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Professor Julie Fish

Job: Chair in Social Work & Health Inequalities

Faculty: Health and Life Sciences

School/department: School of Applied Social Sciences

Address: De Montfort, University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH.

T: +44 (0)116 257 7750

E: jfish@dmu.ac.uk

W: https://www.dmu.ac.uk/hls

 

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Personal profile

Professor Julie Fish, Chair in Social Work and Health Inequalities

Director of the Centre for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Trans and Queer Research at De Montfort University, Leicester, UK .

Deputy Director, Institute of Health, Health Policy & Social Care

Julie Fish was written widely on LGBT health and health inequalities. Her edited collection is published by the Policy Press, Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans health inequalities: International perspectives in Social Work. She has conducted several projects in LGB people with cancer funded by the Department of Health, the ESRC and Macmillan Cancer Support. She has been a member of a number of government advisory groups. She is currently developing a project Using innovative co-production approaches to address loneliness and social support for older women from marginalised communities (African-Caribbean, South Asian, white working class and LBQ women).

  • LGBT health inequalities
  • Service user involvement/ co-production approaches
  • Loneliness and social support
  • Critical/qualitative health research
  • Health and wellbeing among BAME people from LGB communities
  • Identities and intersectionality

 

Research group affiliations

  • Director, Centre for LGBTQ Research
  • Deputy Director, Institute of Health, Health Policy & Social Care

