- N6, Tamar Science Park, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 583241
- cath.quinn@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Dr Cath Quinn
Senior Research Fellow
Peninsula Medical School (Faculty of Health)
- Health inequalities
- Health services
- Mental health
- Primary care
- Public health
- Offender health
- Socially marginalised groups
- Appreciative inquiry
- Discourse analysis
- Framework analysis
- Grounded theory
- Mixed-methods
Email publicrelations@plymouth.ac.uk to enquire.
Biography
Biography
Cath Quinn (Weyer Brown) is a qualitative researcher who has developed in interest in mixed methods working, particularly within realistic evaluation frameworks. Cath's research has focused on the mental health of socially marginalised groups, particularly offenders. She co-leads the Offender Health work stream with Professor Richard Byng. Cath has become increasingly interested in promoting mental and emotional wellbeing, rather than 'treating' mental illness, particularly how this might be enacted for socially deprived populations.
Cath joined the Primary Care department in 2008, having previously worked in research positions in Exeter and Plymouth Universities and the NHS, and she began her career in the history of psychiatry.
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS:
PhD Medical History Exeter University 2004
“Include the Mother and Exclude the Lunatic, a social history of puerperal insanity, 1860-1922” was based on extensive qualitative and quantitative research in asylum archives. The study interrogated the role of the disease within a society in which motherhood was becoming increasingly regulated.
M.A. Cultural History Distinction Manchester University 1998
“Representations of Puerperal Insanity in England and Scotland. 1850-1900” examined the images of the disease in medical journals and photography, and analysed the similarities and contrasts between them within the context of the developing psychiatric profession.
B.A. Hons. Politics and First Manchester University 1997
Modern History
“The Manchester Lunatic Hospital and Asylum, 1769-1849” examined the prevailing spirit of ‘philanthropy over psychiatry’ in this institution, the first outside London.
Previous roles:
11/2004 – 03/2006 | Project Manager | Specialised Services Commissioning, Exeter Primary Care Trust
| Developed and co-ordinated a series of depth-interviews with people living with Multiple Sclerosis and care staff. Produced reports that made recommendations for service development and skills training in terms of Government targets.
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10/2004 | Research Analyst | Dr Kate Fisher – Oral History Researcher | Analysed interviews on experiences of intercourse and contraception. Produced report for funding body on progress against original project aims.
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10/2003 – 09/2004 | Research Fellow | Centre for Medical History, Exeter University | Developed and conducted a series of depth interviews about birth experiences. Produced a report recommending areas for further study.
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10/2000 – 09/2003 | Tutor | History Department, Exeter University | Taught undergraduates research skills, including quantitative and qualitative methodologies. |
Professional membership
Member of Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC) since 2009.
Member of British Sociological Association (BSA) since 2012.
Roles on external bodies
Member of scientific panel for SWSAPC conference (2012) and reviewer for this and submissions to SAPC Annual Conference (2012-2015).
NIHR reviewer, for reports and funding applications; Offender Health and qualitative methods.
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
PhD Supervisor, Alexandors Georgiadis, (2nd with Professor Richard Byng and Professor Ross Coomber. 'Offenders with common mental health problems: a multidimensional and multi-perspective study'. PenCLAHRC studentship. 2012–15.
PUPSMD: Research in Action SSU on Health Inequalities.
I am happy to discuss supervising:
- Qualitative research
- Offender Health research
- Mental Health and/or Wellbeing research
- Social Inequalities research
Research
Research
Research interests
Areas of research interest
- Mental health and Mental and Emotional Wellbeing
- Socially marginalised groups, particularly offenders
- Qualitative research methods, particularly combining within case and cross case analysis
- Process Evaluations, particularly their role in intervention development and their place in mixed methods teams
- The involvement of people with lived experience of conditions in research
Current research projects:
- Engager 2: Developing and evaluating a collaborative care intervention for prisoners, with common mental health problems, near to and after release; applicant and work stream 1 lead, 2013-2018.
www1.plymouth.ac.uk/research/engager
Completed research projects:
- Care for Offenders: Continuity of Access (COCOA); Study co-ordinator and SW site lead researcher; completed 2011.
http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/81220/FR-08-1713-210.pdf
http://clahrc-peninsula.nihr.ac.uk/project/22-care-for-offenders--continuity-of-access--cocoa.php
- Engaging offenders with common mental health problems (ENGAGER); Study co-ordinator, Research Fellow, applicant. 2010–12. http://clahrc-peninsula.nihr.ac.uk/project/55-engager.php
- A research evaluation of the South West Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme; Lead for persons with lived experience, applicant. 2009–12.
- Improving community health networks for people with severe mental illness: a case study investigation; Qualitative researcher. 2011–13.
Grants & contracts
Awards
Co-Applicant and work stream 1 lead: Engager 2: Developing and Evaluating a collaborative care intervention for prisoners, with common mental health problems, near to and after release. NIHR Programme Grant. 2013–18 (£2M).
Co-Applicant: Engaging Offenders with Common Mental Health Problems. NIHR Programme Development Grant. 2010–11. (£100K).
Co-Applicant: A research evaluation of the south west Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme. NHS Southwest. 2009–12. (£300K).
Principal Applicant: Economic and Social Research Council, Social Science Awareness Week – Grant to facilitate and lead workshops and focus groups. June 2004. (£500).
Grant Holder: ESRC ‘Include the Mother and Exclude the Lunatic a Social History of Puerperal Insanity’ PhD award. 1999–2003.
Grant Holder: AHRB ‘Cultural Representations of puerperal insanity’. MA award. 1997–98.
Trout History Prize (BA Dissertation), Manchester University. 1997.
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals