Kate Hamblin

Kate Hamblin is Professor of Social Policy and Director of the Centre for Care. She joined the University of Sheffield in 2018 to work on the Sustainable Care programme. She also currently leads the Centre for Care’s Digital Care research theme and is the UK Networks and geographical lead for the North and East-Midlands in the IMProving Adult Care Together (IMPACT) evidence implementation Centre. She is also the Policy and Practice Liaison lead for the NIHR School for Social Care Research at the University of Sheffield.

Her research has focused on technology and its role in the care of older people with complex needs. Kate has also examined issues related to employment, including the balance between unpaid care and paid work; self-employment and ageing; and ‘active ageing’ employment and pension policies. She has also been involved in research that has explored the impact of artistic activities and engagement on health and wellbeing.

Kate received PhD from the University of Bath in 2010. Her thesis addressed the changes to policies for work and retirement transitions for those over 50 in European Union nations. She published a book based on her thesis with Palgrave in 2013.

Research interests: 

• Technology
• Care
• Ageing and gerontology 
• Social policy
• Arts, health and wellbeing

Publications

Journal articles: 

• Burns, D., Hamblin, K., Fisher, D. U., & Goodlad, C. (2023). Is it time for job quality? Conceptualising temporal arrangements in new models of homecare. Sociology of Health & Illness, 45:1541–1559.
• Hamblin, K., Burns, D., & Goodlad, C. (2023). Technology and homecare in the UK: Policy, storylines and practice. Journal of Social Policy, 1-17. doi:10.1017/S0047279423000156
• Burns, D., Goodlad, C., Hamblin, K., & Zimpel-Leal, K. (2022). Innovation in UK independent homecare services: A thematic narrative review. Health & Social Care in the Community, 00, 1– 12. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13954
• Hamblin, K. (2022). Sustainable Social Care: The Potential of Mainstream “Smart” Technologies. Sustainability, Special Issue: ‘Sustainability of Care for Older People in Ageing Societies’, 14 (5): 2754. 
• Hamblin, K. (2022). Technology in care systems: Displacing, reshaping, reinstating or degrading roles? New Technology, Work and Employment, Early View, 1-18. 
• Hamblin, K. (2020). Technology and Social Care in a Digital World: Challenges and Opportunities in the UK. Journal of Enabling Technologies, 14 (2), 115-125.
• Hamblin, K., Yeandle, S., & Fry, G. (2017). Researching telecare: the importance of context. Journal of Enabling Technologies, 11(3), 75-84.
• Hamblin, K. (2016) Telecare, obtrusiveness, acceptance and use: an empirical exploration, British Journal of Occupational Therapy, Vol. 80(2) 132–138.
• Hoff, A., Reichert, M., Hamblin, K., Perek-Bialas, J. & Principi, A. (2014) Informal and formal reconciliation strategies of older peoples’ working carers: the European carers@work project, Vulnerable Groups and Inclusion, 5: 1-25.
• Hamblin, K. (2010). Changes to policies for work and retirement in EU15 nations (1995-2005): an exploration of policy packages for the 50-plus cohort, International Journal of Ageing and Later Life, Special Issue: Ageing Societies and the Welfare State, Vol. 5, Issue 1: 13-43.
• Carmel, E; Hamblin, K. and Papadopoulos, T. (2007). Governing the activation of older workers in the European Union: The construction of the ‘activated retiree’, International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 27, Issue 9/10: 387 – 400.

Books and book chapters

• Whitfield, G., Wright, J., and Hamblin, K. AI in Care: A Solution to the ‘Care Crisis’ in England? (2024). Edward Elgar Handbook on AI and Public Policy, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4687695 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4687695
• Hamblin, K. and Lariviere, M. (eds.) (under contract). Care Technologies for Ageing Societies: An International Comparison of Care Systems, Bristol: Policy Press. 
• Fast, J.; Hamblin, K. and Heyes, J. (eds.) (under contract). Combining Work and Care: Care Leave and Related Employment Policies in International Context, Bristol: Policy Press. 
• Hamblin, K. (2021). Older People, in Alcock, P.; Haux, T.; McCall, V. and May, M. (eds.) The Students Companion to Social Policy, 6th edition, Wiley-Blackwell: Oxford.
• Hall, P.; Needham, C. and Hamblin, K. (2020). Social Care in Ellison, N. and Haux, T. (eds). Handbook of Society and Social Policy: Social Care, Edward Elgar: Cheltenham. 
• Hamblin, K. (2016). Older People, in Alcock, P.; May, M.; Haux, T. and Wright, S. (eds.) The Students Companion to Social Policy, 5th edition, Wiley-Blackwell: Oxford.
• Harper, S. and Hamblin, K. (eds.) (2014). International Handbook of Ageing and Public Policy, Edward Elgar: Cheltenham.
• Hamblin, K. (2013). Active ageing in the European Union: Policy convergence and divergence. Palgrave MacMillan: Basingstoke.  

Recent Research reports/ Working Papers

• Whitfield, G., Hamblin, K. (2022) Technology in social care: review of the UK policy landscape. Centre for Care Working Paper 1, CIRCLE, Sheffield: University of Sheffield
• Hamblin, K. (2020) Care System Sustainability: what role for technology? An evidence review. Sustainable Care Paper 3, CIRCLE, Sheffield: University of Sheffield.
• Hamblin, K. (2019) Adult social care and wellbeing policy in the four nations of the UK. Sustainable Care Paper 1, CIRCLE, Sheffield: University of Sheffield.
• Hamblin, K. (2016). Museums, Oral History, Reminiscence and Wellbeing: Establishing Collaboration and Outcomes, Oxford: Oxford Institute of Population Ageing Research Report. 
• Hamblin, K. and Harper, S. (2016). The UK’s Ageing Population: Challenges and opportunities for museums and galleries, London: The British Museum.
• Hamblin, K., Koivunen, E.R., & Yeandle, S. (2016) Keeping in touch with technology? Using telecare and assistive technology to support older people with dual sensory impairment, Sheffield: University of Sheffield.
• Knapp, M.; Barlow, J.; Comas-Herrera, A.; Damant, J.; Freddolino, P.; Hamblin, K.; Hu, B.; Lorenz, K.; Perkins, M.; Rehill, A.; Wittenberg, R. and Woolham, J. (2016). The case for investment in technology to manage the global costs of dementia, Report from the Policy Innovation Research Unit to the Department of Health, PIRU: London.

Social Profiles

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kateameliah 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-hamblin-4146b320/