Publications and outputs

  • What Are LGBT+ Inequalities in Health and Social Support—Why Should We Tackle Them?
    What Are LGBT+ Inequalities in Health and Social Support—Why Should We Tackle Them? Fish, Julie; Almack, Kathy; Hafford-Letchfield, Trish; Toze, Michael Introduction Health inequalities are differences in health experiences and outcomes which arise through the everyday circumstances of people’s lives and the appropriateness of the systems put in place to support them. Such differences stem from social inequalities. As they can be alleviated through social policy, they are a key concern for global public health. Worldwide, they are the focus of governmental efforts to reduce avoidable differences in health (e.g., in the UK, Health equity in England 2020 [1] and in the USA, Healthy People 2030 [2]). The salience of health inequalities in public life cannot be over-emphasized; for example, it has informed policymaking since Engels’ [3] 1845 ground-breaking text on the condition of the working class in England and numerous policy initiatives since then (e.g., in the UK, The Black Report 1979, The Acheson Inquiry 1998, Fair Society, Healthy Lives 2010). In an international context, the World Health Organization (WHO) [4] has developed an equity framework for the Social Determinants of Health which identifies structural determinants including the socio-economic context, the processes of government, public policies, cultural and social value together with people’s protected characteristics. However, while gender, social class and ethnicity are acknowledged as influences on people’s circumstances, living conditions, health behaviors and psychosocial well-being; the influence of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) on health equity for LGBT+ people is overlooked. This contributes to the subordinate status of SOGI in international policymaking, practice developments and the funding of research to inform evidence-based decision-making. open access article Fish, J., Almack, K., Hafford-Letchfield, T. and Toze, M. (2021) What Are LGBT+ Inequalities in Health and Social Support—Why Should We Tackle Them? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (7), 3612
  • Applying a Capabilities Approach to Understanding Older LGBT People’s Disclosures of Identity in Community Primary Care
    Applying a Capabilities Approach to Understanding Older LGBT People’s Disclosures of Identity in Community Primary Care Toze, Michael; Fish, Julie; Hafford-Letchfield, Trish; Almack, Kathryn Internationally, there is increasing recognition that lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) populations experience substantial public health inequalities and require interventions to address these inequalities, yet data on this population is often not routinely collected. This paper considers the case study of the UK, where there are proposals to improve government and health data collection on LGBT populations, but also a degree of apparent uncertainty over the purpose and relevance of information about LGBT status in healthcare. This paper applies a health capabilities framework, arguing that the value of health information about LGBT status should be assessed according to whether it improves LGBT people’s capability to achieve good health. We draw upon 36 older LGBT people’s qualitative accounts of disclosing LGBT status within UK general practice healthcare. Participants’ accounts of the benefits and risks of disclosure could be mapped against multiple domains of capability, including those that closely align with biomedical accounts (e.g., longevity and physical health), but also more holistic considerations (e.g., emotion and a liation). However, across all domains, individuals tend to assess capabilities at an individual level, with relatively little reference to population-level impact of disclosure. Clearer articulation of the benefits of disclosure and data collection for the collective capabilities of LGBT populations may be a beneficial strategy for improving the quality of information on LGBT populations. Data from PhD research University of Lincoln open access article Toze, M. Fish, J. Hafford-Letchfield, T. and Almack, K. (2020) Applying a Capabilities Approach to Understanding Older LGBT People’s Disclosures of Identity in Community Primary Care, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (20), 7614
  • Older LGBT+ Health Inequalities in the United Kingdom: Setting a Research Agenda
    Older LGBT+ Health Inequalities in the United Kingdom: Setting a Research Agenda Westwood, Sue; Willis, Paul; Fish, Julie; Hafford-Letchfield, Trish; Semlyen, Joanna; King, Andrew; Beach, Brian; Almack, Kathryn; Kneale, Dylan; Toze, Michael; Becares, Lara Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans+a (LGBT+) people report poorer health than the general population and worse experiences of healthcare particularly cancer, palliative/end-of-life, dementia and mental health provision. This is attributable to: a) social inequalities, including ‘minority stress’; b) associated health-risk behaviours (e.g. smoking, excessive drug/alcohol use, obesity); c) loneliness and isolation, affecting physical/mental health and mortality; d) anticipated/experienced discrimination and e) inadequate understandings of needs among healthcare providers. Older LGBT+ people are particularly affected, due to the effects of both cumulative disadvantage and ageing. There is a need for greater and more robust research data to support growing international and national government initiatives aimed at addressing these health inequalities. We identify seven key research strategies: 1) Production of large datasets; 2) Comparative data collection; 3) Addressing diversity and intersectionality among LGBT+ older people; 4) Investigation of healthcare services’ capacity to deliver LGBT+ affirmative healthcare and associated education and training needs; 5) Identification of effective health promotion and/or treatment interventions for older LGBT+ people, and sub-groups within this umbrella category; 6) Development an (older) LGBT+ health equity model; 7) Utilisation of social justice concepts to ensure meaningful, change-orientated data production which will inform and support government policy, health promotion and healthcare interventions. The file author's final peer reviewed version can be found by following the URI link. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link. Westwood, S., Willis, P., Fish, J., Hafford-Letchfield, T., Semlyen, J., King, A., Beach, B., Almack, K., Kneale, D., Toze, M., Becares, L. (2020) Older LGBT+ Health Inequalities in the United Kingdom: Setting a Research Agenda. Journal Epidemiology and Community Health, 74, pp.408-411.
  • Minority Stress among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People in the UK: A Service Provider Perspective
