Dr Anna Tsaroucha

Course Director

Health, Education, Policing and Sciences

After completing my Philosophy, Paedagogy and Psychology degree at University of Ioannina (Greece) with First Class, I received my MA in Community Care (Learning Disability) at Keele University. I joined Staffordshire University as a doctorate student in Psychology, after being awarded a PhD scholarship from the Greek Government (States Scholarships Foundation). My thesis focused on maternal expectations, experiences and mood during the transition to motherhood in primiparous mothers. During my doctoral studies I worked as a part-time lecturer in various colleges. Following the completion of my doctoral thesis, I joined the Department of Sports Psychology at Nottingham Trent University as a post-doctoral research assistant for one year before returning to Staffordshire University, Centre for Ageing and Mental Health to continue developing my career as a researcher. I had the opportunity to work and lead on several externally funded research projects around, dementia, mental health and ageing, which led to publications in peer reviewed journals. I review for numerous journals and grant awarding bodies in UK and Greece.

In 2015, I joined the Social and Health and Social Care teams as a lecturer. I have experience teaching various subject across undergraduate and postgraduate provision and supervising doctoral students. I have held the position of the Deputy Chair on the Research Ethics Committee for several years. During the pandemic, I became a senior lecturer and course leader for the Health and Social Care degree. In 2021, a became a Course Director for Health and Social Care, partnerships and no-registered courses. I currently hold the position of the interim Head of Department, Social Work and Wellbeing. I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Professional memberships and activities

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
Member of the Athens Institute for Education and Research (ATINER)
Reviewer for the British Journal of Social Work
Reviewer for the Journal of Adult Protection
Reviewer for the Journal of Health Education
Editorial Board Member for the Athens Journal of Health (ATINER Publications)
Reviewer for the Research for Patient Benefit.

Academic qualifications

Postgraduate Certificate in Higher and Professional Education (PGCHPE) –Staffordshire University
Professional Research Supervision Course – Staffordshire University
PhD Health Psychology - 2005 Staffordshire University
MA Community Care (Learning Disability) – Keele University
BA Philosophy Paedagogy & Psychology – (First Class) University of Ioannina Greece

Expertise

Research Methodology and design
Dementia
Mental health and ageing
Research Ethics
Mental health services evaluation
Research interests
Dementia & Learning Disability
Mental Health and Ageing
Service user and carer involvement in development of research and higher education courses
Health and social care service improvement

Research interests

Dementia & Learning Disability
Mental Health and Ageing
Service user and carer involvement in development of research and higher education courses
Health and social care service improvement

Teaching

I have been teaching in Higher Education for over 15 years in a variety of health and social care related subjects. I have extensive experience in module and curriculum development.

I currently supervise two doctoral students.

Publications

Kevern, P., Lawrence, D., Nazir, N. and Tsaroucha, A. (2023) Religious Influences on the Experience of Family Carers of People with Dementia in a British Pakistani Muslim Community, Healthcare, 11,1, 120. https://doi.org/10.3390/

Benbow. SM., Tsaroucha, A. & Sharman. V. (2019) “It is not the same”: relationships and dementia, Educational Gerontology, 45,7, 454-468, DOI: 10.1080/03601277.2019.1656892

Wagner, J., Jones, S., Tsaroucha, A., Cumbers, Holly (2019) Practitioners’ perceptions and experiences of working with inter-generational transmission of domestic violence in the UK". Child Abuse Review, 28:1, 39-51.

Boath, E., Good, R., Tsaroucha, A., Stewart, T., Pitch, S. & Boughey, A.J. (2017) Tapping your way to success: using Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to reduce anxiety and improve communication skills in social work students, Social Work Education, 36,6, 715-730, DOI: 10.1080/02615479.2017.1297394

Jones, S, Wagner, J, Randall, J & Tsaroucha, A (2016) Empowering parents whose children are subjected to care proceedings: A qualitative investigation into practitioners' experiences, Journal of New Writing in Health and Social Care, 2,2, 12-20.

Tsaroucha, A & Randall, J (2016) Involving students in curriculum design: a research and statistics course designed by students for students, Innovative Practice in Higher Education, 2,3.

Machin, R, Tsaroucha, A & Boath, E (2015). Staying put: the impact of the ‘bedroom tax’ on tenants in North Staffordshire, Poverty, 152, 15-16.

Tsaroucha, A., Kingston, P., Khan, F. & Hassiem, F. (2015). Is there a link between oral/dental pain and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in older nursing home patients? Journal of New Writing in Health and Social Care, 1, 2, 9-20.

Tsaroucha, A., Boath, E., Porteous, E. & Wright, A. (2015). Using a modified Delphi method to develop a new Advanced Accreditation Award (‘Triple A’) in Money Advice Practice. Innovative Practice in Higher Education, 2, 2.

Wright, A., Porteous, E., Boath, E. & Tsaroucha, A. (2014) Asking the Oracle: a Delphi study to develop a new Advanced Accreditation Award (Triple A) in Money Advice Practice. Quarterly Accounts, 34, 13.

Tsaroucha, A., Benbow, S.M., Kingston, P., & le Mesurier, N. (2013). Dementia Skills for All: a core competency framework for the workforce in the United Kingdom. Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 12 1, 29-44.

Mustafa, N., Tsaroucha, A., le Mesurier, N., Benbow, S.M. & Kingston, P. (2013). Educating and training the workforce to work with people with dementia: two projects from the United Kingdom. Educational Gerontology, 39, 6, 398-412.

Tsaroucha, A., Kingston, P., Corp, N., Stewart, T. & Walton, I. (2012). The emotional needs audit (ENA): a report on its reliability and validity. Mental Health Review Journal, 17, 2, 81-89.

Tsaroucha, A., Kingston, P., Stewart, T., Walton, I. & Corp, N. (2012). Assessing the effectiveness of the “human givens” approach in treating depression: a quasi experimental study in primary care. Mental Health Review Journal, 17, 2, 90-103.

Benbow, S.M., Tsaroucha, A., Ashley, M., Morgan, K. & Kingston, P. (2011). Patients and carers views on dementia workforce skills. The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, 6,4, 195-202.

Corp, N., Tsaroucha, A. & Kingston, P. (2008). Human Givens Therapy: The Evidence Base. Mental Health Review Journal, 13 ,4, 44-52.

a.tsaroucha@staffs.ac.uk