Dr Ailsa Stewart

Lecturer

Social Work and Social Policy

Contact

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Personal statement

I joined the Univeristy of Strathclyde in 1997 and am now a Lecturer and Course Leader for the PG Certificate in Mental Health Social Work (MHO) Award in the School of Social Work and Social Policy in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.  I teach on the undergraduate and post graduate qualifying social work programmes with a focus on risk and protection in adult social work including those experiencing mental disorder and learning disability as well as adults at risk of harm.  I have undertaken research across a range of settings including, within the voluntary sector, local authority social work departments, health boards and on behalf of Scottish Government at a policy level.  This work has primarily focused on areas around Adult Social Work including, evaluating effectiveness of models of intervention, exploring the impact of social networks on resilliance, identifying challenges to practice from policy and legislative implementation and gaps in research knowledge.  I have worked on a number of collaborative research teams with colleagues from other academic institutions as well as practice and have been involved in international collaborations.  I am currently writing up my Phd which has focused on the implementation of the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act (2007).

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Area of Expertise

Has expertise in:

  • Learning disability
  • Mental disorder/mental health
  • Adults at risk of harm
  • Participatory models of research

Qualifications

Undergrauate BA in Social Sciences - Open University 

Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work - Northern College (Aberdeen)

Masters in Community Care - University of Glasgow

PhD (writing up) - University of Glasgow

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Research Interests

My research interests are focused on Adult Social Work, in particular learning disability, mental health and adults at risk of harm.  I am also keen on ensuring the involvement of those who use supports and their carers in research at all levels by using participatory methodologies.  

Professional Activities

Equally Safe and Supported: GBV and Learning Disability Self-Assessment Toolkit Pilot Evaluation Findings - Overview
Speaker
24/6/2025
“Opening our doors wider” – Equalising access and support for women with learning disabilities who have experienced gender-based violence
Speaker
24/6/2025
NNDR 17th Research Conference
Participant
7/5/2025
University Of Strathclyde (Organisational unit)
Member
9/4/2025
Safeguarding Adults with and Without Capacity: Challenges and Opportunities
Speaker
9/4/2025
European Conference Social Work Research 14 - Munich 2025
Participant
12/3/2025

More professional activities

Projects

Baseline study
MacIntyre, Gillian (Principal Investigator) Stewart, Ailsa (Co-investigator)
05-Jan-2016 - 31-Jan-2016
Citizenship Measure Project
Stewart, Ailsa (Principal Investigator) Knifton, Lee (Co-investigator) MacIntyre, Gillian (Co-investigator) Quinn, Neil (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2015 - 30-Jan-2017
People Powered Health and Well-Being
Stewart, Ailsa (Principal Investigator)
14-Jan-2015 - 31-Jan-2015
Vulnerable parents with and without a learning disability – long term outcomes for families involved in a parenting skills programme
Stewart, Ailsa (Principal Investigator) MacIntyre, Gillian (Co-investigator)
Vulnerable parents with and without a learning disability – long term outcomes for families involved in a parenting skills programme
01-Jan-2015 - 29-Jan-2016
Evaluation of Aberlour Family Service
MacIntyre, Gillian (Principal Investigator) Stewart, Ailsa (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2014 - 01-Jan-2015
Embedding Outcomes in Homecare Reablement for older people in N Lanarkshire- ESRC Knowledge Exchange
Stewart, Ailsa (Principal Investigator)
"This project aims to investigate the potential for and means of implementing evidence, (drawing upon formal research studies, practitioner wisdom and user and carer perspectives) about outcomes based working in the context of the home support re-ablement model adopted in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. There is a need to develop outcomes-based working in relation to re-ablement services, which are being promoted throughout the UK (CSED, 2007). Further, re-ablement has been recognised as achieving significant savings for local authorities (PSSRU, 2010). Taken together embedding an outcomes approach within re-ablement may assist in providing effective home care services within a context of diminishing resources, increased prevalence of long term conditions and an ageing population.

The project utilises a mixed methodological approach, including key informant interviews, focus groups and expert group events. The project aims to build on existing knowledge exchange activity to establish current practice and understanding of outcomes and re-ablement services locally, explore applicability of existing evidence, establish challenges in existing approach to outcomes and re-ablement and through this process to generate new insights which will be formulated into guidance and tools for further implementation locally and nationally. University of Strathclyde has granted full ethical approval for the project."
01-Jan-2012 - 30-Jan-2013

More projects

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Contact

Dr Ailsa Stewart
Lecturer
Social Work and Social Policy

Email: ailsa.stewart@strath.ac.uk
Tel: Unlisted