Jan Macfarlane

My own journey into adult education followed on from achieving registered nurse status in adult and mental health nursing. I have a first degree in Health Care and Welfare, a master's in Human Relationships, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and recently became a Fellow of The Higher Education Academy.

I have held a wide range of managerial and clinical positions with health organisations in the North West and worked strategically as the Education Lead for a Primary Care Trust as well as a Project Manager for Community Services Trust in LEAN working. This ensures that I am able to see the effects that the opportunity for higher education presents to the workforce and enhance the relationship between the application of theory to practice.

I have experience of Programme Leader roles in education and began lecturing at the University of Bolton in 2015 to teach on a range of modules within the above school which helps me pursue my vision of creative teaching and supporting students to be successful in the highly challenging environments of the care sector.

Research Interests and Research Subject Specialisms:
Working in higher education confirmed my interest in wanting to develop and embed the integration of positive psychology in the learning environment. I am currently completing my PhD in the field of Positive Psychology and am interested in researching how utilising personal character strengths can help individuals flourish in education, work and at home.

Educational Responsibilities:
Module leader for a range of modules on FdA Health and Social Care Personal tutor Link Tutor for Bury College

Publications and Research Outputs:
A Positive Psychology Workshop for Trainee Assistant Practitioners in Higher Education, published in British Journal of Health Care Assistants July 2017.