Hello and Welcome

My name is Olivia Joseph. I’m currently a third year PhD researcher at the University of Leeds and funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Yorkshire and Humber Patient Safety Translational Research Centre.

Together with my supervisors, hospital staff and patients, this PhD project aims to explore racially and ethnically minoritised hospital workers' experience of incivility, the impact on them, and patient care.

If you are interested in finding out more, this website will provide information and updates along the learning journey.

Please get in touch if you want to collaborate or get involved in the project.

About Me

I graduated with a first-class BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science from De Montfort University, followed by a Medical Research Council-awarded scholarship for an MRes in Inflammation: Cellular and Vascular Aspects.

Following this, I've had a seven year career as a Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Specialist within NHS research. My professional interests include exploring different methods to involve seldom listened to communities, creative approaches for co-production and understanding the impact of PPIE in health research on research projects, research culture, researchers and public contributors.

Ultimately, exploring methods to make health research more inclusive, meaningful and equitable.

I work one day a week as a PPIE Research Fellow within the Partners at Care Transitions (PACT) research programme to maintain my involvement expertise, and sustain relationships.

My research interests include mental health and wellbeing of NHS staff, healthcare equity, racialised healthcare workers' experiences in the workplace, workplace mistreatment and patient safety.

PhD overview

Despite an increasingly diverse NHS workforce, workplace mistreatment reported in the annual Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) remains persistent for racially and ethnically minoritised healthcare staff. In addition, both experience and observation of incivility in healthcare have been reported to have an effect on the wellbeing of the individual, wider team performance and patient care.

My PhD aims to critically explore how racially and ethnically minoritised hospital workers experience rude and disrespectful behaviour at work (incivility) from both colleagues and patients, triggers and associated consequences including potential implications for patient care.

The project aims to identify tangible targets for intervention to inform change, ultimately improving the experience of racially and ethnically minoritised hospital staff in the NHS.

Research interests (keywords)

Incivility, mental health and wellbeing of NHS staff, healthcare equity, racialised healthcare workers' experiences in the workplace, workplace mistreatment and patient safety