Jenni Brooks

Dr. Jenni Brooks is an Associate Professor of Social Policy at the Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences, part of the University of Sheffield Hallam. She specializes in sociological and policy-oriented research focusing on social care systems, ageing populations, and the lived experiences of individuals with health conditions or impairments. Her work addresses critical issues such as dementia care, personal assistance in workplaces, and barriers to public involvement in universities.

Teaching responsibilities include modules on applied research methods, qualitative research, and sociology at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Courses she teaches encompass BA Sociology, MRes Social Science, and BSc Public Health. She also supervises dissertations and postgraduate research in qualitative studies related to social care and ageing.

Her research highlights include the project Living alone with dementia, which investigates service navigation challenges for people with dementia living independently. Other projects examine workplace dynamics for physically disabled individuals and low-pay issues in Sheffield’s labor market. She actively contributes to initiatives like the NIHR Research Programme for Social Care and the Sheffield Dementia Strategy Implementation Group.

Key research themes include the socio-political dimensions of care systems, disability rights in employment, and inclusive policy design. Her work bridges academic inquiry with practical applications, emphasizing participatory methodologies and stakeholder engagement.