Profiles
Professor Sarah Neill
Professor in Nursing
School of Nursing and Midwifery (Faculty of Health)
- Grounded theory
- Children's nursing
- Participatory research
- Qualitative research
- Child health
- Acute childhood illness
- Safety netting
- Child and family-centred care
Email publicrelations@plymouth.ac.uk to enquire.
Biography
Biography
Professor in Nursing
Sarah welcomes inquiries for doctoral study, particularly in child health and qualitative research.
Professor Sarah Neill is a Professor in Nursing in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health at the University of Plymouth. Sarah is a children’s nursing academic with over 25 years’ experience in higher education, initially focussed on teaching and learning for the next generation of children’s nurses, then gradually more focussed on research. Sarah’s research is focussed on acute childhood illness in children under five years of age, predominantly in the home and in first contact health services, such as primary care and urgent and emergency care. She works collaboratively with parents and health care professionals to understand patient and professionals experiences, their decision making and to develop interventions to improve access to care for acutely ill children. Sarah leads the Acutely Sick Kid Safety Netting Interventions for Families (ASK SNIFF) research programme www.asksniff.org.uk and was the Chief Investigator on the Before Arrival at Hospital (BeArH) NIHR RfPB funded project https://www.northampton.ac.uk/research/before-arrival-at-hospital-bearh/. Sarah is a qualitative researcher with a specific interest in Glaserian grounded theory. Sarah chaired the Faculty of Health's Faculty Research Ethics and Integrity Committee from February 2020 until October 2021. Internationally Sarah co-chairs the International Network for Child and Family Centred Care.
Qualifications
2011 PGC Research Degree Supervision, University of Northampton
2008 PhD Nursing, King’s College, London
1996 PGD Ed. with Registered Nurse Teacher (RNT), RCN Institute, University of Manchester
1992 MSc Nursing, King's College, London
1989 Registered Sick Children's Nurse (RSCN), Charles Fears School of Nursing
1987 Registered General Nurse (RGN), Kettering School of Nursing
1983 BSc (Hons) Zoology, University of Sheffield
Professional membership
International Family Nursing Association
International Family Nursing Foundation until September 2021
European Society for Person Centred Healthcare; Fellow
European Academy of Nursing Science
Children and Young People’s Nurse Academics UK (CYPNAUK)
Deterioration in children advisory group for NHS Patient Safety
Health Foundation Q Community
Royal College of Nursing
Roles on external bodies
NICE Adoption and Impact Programme Reference Panel member
International Family Nursing Association: Co-Chair Conference Planning Committee. Board member of IFNA UK & Ireland Chapter.
International Family Nursing Foundation: Board member until September 2021
International Network for Child and Family Centered Care Co-Chair
Editorial Boards
Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Nursing Journal (Previously Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing) (International journal)
Journal of Child Health Care (International journal)
Visiting Professorships
Adjunct Associate Professor, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
The focus of Sarah's teaching is predominantly on research methods at postgraduate level and, with that, on qualitative research.
Staff serving as external examiners
PhD theses
University of Southampton, Faculty of Health Sciences, Doctoral Thesis, February 2018 and July 2019
Edge Hill University, Faculty of Health and Social Care, Transfer viva, January 2018
Cardiff University, School of Healthcare Sciences, Professional Doctorate Thesis, March 2016 and October 2017
MSc theses
University of Central Lancashire, School of Health, MSc Thesis, June 2014
Undergraduate
Trinity College Dublin, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Children's and General Integrated Degree Programme, Sept 2012 to Sept 2015
University of Central Lancashire, School of Health, BSc (Hons) Child Health – Top up programme Oct 2009 – Oct 2013
Research
Research
Research interests
Improving the quality of care for acutely ill children prior to hospital admission
Child and family experience of health, illness and health care
Child and family centred care
Parent and professional decision making
Parent-professional interface in health care
Identifying the deteriorating child
Patient safety
Intervention development
Qualitative research
Glaserian grounded theory
Research groups
Research degrees awarded to supervised students
PhD students
Completed
David Agom Full time student Sept 2014 – 2019 ‘Perceptions of expert palliative nursing care in addressing the burden of terminal diseases in south Eastern Nigeria’
Jude Ominyi Full time student Sept 2014 - 2019 ‘Influence of organizational culture on the implementation of evidence based practice in Nigeria’
Nicola Smithers Part time student 2015-2019 ‘Parents' experiences of decisions to withhold or withdraw treatment from their critically ill baby’
Current
Corinne Lindsey Part time student Sept 2020 onwards.
| 'The importance of nursing culture for patient care: An ethnographic and narrative investigation into practice via nurses' professional identity.' |
Doctorate of Professional Practice students
Completed
Deb Pugh Part time student project Dec 2012 – Feb 2016 ‘Listening to different voices in families using Alternative Communication systems within the home.’