    Minority Stress among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People in the UK: A Service Provider Perspective Rehman, Zaqia; Jaspal, Rusi; Fish, Julie Mental health inequalities among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people from lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) communities persist and remain under-researched. This study is the first in the UK to explore, from the perspective of service providers, minority stress experienced by BAME LGB people. Twenty-three participants were interviewed and data were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis. Minority stress theory was utilised to inform the analysis, yielding the following themes: (1) Stress induced by conflicting sociocultural norms, (2) interpersonal inhibitors of coming out, (3) and problematic coping. BAME LGB individuals are exposed to stressors due to their intersecting sexual, gender, religious, and cultural identities. Major psychological stressors include stigmatised identity, expectations of a heterosexual marriage, and maladaptive coping strategies. This study sheds light on the potential steps that can be taken to ensure effective coping responses among BAME LGB people. The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link. Rehman, Z., Jaspal, R., and Fish, J. (in Press). Minority Stress among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People in the UK: A Service Provider Perspective. Journal of Homosexuality
  • All the lonely people, where do they all belong? An interpretive synthesis of loneliness and social support in older lesbian, gay and bisexual communities.
    All the lonely people, where do they all belong? An interpretive synthesis of loneliness and social support in older lesbian, gay and bisexual communities. Fish, Julie; Weis, Christina Purpose: Loneliness is a phenomenon which affects people globally and constitutes a key social issue of our time. Yet few studies have considered the nature of loneliness and social support for older lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people; this is of particular concern as they are among the social groups said to be at greater risk. Design/methodology/approach: Peer-reviewed literature was identified through a search of Scopus, PsycINFO and PubMed. A total of 2,277 papers were retrieved including qualitative and quantitative studies which were quality assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Findings: Eleven papers were included in the review and findings were synthesised using thematic analysis. The studies were conducted in five countries worldwide with a combined sample size of 53,332 participants, of whom 4,288 were drawn from among LGB communities. The characteristics and circumstances associated with loneliness included including living arrangements, housing tenure, minority stress and geographical proximity. Research limitations/implications: The review suggests that among older LGB people, living alone, not being partnered and being childfree may increase the risk of loneliness. This cohort of older people may experience greater difficulties in building relationships of trust and openness. They may also have relied on sources of identity-based social support that are in steep decline. Future research should include implementation studies to evaluate effective strategies in reducing loneliness among older LGB people. Practical implications: Reaching older LGB people who are vulnerable due to physical mobility or rural isolation and loneliness because of bereavement or being a carer are concerns. A range of interventions including individual (befriending), group-based (for social contact) in addition to potential benefits from the Internet of Things should be evaluated. Discussions with the Voluntary and Community Sector suggest that take up of existing provision is 85:15 GB men vs LB women. Originality/value: We sought to interrogate the tension between findings of lower levels of social support and discourses of resilient care offered by families of choice. The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link. Fish, J. and Weis, C. (2019) All the lonely people, where do they all belong? An interpretive synthesis of loneliness and social support in older lesbian, gay and bisexual communities. Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 20 (3), pp. 130-142
  • Disclosure in lesbian, gay and bisexual cancer care: towards a salutogenic healthcare environment
    Disclosure in lesbian, gay and bisexual cancer care: towards a salutogenic healthcare environment Fish, Julie; Brown, Jayne; Williamson, I. Background: The literature on sexual orientation disclosure is arguably one of the most developed in the field of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people in healthcare in English speaking countries however, relatively little research has been conducted into disclosure in cancer care. Studies have been mainly undertaken in primary care where distinct circumstances pertain and where the benefits of disclosure include obtaining appropriate health information, treatment advice and avoiding misdiagnosis. Methods: We conducted an in-depth qualitative study primarily recruiting patients through oncology care in hospital settings and through LGB community cancer support groups. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 30 LGB patients with different cancer types. Results: Data were analysed using thematic analysis and interpreted and interrogated through salutogenesis theory which offers a useful lens through which to consider the health promoting effects of sexual orientation disclosure in cancer care. We present three themes as part of the analysis: Authenticity as a driver for disclosure in cancer care, Partners as a (potential) salutogenic resource and Creating safe, healing environments conducive to disclosure. The findings are reported and discussed in relation to three inter-related concepts from current salutogenesis theorising including a sense of coherence, generalised resistance resources and healing environments which can facilitate sexual orientation disclosure. Conclusion: Our findings enable a more nuanced approach to understanding disclosure in this context. This study contributes to the literature through its articulation of the salutogenic potential of disclosure (if responded to appropriately) for LGB patients as individuals, in relationship to their partners or carers and the role of creating a visible healing-oriented optimal environment to promote quality of life and recovery. open access article Fish, J., Williamson, I., and Brown, J. (2019) Disclosure in lesbian, gay and bisexual cancer care: towards a salutogenic healthcare environment. BMC Cancer, 19(1), 678.
  • Coming out in cancer care: Is disclosure of sexual orientation beneficial?
