Sue Caton

Dr Sue Caton is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Social Care and Social Work at Manchester Metropolitan University, within the Faculty of Health and Education. Her research focuses on social and health inequalities affecting people with intellectual disabilities, particularly digital inclusion, mental health medication decision-making, and pandemic impacts. She leads projects such as Digital Lifeline (NIHR-funded), Medications and My Mental Health (NIHR RfPB), and co-leads Our Digital Health (NIHR RfSC), emphasizing co-produced methodologies.

• Research Projects:
  • Digital Lifeline: Evaluating tablet impact on social connections post-pandemic.
  • Medications and My Mental Health: Empowering informed medication decisions for people with learning disabilities.
  • Our Digital Health: Assessing digital health participation barriers.
• Key Expertise: Qualitative research, health inequalities, inclusive research design, and participatory methodologies.

Her work addresses pandemic-related challenges faced by marginalized groups, including access to healthcare and social support. She has supervised four completed PhD students and currently mentors four PhD candidates exploring topics such as digital inclusion, animal-assisted interventions, and familial perspectives in parenting support.

Dr Caton has led evaluations for initiatives like the Shared Lives 16+ project and the Us Too project on domestic abuse, demonstrating expertise in policy-informed research. Her contributions include over 50 peer-reviewed articles, focusing on digital participation, mental health, and pandemic resilience among people with intellectual disabilities.

Awards: No specific scientific awards mentioned, though her work is funded by prestigious bodies like NIHR and UKRI.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams including Dudley Voices for Choice, Liverpool John Moores University, and the Universities of Dundee, Warwick, and Birmingham City.