Fiona Barchard Part time student project Dec 2013 – Jan 2019 ‘Exploring nurses use of courage in clinical practice.’
Current
Tracey Ali Part time student project Nov 2013 - Aug 2021 ' Psychosocial influences of mentorship on paramedic students’ development' University of Northampton
Grants & contracts
| Supporting Parents with Acutely Ill Children: Environment Scan and Evaluation of Mobile Apps (The SuPa Kids Project) Led by Amy Rathbone (ECR) and Sarah Neill, in collaboration with parents. PIHR pump priming award November 2022 to July 2023 £2,840 |
Public Understanding of Research e-module project (PURe) April - September 2022 University of Plymouth Explore Award led by Sarah Neill and Nicole Thomas (ECR) in collaboration with Universities of Exeter and Edge Hill, NIHR, PenPEG and PenCRU Family Faculty £5,988
iPoorly: interactive Paediatric Observation and Outcome Resource for ilL Young Children. Led by Sarah Neill PIHR pump priming award May - July 2021 £9,647
Before Arrival at Hospital: Factors affecting timing of admission to hospital for children with serious infectious illness (The BeArH project). NIHR RfPB funded project, October 2017 – March 2019 £147,358 Extended to June 2020
ASK SNIFF: Acutely Sick Kids, Safety Netting Interventions for Families research programme:
- Phase 3: ASK SID Development of intervention content. Principal Investigator in collaboration with University College London and University of Oxford. NIHR Portfolio eligible study funded by Well Child charity. May 2013-May 2014 £49,734.38 Extended to 31st August 2014 £2247.36 Extended September to November 2014 £12,779.22
- Phase 4: ASK PETra Development of the prototype and parent/professional education and training pack. Principal Investigator in collaboration with University College London, University of Leicester and University of Cambridge. NIHR Portfolio eligible study initial funding from Well Child charity. July 2015 ongoing £50,000
o ‘Spotting Sepsis in the under 5s’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FifBm_08RkA
o ‘Caring with a child with fever’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxf2w8fPYCQ
Evaluation of NHS Digital Badges project commissioned by NHS England January 2015 to March 2018 £7,500
Secondary analysis of data sets reporting children’s mortality across Cheshire & Mersey (CDOP) project. Co-investigator in collaboration with University of Central Lancashire. January 2015 to January 2017 £3,520.60
Early Help in Early Years project commissioned by Northamptonshire County Council’s Children & Young People’s Partnership Board. Principal Investigator:
- Phase 1 Feasibility of developing a universal family assessment tool Phase 1 October 2012 to November 2012 £10,930.01
- Phase 2 Development and testing of a universal family assessment tool July 2013 to December 2014 £26,328.29
Academic Health Sciences Network East Midlands PPI grant award March 2015 £1500 to support continued work of the Parent Panel for the ASK SNIFF research programme.
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
3. Erwin, J., M. Paisi, R. Witton, S. Neill, L. Burns, I. Vassallo, A. Nelder, J. Facenfield, U. Devalia and T. Vassallo (2021). "Factors Influencing Oral Health Behaviours, Access and Provision of Dental Care for Autistic Children and Adolescents in Countries with a Very High Human Development Index: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Systematic Review." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18(23): 12346.
