Willem’s research explores mental health inequalities, help-seeking and sexual behaviours of marginalised or vulnerable populations, particularly LGBTQ+ communities and looked-after young people. His work also considers and evaluates the use of digital interventions to enhance health and social care service delivery and professionals' practice. Much of his work is cross-disciplinary and centred around participatory and co-production approaches.
Current Projects
Principal Investigator: Understanding Care-Experienced Young People’s Mental Health Help-Seeking (the COLLAGE study; June 2025 – November 2026)
Funded by the NIHR Research Programme for Social Care, COLLAGE is a mixed-methods study that examines how care-experienced young people in England seek help for mental health problems. It also considers how overlapping identities—such as being LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, disabled, or from ethnically minoritised backgrounds—shape help-seeking trajectories of those in care. Co-produced with care-experienced young people and professionals, the project is delivered in collaboration with Prof Jason Schaub (University of Bristol), Dr Jolie Keemink (University of Kent), and Omar Mohamed (a Principal Children and Families Social Worker).
Co-Investigator: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Home Care Provision for Older People (the LEAP study; June 2025 – August 2027)
Also funded by the NIHR Research Programme for Social Care, LEAP investigates the preparedness of the home care workforce in England and Wales to support older LGBTQ+ people. The study explores workforce knowledge, attitudes, and training, while also capturing the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ home care recipients. Findings will highlight gaps in inclusive practice and generate practical resources to strengthen care delivery. The project is led by Dr Jolie Keemink (University of Kent).
Research Fellow: The Role and Contribution of the Voluntary Sector in Preventing Suicide Among Young People (the ATTUNE study; January 2025 – March 2026)
Funded by the NIHR Three Research Schools’ Mental Health Programme, ATTUNE explores how young people access support from voluntary sector organisations for self-harm and suicidal thoughts or behaviours in the West Midlands and South West Peninsula. The study is led by Dr Maria Michail and involves collaboration between the Universities of Birmingham, Exeter, and Bristol.
Previous projects
Research Fellow: Assessing Sexual Behaviours in Children and Young People (2022–2024)
Funded by the ESRC, this project examined the sexual behaviours among 13–18-year-olds in the UK, ranging from developmentally typical to harmful sexual behaviours presented by young people. The study was led by Dr Sophie King-Hill.
Research Associate: All Hands to the Pumps: Inclusivity in the Fire and Rescue Service (2023–2024)
Supported by the University of Birmingham’s Institute for Advanced Studies, this study investigated barriers to inclusive workplace cultures in the Fire and Rescue Service, focusing on masculinity and institutional norms. Led by Dr Sophie King-Hill (University of Birmingham), the project brought together researchers across social policy, business, and creative disciplines.
Research Fellow: LGBTQ+ Young People in Social Care (the LYPSA study) (2021–2023)
Funded by What Works for Children’s Social Care, LYPSA explored how to improve care experiences for LGBTQ+ young people in England. It included the first UK-based randomised controlled trial of an LGBTQ+ e-learning module for children’s social workers. The project was co-produced with LGBTQ+ young people with care experience and led by Dr Jason Schaub and Prof Paul Montgomery.