    Coming out in cancer care: Is disclosure of sexual orientation beneficial? Fish, Julie; Brown, Jayne; Williamson, I. Nurses and other health professionals are to ask about sexual orientation at every face-to-face contact across the NHS from 2019. However, there are concerns about the need for, and relevance of, sexual orientation disclosure and of the potential for discomfort and embarrassment. We conducted qualitative interviews with fifteen lesbian, gay and bisexual patients to investigate how experiences of cancer care are mediated by disclosure. Using thematic analysis, three themes emerged: identifying the barriers to disclosure, approaches to, and facilitators of, coming out, and small actions/big impact: nurses’ responses to disclosure. In conclusion, we situate disclosure within a model of holistic care recognising that patients’ individual needs constitute one of the eight principles of quality nursing. Treating the whole person means that patients are more likely to engage in positive health behaviours, have more knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their health and be more satisfied with their care. The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. Fish, J. Williamson, I. and Brown, J. (2019) Coming out in cancer care: Is disclosure of sexual orientation beneficial? Cancer Nursing Practice,
  • Intersecting identities of age, gender and sexual orientation in gay and bisexual men’s narratives of prostate cancer
    Intersecting identities of age, gender and sexual orientation in gay and bisexual men’s narratives of prostate cancer Fish, Julie Using the lens of intersectional theory, this analysis interrogates gay and bisexual men’s experiences of prostate cancer. Drawing on McCall’s third typology of intra-categorical intersectionality, the chapter explores how the intersections of age, gender and sexual orientation may impact on the lives of gay and bisexual men and influence their lived reality of prostate cancer. Utilising thematic analysis, three themes emerged: Gay and bisexual men’s embodied sense of self; Managing the emotional roller-coaster of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment; and Intimate and sexual relationships following prostate cancer. Intersectional approaches pay attention to ‘privilege and penalty’ (Bowleg, 2013) in the lives of GB men with prostate cancer. These data allow us to understand men’s strategies of resistance in coping with adversity. They are not privileged by heterosexual gender relations, but their narratives here suggest they draw on discourses of hegemonic masculinity in contingent and temporal ways. The interaction of their multiple identities suggests that they ‘do gender’ (Butler, 1990) in subtly different ways; in the absence of heterosexual gender relations wherein women perform the role of maintaining heterosexual men’s health. GB men do not merely occupy the spaces left by hegemonic masculinity, but when they deploy hegemonic masculinity they do it differently to heterosexual men. Fish, J. (2019) Intersecting identities of age, gender and sexual orientation in gay and bisexual men’s narratives of prostate cancer (Chapter 14). In King, A., Jones, R., and Almack, K. (Eds.) Intersections of Ageing, Gender and Sexualities, Bristol: Policy Press.
  • Coming out in cancer care: Is disclosure of sexual orientation beneficial?
    Coming out in cancer care: Is disclosure of sexual orientation beneficial? Fish, Julie; Brown, Jayne; Williamson, I. Nurses and other health professionals are to ask about sexual orientation at every face-to-face contact across the NHS from 2019. However, there are concerns about the need for, and relevance of, sexual orientation disclosure and of the potential for discomfort and embarrassment. We conducted qualitative interviews with fifteen lesbian, gay and bisexual patients to investigate how experiences of cancer care are mediated by disclosure. Using thematic analysis, three themes emerged: identifying the barriers to disclosure, approaches to, and facilitators of, coming out, and small actions/big impact: nurses’ responses to disclosure. In conclusion, we situate disclosure within a model of holistic care recognising that patients’ individual needs constitute one of the eight principles of quality nursing. Treating the whole person means that patients are more likely to engage in positive health behaviours, have more knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their health and be more satisfied with their care. The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link. Fish, J., Williamson, I. and Brown, J. (2019) Coming out in cancer care: Is disclosure of sexual orientation beneficial? Cancer Nursing Practice,
  • Social Work with Transgender People
    Social Work with Transgender People Fish, Julie; Donaldson, M.; Hardy, R. This is summary of the podcast recording : Julie Fish •The starting point is inclusive social work education, that case studies include the lives of trans people, that there are inclusive environments in social care settings, that the representation, the approaches, recognise trans people. •When we’re thinking about models of social work practice or models of assessing parenting or children in need, that we use assessment tools that are relevant to trans people’s lives. •That if you are a practitioner and you make a mistake that you acknowledge it and learn from it, and that you critically reflect on some of the discourses that you hear in society and that you interrogate the views of others, especially when they’re transphobic but at other times too, rather than accepting them as true. Matty Donaldson •I think training’s really important, but I think people have to buy into really good quality training. They need to give themselves a full day and then they also need to give themselves space to go away and reflect on what they’re going to do with what they’ve just learnt in that training, and put some of the things they’ve learnt into action. •I often say that if you’re good at working with young people you’re probably pretty good at working with trans young people, because a lot of the skills are transferable in terms of listening to them, respecting them, letting them lead conversations, and giving them space to talk about themselves. That’s really important, not to just forget all that when you’re working with a trans young person, because you feel like it’s a completely different set of skills. So asking them what name they want to use, asking them what pronouns they want to use, and respecting that and giving them the space if they want to explore gender to do that. If they’re not interested, they’re not interested. Fish, J. Donaldson, M. and Hardy, R. (2018) Social Work with Transgender People, Community Care Inform, 15 October