4. Sanders C, Fisher-Smith D, Neill S and Jones M (2019) Lessons for the future: Reflections on a review of child death overview panels through a local lens in the United Kingdom. Journal Child Health Care. Online May 8th 2019 https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1367493519844101
5. Yakuwa, M S, Neill S & Falleiros de Mello, D. (2018). Nursing strategies for child health surveillance. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem, Jul 16;26:e3007 doi:10.1590/1518-8345.2434.3007
6. Neill S and Coyne I (2018) The role of felt or enacted criticism in parents’ decision making in differing contexts and communities: towards a formal grounded theory, Journal of Family Nursing, doi:10.1177/1074840718783488 Impact factor 1.955
7. Alexander JH and Neill S (2018) The psychosocial impact of NHS Digital Badges on a school-aged cohort. Journal of Child Health Care, doi:10.1177/1367493518767777 Impact factor 1.107
8. Redwood T, Neill S, Church S & Spencer M (2018) Early Help in Early Years: Developing a Universal Assessment Tool, Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Nursing, DOI: 10.1080/24694193.2018.1457104
9. Neill S, Roland D, Thompson M, Tavaré A and Lakhanpaul M (2018) Why are acute admissions to hospital of children under 5 years of age increasing in the UK? Archives of Disease in Childhood Published Online First: 23 February 2018. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2017-313958 Impact factor 3.258
10. Smith J, Shields L, Neill S, Darbyshire P (2017) Losing the child's voice and 'the captive mother': An inevitable legacy of family-centred care? Evidence-Based Nursing 20(3):ebnurs-2017-102700 · June 2017 DOI: 10.1136/eb-2017-102700
11. Neill S, Roland D, Jones CHD, Thompson M and M Lakhanpaul on behalf of the ASK SNIFF study group (2015) Patient-centred medicine - Research: Information resources to aid parental decision-making on when to seek medical care for their acutely sick child: a narrative systematic review BMJ Open 2015;5:12 e008280 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008280 Impact factor 2.369
12. Neill, S. J., C. H. Jones, M. Lakhanpaul, D. T. Roland and M. J. Thompson (2014). "Parents’ help-seeking behaviours during acute childhood illness at home: A contribution to explanatory theory." Journal of Child Health Care Online first October 8, 2014. Impact factor 1.280
13. Neill, S. J., C. H. D. Jones, M. Lakhanpaul, D. T. Roland, M. J. Thompson and the ASK SNIFF research team (2014). "Parent's information seeking in acute childhood illness: what helps and what hinders decision making?" Health Expectations: Online first October 20, 2014. Impact factor 1.669
14. Jones CHD, Neill S, Lakhanpaul M, Roland D, Singlehurst-Mooney H, Thompson M. (2014) Information needs of parents for acute childhood illness: determining 'what, how, where and when' of safety netting using a qualitative exploration with parents and clinicians. BMJ Open. January 1, 2014;4(1). Impact factor 2.369
15. Roland D, Jones C, Neill S, Thompson M, Lakhanpaul M. (2013) Safety netting in healthcare settings: what it means, and for whom? Archives of disease in childhood - Education & practice edition. On line first (October 28, 2013). Impact factor 3.265
16. Jones Caroline HD, Neill Sarah, Lakhanpaul Monica, Roland Damian, Singlehurst-Mooney Hayley, Thompson Matthew (2013) The safety netting behaviour of first contact clinicians: a qualitative study. BMC Family Practice 14:140. DOI: 10.1186/10.1186/1471-2296-14-140 URL: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/14/140 Impact factor 1.751
17. Hirst S, Neill S. (2013) Treatment of acute otitis media in childhood – Clinical. Practice Nursing. 2013;24(8 Aug): 407 - 410
18. Conquest R, Cremonesini L, Neill S. (2013) Bronchiolitis: treatment in the community - Clinical. Practice Nursing. 2013;24(7 Jul). 330 - 334
19. Neill SJ, Cowley S & Williams C (2013) The role of felt or enacted criticism in understanding parent's help seeking in acute childhood illness at home: a grounded theory study. International Journal of Nursing Studies (Online 2-DEC-2011) DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2011.11.007. Issue 50. 757-767 Impact Factor 3.755
20. Redwood, T and Neill, S (2013). "Diagnosis and treatment of asthma in children." Practice Nursing 24(3): 137-141. First in a series I have been invited to edit.
Books and Book Chapters
1 Callery P & Neill S (2010) Chapter 14. The evidence base for children’s nursing practice. In: Glasper EA & Richardson J (Editors) A Textbook of Children’s and Young People’s Nursing. 2nd edition. Edinburgh. Elsevier.
