Dr Mel Steer

My research interests include social policy, poverty and disadvantage, social and health inequity, the social determinants of health, adult social care and homecare (access and workforce) and social justice. I'm interested in policy-relevant research findings to inform policy and practice for positive social change.

Before starting my PhD (completed 2015), I worked as a Senior Research Officer for the Home Office (Crime and Community Safety), in research and policy roles for local government and the third sector, and in housing management roles for local authorities and housing associations. I completed a PGCE in Post Compulsory Education and training (literacy specialism) and gained experience teaching functional English to adults in the community and at a male prison in the North East region. 

I'm an Associate member of Fuse (Centre for translational research in public health), a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of the Social Policy Association. 

• Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
• Review of residential and nursing care home policies on safety incident reporting in England, Steer, M., Sykes, K., Waring, J., Mason, C., Dawson, P., Newman, C., Young-Murphy, L., Spencer, M., Scott, J. 1 Apr 2026, In: Journal of Health Services Research & Policy
• Addressing substance use challenges and interventions for emergency department nurses, Skinner, J., Steer, M., Murphy, K., Hill, B. 19 Jun 2025, In: British Journal of Nursing
• Balancing individual rights and risks: A systematic review of qualitative studies of perspectives on older adults' alcohol use in residential care settings, Nichol, B., Charlton, C., Scott, J., Steer, M., Sattar, Z., Haighton, C. 1 Dec 2025, In: Ageing & Society
• Home care and alcohol use: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of domiciliary carers' perspectives on alcohol use for older adults in their care, Steer, M., Haighton, C., Nichol, B. 20 May 2025, NIHR School for Social Care Research, York, National Institute for Health Research
• Safety incident reporting: policy review in English care homes to improve learning and safety, Steer, M., Sykes, K., Waring, J., Mason, C., Dawson, P., Newman, C., Young-Murphy, L., Spencer, M., Scott, J. 20 May 2025, NIHR School for Social Care Research, York, National Institute for Health Research
• Domiciliary Carers’ Perspectives on Alcohol Use by Older Adults in Their Care: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Studies, Haighton, C., Steer, M., Nichol, B. 6 Oct 2024, In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Developing and piloting an intervention to reduce colposcopy non-attendance and corresponding inequalities: a mixed-methods study, Cowling, A., Nevens, L., Contogiorgi, N., Bradley, N., Wilcockson, C., Stebbings, C., McMeekin, P., Steer, M., Harland, J. Nov 2023, In: Lancet (London, England)
• Local authority austerity and place-based working: a qualitative exploration of a pilot policy implementation in a market town, Steer, M. 14 Jul 2023, In: People, Policy and Place
• North of Tyne Combined Authority Child Poverty Prevention Pilot Evaluation: How does the North of Tyne Combined Authority Child Poverty Prevention Programme work, for whom and in what circumstances?, Steer, M., Bate, A. 2023
• Conclusion: hope in an age of austerity and a time of anxiety, Shucksmith, M., Davoudi, S., Todd, L., Steer, M. 26 Apr 2021, Hope under neoliberal austerity, Bristol, Policy Press

• PGCE June 22 2015
• Social Policy PhD June 11 2015
• Fellow (FHEA) Higher Education Academy (HEA) 2017