 

Click here for a full listing of Julie Fish's publications and outputs.

Key research outputs

Books

Fish, J. and Karban, K. (eds) (2015) Social work and lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans health inequalities: International perspectives. Bristol: The Policy Press.

Fish, J. (2012) Social work and lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people: Making a difference. Bristol: The Policy Press.

Fish, J. (2006) Heterosexism in Health & Social Care. Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Research interests/expertise

  • Loneliness and social support among older LGBTQ people
  • Older Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans health and social care. 
  • Social work and Health Inequalities
  • Public and Patient Involvement.

Areas of teaching

  • Module leader Research dissertations
  • Personal tutor for academic and professional practice
  • Supervision of undergraduate and MA research dissertations
  • MA tutor
  • Doctoral Training Programme
  • Supervision of PhD students

Qualifications

BA (Hons) English, University of York

PGCE English and Drama, Bretton Hall, University of Leeds

MA Women's Studies, Wolverhampton University

PhD Lesbians' experiences of breast and cervical screening, Loughborough University

Courses taught

[ASCS3120 Research Project] 

Conference attendance

Fish, J (2013) Health research with LGBT people.  Invited plenary presentation on LGBT health and health inequalities for University Hospitals Leicester staff.  3 July 2013

Fish, J (2013) International social work's role in tackling health inequalities: A new agenda for SWE?  Presentation to the 7th International conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health.  University of Southern California, Los Angeles.  23-28 June 2013

Fish, J (2013) Developing cultural competence for LGBT people with cancer.  Presentation to the 7th International conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health.  University of Southern California, Los Angeles.  23-28 June 2013.

On behalf of the Social Work and Health Inequalities Network, I joint convened two symposia at the Social Work in Health and Mental Health conference in Los Angeles in 'LGBT health inequalities' and 'SWHI in social work education'.

Fish, J (2013) LGBT Carers: Exploring Queer care.  Presentation to ESRC Carers' seminar: Individual carers: personalized needs.  De Montfort University.  4 June 2013

Fish, J and Lilley, G (2013) Older LGBT people: participation and inclusion in public services.  Invited plenary presentation to Family Outing, the Leicestershire County Council, County Hall, Glenfield, annual LGBT workers' conference.  17 May 2013 (led two workshops) 

Fish, J (2012) Making a difference in the lives of LGBT children and young people.  NSPCC Conference, NSPCC HQ Beaumont Leys, Leicester.  28 November 2012

Fish, J (2012) Taking action on LGBT health and social care inequalities.  Presentation to Social work and Social Development.  Stockholm, Sweden.  Joint World Social work conference.  8-12 July 2012

Fish, J and Karban, K (2012) Health inequalities at the heart of the social work curriculum.  Presentation to Social work and Social Development.  Stockholm, Sweden.  Joint World Social work conference.  8-12 July 2012

Fish, J (2011) Inter-professional working to reduce cancer inequalities in lesbian and bisexual women with breast cancer.  Presentation to 1st European Social Work Research Conference.  Oxford University, UK. March 23-25

Fish, J (2011) Coming out about breast cancer: Involving users and stakeholders. Public and Patient Involvement seminar. Leicester University. 24 May.

Fish, J (2011) Coming out about breast cancer: Involving users and stakeholders. Public and Patient Involvement seminar. University of Northampton 1 June.

Fish, J (2011) Writing for Publication. Presentation to the Researcher Development Initiative in Social Work. University of Bedford. 7 June.

Fish, J (2011) Health and social care inequalities. Presentation to the HLS Health and Wellbeing showcase. 22 June.

Fish, J (2011) Making It Happen: Achieving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Equality in the NHS South West. Somerset County Cricket Club, Taunton. 28 June.

Willis, P, Fish, J, Pugh, S, Bailey, L, Ward, N (2011) Exploring Queer Care in Social Work: Meeting the needs and interests of LGBT carers. Presentation to the 2011 JSWEC conference. University of Manchester, 14 July.

