Paula Jacobs

Dr. Paula Jacobs is a Research Fellow in the Department of Social Work at the University of Stirling. Her research focuses on inclusive and participatory practices, particularly involving vulnerable populations such as individuals with severe intellectual disabilities and those in care settings. She holds a PhD from the University of Stirling, completed in 2021, which explored transitions in the lives of adults with profound intellectual disabilities.

Her work includes projects on adoption and fostering placements, mental health of neurodiverse youth in care, and supporting couples with learning disabilities navigating dementia. She employs ethnography, life story research, and creative methods to engage participants effectively. Research interests center on care relationships, decision-making in care settings, and the ethics of participatory research with marginalized groups.