pond, M., Sims, E. & Swart, A. M.
National Institute for Health and Care Research
1/08/21 → 31/01/27
Project: Research
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Complex Health and Care Needs of Older People: Older people's decisions about transitions into care homes
Killett, A., Penhale, B., Poland, F., Backhouse, T. & Lane, K.
1/12/17 → 31/01/21
Project: Research
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The Care Act 2014: a new legal framework for Safeguarding Adults in Civil Society
Brammer, A., Penhale, B., Keene, A., Kingston, P., Morgan, P., Parker, J. & Preston-Shoot, M.
Economic and Social Research Council
1/11/15 → 31/10/18
Project: Research
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CLAHRC East of England Research Capacity in Dementia Care Programme
Arthur, A., Jones, P., Cheater, F., Killett, A. & Penhale, B.
National Institute for Health and Care Research
1/10/15 → 31/12/18
Project: Research
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Adapting a Dutch web-based intervention to support family caregivers of people with dementia in the UK context: Accelerated experience-based co-design
Scheibl, F., Boots, L., Eley, R., Fox, C., Gracey, F., Dening, K. H., Oyebode, J., Penhale, B., Poland, F., Ridel, G., West, J. & Cross, J. L., 22 May 2024, In: JMIR Formative Research. 8, e52389.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
Safeguarding carers: Literature review on what is known about carers who are abused by the people they provide care for
Anka, A. & Penhale, B., 21 Jun 2024, In: Journal of Adult Protection. 26, 3, p. 113-125 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Literature review › peer-review
Open AccessFile7 Downloads (Pure) -
A personhood and citizenship training workshop for care home staff to potentially increase wellbeing of residents with dementia: intervention development and feasibility testing of a cluster randomised controlled trial
Corner, J., Penhale, B. & Arthur, A., 9 Jan 2023, In: Pilot and Feasibility Studies. 9, 2.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile15 Downloads (Pure) -
Assessment tools utilised in adult safeguarding practice in the UK and Ireland: Results from a small-scale qualitative study
Doyle, L., Montgomery, L., Donnelly, S., MacKay, K. & Penhale, B., 4 Apr 2023, In: Journal of Adult Protection. 25, 2, p. 67-81 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Citations (Scopus)14 Downloads (Pure) -
Implementing an intervention to enhance care delivery and consistency for people with hip fracture and cognitive impairment in acute hospital wards: a mixed methods process evaluation of a randomised controlled feasibility trial (PERFECTED)
Backhouse, T., Fox, C., Hammond, S. P., Poland, F., McDermott-Thompson, V., Penhale, B. & Cross, J., 3 Feb 2023, In: BMJ Open. 13, 2, e064482.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile18 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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Awarded International Rosalie Wolf Award for Research and Practice in Elder Abuse (2010)
Penhale, Bridget (Recipient), 2010
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Elected Fellow of International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
Penhale, Bridget (Recipient), 23 Jul 2017
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
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Elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences
Penhale, Bridget (Recipient), Jun 2012
Prize: Election to learned society
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Elected Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America
Penhale, Bridget (Recipient), 15 Nov 2016
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
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Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Penhale, Bridget (Recipient), 10 May 2017
Prize: Election to learned society
Activities
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Academy of Social Sciences (External organisation)
Bridget Penhale (Member)
2012 → …Activity: Membership › Network, Working Group or Professional Association
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Advisory Group to the Law Commission review of Regulation of Healthcare Professions (External organisation)
Bridget Penhale (Member)
2011 → …Activity: Membership › Public/government panel or group
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British Journal of Social Work (Journal)
Bridget Penhale (Editorial board member)
2010 → …Activity: Editorial work › Publication editorial role
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National Social Care Research Ethics Committee (External organisation)
Bridget Penhale (Member)
2009 → …Activity: Membership › Committee
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Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE) Partners' Council (External organisation)
Bridget Penhale (Member)
2007 → 2012Activity: Membership › Network, Working Group or Professional Association