2 Chambers M, Walmsley J & Neill S (2007) Chapter 1. The Context of Care in Surgical Nursing. In: Chambers & Jones (Eds) Surgical Nursing of Children. Edinburgh. Butterworth Heinemann.
3 Callery P, Neill S & Feasey S (2006) Chapter 14. The evidence base for children’s nursing practice. In: Glasper EA & Richardson J (Editors) A Textbook of Children’s and Young People’s Nursing. Edinburgh. Elsevier.
4 Neill S (2005) Caring for the acutely ill child at home. In: Sidey A & Widdas D (Editors) Textbook of Community Children's Nursing. 2nd Edition. Edinburgh. Elsevier.
5 Neill SJ & Knowles H (Eds) (2004) The Biology of Child Health – a reader in development and assessment. Basingstoke. Palgrave Macmillan. Reading list book for children’s nursing students nationally.
6 Neill S (2000) Caring for the acutely ill child at home. In: Muir & Sidey (Editors) Textbook of Community Children’s Nursing. Edinburgh. Bailliere Tindall
International
1 Neill S, Carter B, Carrol E, Heer A, Roland D, Pandey P, Palmer-Hill S, Hughes J, riches L, Woodbridge-Dodd, Bayes N, Bray L (2019) Getting The Whole Picture: Designing Studies To Capture 360 Degree Data On Family Health Service Use. 14th International Family Nursing Conference, Washington, USA, 13th-16th August 2019
2 Barchard F, Sixsmith J, Neill S, Meurier C (2018) A grounded theory of courage in nursing – a complex, multi layered phenomenon. The RCN International Nursing research conference. Birmingham Medical School. 16th– 18th April 2018
3 Neill S, Roland D, Thompson M, Usher-Smith J, Jones C, Palmer-Hill S, Bayes N, Mullins L, Lakhanpaul M (2016) Helping parents spot the deteriorating child: co-production of safety netting interventions. Oral presentation (concurrent session) at 3rd PNAE Congress on Paediatric Nursing, Beyond Borders: Best Practice In Nursing Children & Young People, 26 & 27 May, 2016 - Porto, Portugal
4 Neill S, Roland D, Thompson M, Usher-Smith J, Jones C, Palmer-Hill S, Bayes N, Mullins L, Lakhanpaul M (2016) Parents of young children in research: informants, consultants and collaborators. Oral presentation (concurrent session) at 3rd PNAE Congress on Paediatric Nursing, Beyond Borders: Best Practice In Nursing Children & Young People, 26 & 27 May, 2016 - Porto, Portugal
5 Barchard F, Neill S, Sixsmith J, Meurier C (2016) Understanding courage in the context of nursing. Oral presentation (concurrent session) at the Royal College of Nursing, International Nursing Research Conference 2016, April 6th - 8th, 2016 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
6 Neill S (2015) Defining ‘family’ when a child is acutely ill at home. 12th International Family Nursing Conference, Odense, Denmark, 18-21 August
7 Smith D, Sanders C, Neill S & Jones M (2016) Mapping the Child Death Review Process, Ownership and Accountability: One Regional Experience and Opportunity. 4th International Global Network of Public Health Nursing Conference. Legoland Conference Centre, Billund, Denmark. 19th-20th September 2016
8 Redwood T, Neill S, Church S, Spencer M (2015) Early Help in Early Years: Developing a Universal Assessment Tool. International Family Nursing Conference, Odense, Denmark, 18-21 August
9 Neill S, Lakhanpaul M, Roland D, Jones C, Palmer-Hill, Bayes N & the ASK SNIFF Parent Panel (2015) Effective safety netting: an important contribution to avoiding preventable deaths. Seminar paper at RCPCH/RCN Annual Conference, Birmingham, 28-10 April
10 Neill S (2015) Social influences on parents’ health service use when their child is sick: barriers to timely treatment? Seminar paper at RCPCH/RCN Annual Conference, Birmingham, 28-10 April
11 Neill S, Robinson L, Kirkham-MacCallum J, Mullins L, Lakhanpaul M, Roland D, Thompson M, Jones C, Palmer-Hill S & Bayes N (2015) Collaborative research with parents. Working together to get it right! Keynote paper at Building Children’s Nursing for Africa Conference Foundations of Evidence, Belmont Square, Cape Town, 22-24 April.