Karban, K and Fish, J (2011) Health inequalities – at the heart of the social work curriculum. Presentation to the 2011 JSWEC conference. University of Manchester, 14 July.

Fish, J, and Dhami, K (2011) Developing cultural competence in breast cancer services with LB women. Presentation to the 6th LGBT health summit, Cardiff City Hall. 1 September.

Fish, J (2011) Addressing LGBT health inequalities. Presentation to research seminar. University of Bradford. 10 November.

Panel member, National Cancer Equalities Initiative Conference, Hilton London Metropole. 22 March 2010

Fish, J Coming out about breast cancer: shaping the future through research. Joint Social Work Education and Research conference, University of Hertfordshire, 1-2 July.

Fish, J Coming out about breast cancer in lesbians and bisexual women. Paper presented to 4th LGBT health summit. Newcastle. Conference workshop supported by the RCN.

Fish, J Cancer inequality: What have sexual minority women’s experiences of breast cancer to do with it? BSA MedSoc conference Manchester. September 2009.

Beyond a single identity. Leicester University, June 2009. Member of conference organising steering group.

Developing work in social work and health inequalities
Online symposium, Health inequalities and the social work curriculum: Pacific Rim Perspectives. 9 November 2011.

Bywaters, P, Fish, J, Jones, D and Truell, R. Meeting with Professor Michael Marmot: Social work’s contribution to tackling health inequalities. 26 October.

Bywaters, P and Fish, J Meeting with Health Equity Team at UCL in relation to social work and health inequalities. 11 January.

Current research students

  • Carlton Howson (1st supervisor) Telling it like it is: Black and ethnically minoritised students' experiences of HE
  • Claire Gregory (1st supervisor) BME carers' experiences of providing information care
  • Hannah Begum (2nd supervisor) A study of South Asian male survivors of childhood sexual abuse (and engagement with support services)
  • Mandy Gamble (2nd supervisor) The Experience of Nurse Led Case Management in long term conditions
  • Wendy Norton (2nd supervisor) Gay men, fatherhood and surrogacy
  • Rose Parks (2nd supervisor) Yoga in prisons
  • PhD (fees only) scholarship in health and social care (TBC)

Externally funded research grants information

  • Fish, J. Williamson, I, Brown, J. Padley, W, Bell, K. (2018) More than a Diagnosis: Promoting good outcomes in Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual cancer care: A qualitative study of patients’ experiences in clinical oncology. Funded by Macmillan Cancer Support. ISBN: 9781857214383 http://hdl.handle.net/2086/16125
  • 2014 Improving the cancer journey for LGBT people, Hope Against Cancer
  • 2013 ESRC Knowledge exchange programme.  Impact report.  8 May 2013.  RES-192-22-0111
  • 2012 The College of Social Work: led writing of curriculum guide for Physical Health, Dementia and End of Life Care..
  • 2011 ESRC Knowledge exchange programme: Developing professional knowledge about breast cancer in lesbian and bisexual women.
  • Reference: RES-192-22-0111
  • 2010 LGBT Carers seed corn funding from Birmingham university, collaboration with Birmingham and the University of Swansea
  • 2009 National Cancer Action Team: Coming out about breast cancer.
  • 2008 NHS Cervical Screening Programme: Cervical screening in lesbian and bisexual women: A review of the worldwide literature.
  • 2007 Prescription for Change: Lesbian and bisexual women’s health. In collaboration with Stonewall. Funded by Lloyds/TSB Foundation.

Professional esteem indicators

  • Joint convenorship of Social Work and Health Inequalities Network (with Kate Karban) June 2010
  • JUC SWEC research committee member
  • Develop Social Work and Health Inequalities webpages for SCIE website
  • Contributing author to the Department of Health, Public Health Outcomes Framework LGBT companion document
  • Membership of ESRC peer review college
  • Contribution to the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Suicide prevention strategy for LGBT people
  • Member of the Leicestershire Partnership Trust steering group for the introduction of a  LGBT IAPT service in Leicester
  • End of life care: the experiences and needs of LGB elders.  Led by Kathryn Almack, Nottingham University funded by Marie Curie Cancer Care
  • Podcast on social work and health inequalities.  Interview by Patricia Fronek, Griffith University, Australia
  • World Social Work Day at Westminster 19 March 2013
  • Development of international teaching resources for World Social Work Day

Case studies

Supporting LGBT People with Cancer: Practice guidance. 

