This opportunity is only accepting applications from Postgraduate Researchers with secured funding and authorisation from their doctoral funding body to undertake a placement.
Key Host Information
About the Host
Empower survivors of domestic abuse by offering innovative VR therapy and comprehensive self-help programs designed to promote healing and personal growth.
Website
Visit
Type of Organisation
Third Sector
Host Location
West Yorkshire
Equal Opportunities Statement
UKind Therapy CIC is committed to creating an inclusive, respectful, and empowering environment for all staff, volunteers, students, and placement researchers. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are especially keen to support individuals who are under-represented in research, technology, mental health, and leadership roles.
We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, neurodiversity, gender identity or expression, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, caring responsibilities, marital status, or socioeconomic background. We actively encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of domestic abuse, trauma, or health inequalities, recognising the valuable insight they bring to our work.
All reasonable adjustments will be made to ensure equal access to the placement, including flexible working, accessibility adaptations, and supportive supervision. We are committed to fostering a culture in which every researcher can contribute fully, feel safe, and be treated with dignity and respect.
Placement Description
Ideal Start Date
October 2026 (or earliest available)
Placement Location
Hybrid (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
Mode of Placement
Part-time (2.5 days per week)
Relevant Pathway(s)
DCA & WHC
Types of Project
-
Accessibility and inclusive design
-
Community support
-
Data management and analysis
-
Digital health research
-
Diversity, equality and inclusion
-
Health inequalities
-
Policy
-
Research and analysis
-
Stakeholder engagement
-
Human-centred design
Further Project Details
This placement offers the opportunity to contribute to the development and implementation of UKind XR, a survivor-led immersive digital mental health platform designed to reduce health inequalities for people affected by domestic abuse, trauma and other forms of adversity.
Working alongside UKind Therapy CIC, the researcher will explore how immersive technology and accessible digital innovation can improve support for communities that face the greatest barriers to mental health services. These include people with learning disabilities, autistic people, refugees and asylum seekers, multilingual communities, individuals with low digital confidence, and people living in areas of high deprivation.
The researcher will collaborate with UKind’s network of frontline partners, including domestic abuse services, community organisations and health partners, to identify barriers to engagement and co-design practical solutions that improve accessibility, safety and inclusion across the platform.
A key output will be the development of the UKind XR Accessibility and Inclusion Framework—an evidence-informed resource providing guidance on:
-
Trauma-informed immersive design
-
Accessibility for people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent users
-
Cultural and linguistic inclusion
-
Sensory accessibility in virtual reality
-
Digital inclusion and usability
-
Inclusive AI interactions
-
Recommendations for implementation within health and community services
The researcher will work alongside a multidisciplinary team that includes software developers, researchers, regulatory specialists and frontline practitioners, providing a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of an innovative digital health solution from research through to real-world implementation.
This placement offers valuable experience at the intersection of digital health, immersive technology, health inequalities, accessibility, trauma-informed practice and implementation research, with opportunities to contribute to publications, funding applications and future service development.
Skills Required
Essential skills:
-
Strong qualitative and/or mixed-methods research skills
-
Understanding of health inequalities, accessibility or inclusive research
-
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
-
Ability to work sensitively and ethically with vulnerable populations
-
Strong organisational and stakeholder engagement skills
Desirable:
-
Experience of digital health or immersive technologies
-
Knowledge of trauma-informed practice
-
Interest in domestic abuse, mental health or public health
-
Experience working with learning-disabled, autistic or multilingual communities
-
Experience of co-production or participatory research
-
Understanding of accessibility and inclusive design principles