12 Neill S, Cowley S & Williams C (2015) Felt or enacted criticism theory - a contribution to the understanding of parents' decision making in acute childhood illness at home. Keynote paper at Building Children’s Nursing for Africa Conference Foundations of Evidence, Belmont Square, Cape Town, 22-24 April.
13 Neill S, Lakhanpaul M, Thompson M, Jones C, Roland D (2014) Safety Netting in Acute Childhood Illness: Empowering families and improving safety. An overview of the ASK SNIFF Research programme. UK Association of Chief Children’s Nurses (ACCN) Children’s and Young People’s Nursing International Conference. Building the evidence base for practice. 4-5th September 2014, Jersey
14 Neill S & Coyne I (2014) Felt or enacted criticism: its’ role in parents’ decision making in differing contexts and communities. UK Association of Chief Children’s Nurses (ACCN) Children’s and Young People’s Nursing International Conference. Building the evidence base for practice. 4-5th September 2014, Jersey
15 Redwood T, Neill S & Church S (2014) Developing a universal family assessment tool. UK Association of Chief Children’s Nurses (ACCN) Children’s and Young People’s Nursing International Conference. Building the evidence base for practice. 4-5th September 2014, Jersey
16 Neill S, Jones C, Lakhanpaul M, Roland D, Thompson M (2013) Parents' use of safety netting information in acute childhood illness: what helps, what hinders? 6th Europaediatrics held jointly with the RCPCH Annual Conference, 5-8th June 2013, Glasgow
17 Jones C, Neill S, Lakhanpaul M, Roland D, Thompson M (2013) Safety netting behaviour of primary healthcare professionals for acutely sick young children: a qualitative study. 6th Europaediatrics held jointly with the RCPCH Annual Conference, 5-8th June 2013, Glasgow
18 Neill S, Shang C, Thompson M, Lakhanpaul M (2013) Developing Safety Netting Information for Parents: Reviewing the literature on effectiveness. RCN Annual International Nursing Research Conference, Belfast, 20th – 21st March 2013
National1 Neill S, Roland D, Thompson M, Palmer-Hill S, Bayes N, Mullins L, Turner T, Tavaré A, Lakhanpaul M. (2018) Effective safety netting in acute childhood illness: an important contribution to avoiding preventable deaths. Royal College of General Practice Research Conference, London. 23rd March 2018
2 Morrish S and Neill S. (2017) Sepsis and recognition of the acutely unwell child. Invited paper at RCNi Nursing Children and Young People conference, Liverpool, 9th November 2017
3 Neill S (2014) Social influences on parents help seeking in acute childhood illness. ‘My Child is Ill’ Developing an understanding of what parents do and why? Seminar. NHS North West CLAHRC Autumn Collaborative Learning Event. London 5th November 2014
4 Neill S (2014) Social influences on parents help seeking in acute childhood illness at home. Mark Allen Publishing Journal of Health Visiting Study Day Birmingham 6th June & Manchester 1st October 2014
5 Neill S & Hughes J (2014) Learning from service users: how do parents of young children want services to change? Redesigning Paediatric Services, SBK Healthcare, Manchester 16th September 2014
Neill S (2015) Re-ACT – the Respond to Ailing Children Tool talk: The Effect of Criticism on Parents with Sick Children. TED-style talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTXfv0Kyx2I&feature=youtu.be
Hughes J, Neill S & Major L (2015) Parents are experts too! – Working with parents for optimum detection and management of the deteriorating child. Webinar 27th March 2015 12.30-1.30 https://www.england.nhs.uk/patientsafety/re-act/resources/webinars/
Personal
Personal
Reports & invited lectures
Masterclass and seminar invitations:
- personal research portfolio development at Edge Hill University, Sept 2016;
- masterclass on Grounded Theory at Trinity College Dublin Sept 2015; and
- seminar on the deteriorating child at RCPCH/RCN Annual Conference, Birmingham April 2015.
Other academic activities
Personal awards
- Florence Nightingale Foundation Travel Scholarship 2016-2017 £4930
Links
Research Gate: Sarah Jane Neill https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah_Neill
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-neill-66146933/
ORCiD ID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9699-078X
Twitter @SarahNeill7