Lesbian and bisexual women and breast cancer: policy briefing. London: Breast Cancer Care.

Commissioned by the NHS Screening programme to undertake a systematic review which led to a change in the screening guidelines for lesbian and bisexual women

Policy applications of my research

2013 Contributing author to the Department of Health, Public Health Outcomes Framework LGBT companion document

2012 Leicester City Council, Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. March 2012

2011 Her Majesty's Government, Working for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality: Moving Forward. London: HMG

2010 Department of Health, Equality and Excellence: Liberating the NHS. Equality Impact Assessment. London: DH

2010 Memorandum submitted by Stonewall to UK Parliament

Media coverage

Moszynski, P (2010) Lesbians and bisexual women urged to take up cervical cancer screening, British Medical Journal, 2009; 340:b5667

Reviews of my work 

Reviews of Social work and LGBT people Bristol: The Policy Press

"The book ... provide(s) a framework, which underpins the knowledge, skills and values, from which to develop best practice to work with LGBT people ... is (a) high ambition.  That all of these aims are achieved is due, in no small measure, to the systematic and skilful crafting of the content of this work.  The text has a pattern without ever being formulaic."  John Hancox, New Zealand, Journal of Social Work, 2013 vol 13, no 6, 653-655

Julie Fish ... "provides detailed discussions of complex areas of social work practice and integrates a very extensive discussion of relevant research in each chapter.  The arguments about the need for a specific focus on substance misuse, for example, are compelling and avoid a reductive approach to the complex evidence from research."  Dharman Jeyasingham, UK, British Journal of Social Work, vol 42, issue 6, 1217-1219

"Julie Fish provides an accessible and appealing work to practitioners and students who want to deal with lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) service users in an appropriate way.  If anyone, (still) hesitates to see the importance of the LGBT issue in social work, Fish's chain of reasoning is convincing, pragmatic and straightforward."  Andrea Nagy, University of Innsbruck, Austria, International Social Work, 2013, 56:105.

 

Reviews of colleague's work

Fish, J. (2013). The social work dissertation. Carey, M Book review, British Journal of Social Work 43 (8): 1667-1668

International conferences and collaborations

2019 The inaugural INQYR international symposium on LGBTQ youth research, 31 October, Faculty of Medicine, UNAM, Mexico City (National Autonomous University of Mexico)

2018 ‘Queerying activism through the lens of the sociology of everyday life’, Sexualities and Social Work Conference, University of Montreal, 10th August.

2017, 12-16 Oct Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Partnership Grant: ‘Queery’ing resilience: Leveraging information & communication technologies to negotiate gender and sexual minority youth identity and wellbeing within diverse global contexts, PI Dr Shelley Craig, Factor-Inwentash, Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto. Grant writing workshop. $2 million CAN. Awarded.

2016 Lesbian, Bisexual & Queer women’s health conference; connections- creativity-care. Invited keynote. The Jaspar Hotel, Melbourne, Australia. Victorian Aids Council & ACON Health Sydney. 27th May.

Keynotes and conferences

Fish, J. (2019) (keynote) Social work and LGBT health inequalities, Social work in health and mental health international Conference, July 25 2019.

Fish, J. (2019) (keynote) Older LGBT+ health and healthcare inequalities, University of York, Research Collaborative event for Wellcome Foundation, 8 May 2019.

Fish, J. (2018) (keynote) Tackling older LGBT health and social care inequalities, Taking Pride in Ageing: Improving services for older LGBT people Conference. Chester Town Hall, Body Positive. 12 July 2018

Fish, J. Improving Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual patient experiences, Health Education England, Inclusive leadership conference, Leeds. 23 March 2017.

Fish, J. & Draper, D. Lesbian health inequalities, Public Health England Conference, Improving the Health and Wellbeing of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGB&T) people and communities 2nd National Conference – 14 January 2016, The Millennium Gloucester Hotel & Conference Centre, London.

Fish, J. Time is on the side of the outcast: Twenty years of LGBT research at DMU

Inaugural Lecture at De Montfort University, 11th November 2015.

[119 audience members]

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LGBT-health-book

social work and lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people making a difference

ESRC

coming out about breast cancer

Supporting LGBT with cancer