Research output per year
Research output per year
Research activity per year
Having no history of higher education in my family, I consider myself extremely fortunate to have begun my academic and practice journey when tuition was free, doing a BSc in Sociology at the University of Plymouth, 1997-2000. Three years later, I started to train as an Occupational Therapist here at the University of Brighton. In 2005 I graduated with my MSc in Health Through Occupation. I then worked in various occupational therapy practice settings, starting in Paediatrics and Neurology and ending in Acute Stroke care. In 2010, I started as a Lecturer/Practitioner at the University of Plymouth, where I completed a PostGraduate Diploma in Academic Practice. In 2016 I was (again) so fortunate to be awarded a PhD in Health Science. In January 2020, I joined the occupational therapy team here at the University of Brighton in the School of Sport and Health Sciences.
Since joining Brighton, I set up and now Co-Chair the Neurodivergent Staff Network.
Neurodivergent-affirming practice
I am interested in research into ways practice can become affirming and inclusive of neurodivergent people's needs, across the lifespan. Intersectionality is important in this work, through taking an approach that addresses the complex ways in which neurodivergence intersects with different people's other core identities such as age, gender, race, and sexuality.
#TheDarkSideOfOccupation
The Dark Side of Occupation is a concept I created and continue to develop. This means I aim to continue to research aspects of occupation, and of people's subjective experiences of occupation, that have previously been ignored or extremely under-explored.
My PhD was an endeavour to do just this, as I researched the impact of woman-to-woman rape. This is a complex form of sexual offending; victim/survivors are invisible and silenced and, as I found, often cope alone or with very little support.
My interests are based upon my belief that it is no longer acceptable to ignore all of the occupations that people subjectively experience and that can impact upon their health and/or their well-being - be it in a helpful or a detrimental way. The range of occupations we should consider ranges from the everyday, mundane right through to the more extreme, perhaps risky and illegal.
My doctoral work has really ignited an interest in further exploring the impact of trauma and the associated ways in which people can action endurance, survival, and identity renegotiation through a range of occupations that could be considered by some as 'adaptive' or 'maladaptive'. Though, occupation is more complex than any such binary distinction, as the subjective experience can alter or transform in response to, or because of, various factors that impact upon human occupation.
In line with this aim to gain a more authentic understanding of human occupation, I identify as a Feminist Auto/Biographical researcher, meaning I concur with Letherby (2014, p. 45) that "research is informed by auto/biographical experience and is an intellectual activity that involves a consideration of power, emotion and P/politics".
Funding Applications Awarded
Other Scholarly Awards
I thoroughly enjoy the experience of supervising student research projects and have done so since working in academia in 2010. I am open to a variety of topics, including those that would fall under the umbrella of illuminating the Dark Side of Occupation.
I have supervised and co-supervised BSc (OT), Pre-Registration and Advanced Professional Practice MSc (OT, Physiotherapy, and Paramedic), and PhD level research projects, with topics including:
I have been lead supervisor for a completed doctoral (PhD) student; I feel my experience of the doctoral journey and supervisory relationship, coupled with externally examining a professional doctorate (ProfDoc), and also co-editing a text with Professor Gayle Letherby regarding the doctoral journey (The Doctoral Journey as an Emotional, Embodied, Political Experience) has well-prepared me for this.
This range of experience is something I can bring to the supervisor-supervisee/s relationship, which is a critical relationship that depends on realistic expectations being clearly stated, and mutual respect.
Completed Erasmus+ staff mobility for teaching exchange, 2019
Visited Occupational Therapy and Science team at HAWK, Faculty of Social Work and Health (Fakultät Soziale Arbeit und Gesundheit), Germany
Accessibility and inclusion in digital health, Open University Milton Keynes
Award Date: 29 Feb 2024
Why Experience Matters: Qualitative Research
Award Date: 15 Mar 2019
PhD, The perceived impacts of woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault, and the subsequent experience of disclosure, reaction, and support on victim/survivors’ subjective experience of occupation, University of Plymouth
1 Oct 2012 → 4 May 2016
Award Date: 4 May 2016
Comprehensive Systematic Review Training Programme
Award Date: 1 Sept 2015
PostGraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP), University of Plymouth
Award Date: 26 Aug 2011
Master, MSc Health Through Occupation , University of Brighton
Award Date: 26 Aug 2005
Bachelor, Sociology , University of Plymouth
Award Date: 25 Aug 2000
Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism
1 Feb 2024 → …
External Panel Member, Joint Approval Event for MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) , York St John University
21 Jun 2022 → 22 Jun 2022
External Examiner, Teesside University
1 Jan 2019 → 28 Sept 2022
Member
1 Jan 2016 → …
Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding with ISSN or ISBN › Chapter › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding with ISSN or ISBN › Chapter › peer-review
Research output: Other contribution
Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding with ISSN or ISBN › Chapter › peer-review
Twinley, B. (Reviewer)
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Publication Peer-review
Twinley, R. (Presenter), Murphy, D. (Presenter), Berrigan, H. (Presenter) & Harding, K. (Presenter)
Activity: External talk or presentation › Invited talk
Twinley, B. (Reviewer)
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Publication Peer-review
Twinley, R. (Reviewer)
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial work
Twinley, R. (Presenter)
Activity: External talk or presentation › Oral presentation