Professor Kay Mafuba

Professor of Learning Disabilities

College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare

kay.mafuba@uwl.ac.uk

I am an experienced academic and have been at UWL for over twenty years. I completed my PhD at UWL, and my research focused on public health roles of community learning disability nurses. I combine teaching, research and practice. I teach across a wide range of programmes within the University and supervise BN(Hons), Masters, Professional Doctorate and PhD research projects. My main research interests include learning disabilities, nursing roles, workforce development, public health policy and multiple research methods.

I have experience as a peer reviewed journal editor. I have experience as an NIHR grant application and final project report reviewer for the Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) programme, also an NIHR ICBS committee member. In addition, I have experience of acting as UK Research and Innovation grant reviewer. I am an experienced Royal College on Nursing (RCN) grant reviewer. I undertake quality assurance work on behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of the UK, and I have extensive experience as an external examiner in the UK and internationally. I have acted as an external referee for numerous professorial appointment committees in the UK and abroad.

I have undertaken a number of collaborative research projects funded by statutory and the voluntary sector, including NHS Improvement (now part of NHS England) Public Health England (now UK Health Security Agency), RCN Foundation and Respond. My work has been presented nationally and internationally and my publications include peer reviewed research papers, a textbooks, book chapters, commissioned research reports and editorials.

Qualifications
- RNLD
- BA
- CLTHE
- MA
- PGCert Research
- SEDA-PDF
- PhD
Memberships

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
RNLD

My career in learning disabilities spans more than twenty years. I am an experienced academic and have been at UWL for over fifteen years.

See Professor Kay Mafuba's publications list in the UWL Repository.

Research and publications

Publications from own works
Chapman, H.M., McMahon. M., Kaley, A., Mafuba, K., and O’Donovan, M. (2024). Editorial: The case for more action and more research into healthcare provision and health inequalities for people with intellectual disabilities. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12610
Mafuba, K., Chapman, H. M., Chester, R., Kiernan, J., Kudita, C., & Kupara, D. (2024). Understanding the contribution of intellectual disabilities nurses. Paper 4 of 4 - Impacts of intellectual disability nursing interventions. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/17446295241228044
Mafuba, K., Chapman, H. M., Forster, M., Chester, R., Kiernan, J., Kupara, D., & Kudita, C. (2023). Understanding the contribution of intellectual disabilities nurses. Paper 1 of 4 -Scoping literature review. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/17446295231220432
Mafuba, K., Kiernan, J., Chapman, H. M., Kupara, D., Kudita, C., and Chester, R. (2023). Understanding the contribution of intellectual disability nurses. Paper 2 of 4 - Survey. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/17446295231213434
Mafuba, K., Kiernan, J., Kudita, C., Chapman, H., Chester, R., and Kupara, D. (2023). Understanding the contribution of intellectual disabilities nurses. Paper 3 of 4 - Evaluation. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/17446295231196588
Mafuba, K., Chester, R., Chapman, H., Kupara, D., Kudita, C., and Kiernan, J. (2021). An investigation into intellectual disability nursing interventions and their impact. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34, pp.1267-8. DOI: 10.1111/jar.12917.
Mafuba, K., Kupara, D., and Kudita, C. (2021). Mixed methods systematic review of literature to inform the development of “sustainable safe staffing” improvement resource in intellectual disability services for NHS Improvement. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34, pp.1271. DOI: 10.1111/jar.12917.
Mafuba, K., Kupara, D., and Kudita, C. (2021). Improving the health of people with intellectual disabilities using a public health nursing approach: Systematic literature review. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34, pp.1272. DOI: 10.1111/jar.12917.
Mafuba, K., Kupara, D., and Kudita, C. (2021). Public health: Community intellectual disability (ID) nurses' perception and experience of their role – An exploratory sequential multiple methods study. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34, pp.1272. DOI: 10.1111/jar.12917.
Mafuba, K., Chapman, H., Kiernan, J., Kupara, D., Kudita, C., and Chester, R. (2021). Scoping review: Contribution of intellectual disability (ID) nurses. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34, pp.1274. DOI: 10.1111/jar.12917.
Mafuba, K., Kupara, D., Kudita, C., