Erica Brown

MY RESEARCH VISION

My dedication to children’s and young people’s palliative care is underpinned by my longstanding experience as a teacher, Senior Manager, Head teacher, Director of Special Education and Principal Lecturer in special education and as a Senior Researcher at Coventry University. Demographic studies have estimated that there are at least 49,000 children and young people under 19 years in the UK living with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition. As a member of Professor Jane Coad’s team I am committed to undertaking innovative research which will break new ground in documenting the met and unmet needs of children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families which will in turn provide a robust evidence-base for palliative care service development and delivery.

Senior Research Assistant

Building: CTEHR House Mile Lane

Room: 149 Richard Crossman

Email: ab1060@coventry.ac.uk

Research Gate

BIOGRAPHY

Erica joined Coventry University in 2010 where she has worked on a number of research projects and her PhD sits within Children and Families Research (CFR) Theme, CTEHR. Projects have included: The Big Study for Life-Limited Children and Their Families, Together for Short Lives, funded by The BIG LOTTERY FUND; Transition Taskforce – improving care into adulthood for young people with palliative care needs. Together for Short Lives, funded by Department Health; Strategic Development of Children’s Palliative Care Networks for Better Health and Care Outcomes through Improved Commissioning. Together for Short Lives, funded by Department Health; How can Siblings of a Brother or a Sister with a Life-Limiting or a Life-threatening Genetic Condition be best Supported?

Her research interests include the impact of adverse life experience on the holistic well-being of children, young people and their families, how siblings born into a family after a brother or a sister with a genetic life-limited condition can be best supported, the transition of children and young people from paediatric to adult health services; spiritual, faith and cultural aspects of caring for children, young people and their families.

Erica is author/co-author of numerous national and international publications. She is a qualified teacher with senior management and Head Teacher experience in mainstream education and special education. She has worked as Head of Special Education at Oxford Brookes University and as Head of Research and Development of Care at Acorns Children’s Hospices. In 2012 she was awarded Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts in recognition of her contribution to children and young people’s palliative care.

SELECTED OUTPUTS

Hunt, A., Brown, E., Coad, J., Staniszewska, S., Hacking, S., Chesworth, B., and Chambers, L. (2013) ‘Why does it happen like this? Consulting with users and providers prior to an evaluation of services for children with life-limiting conditions and their families’. Journal of Child Health Care.
Brown, E., Patel, R., Kaur, J., and Coad, J. (2013) ‘The Interface Between South Asian Culture and Palliative Care for Children, Young People, and Families—a Discussion Paper’. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 36 (1-2), 120-143.
Coad, J., Kaur, J., Owens, C., Ashley, N., Chambers, L., and Brown, E. (2014) The Big Study: Exploring the met and unmet needs of life-limited children, young people and families. Journal of Pediatric Nursing (in press).
Brown, E. (2014) SOFT UK Trisomy 13/18 Volunteer Support Handbook. Birmingham, SOFT UK.
Brown E. (2014) Life Changes – Bereavement for Children aged 11-16. Manchester: Lions International.
Brown E. (2011) Life Changes – Loss, Change and Bereavement for Children aged 3-11. Manchester: Lions -Tacade.
Brown E. (2009) Supporting Bereaved Children in the Primary School. London: Help the Hospices.
Brown E., Gatrad R. and Sheikh A. (2008) (2^nd Edition) Palliative Care for South Asians. London: Quay Press.
Brown E. (2007) Supporting the Child and the Family in Paediatric Palliative Care. London: Jessica Kingsley.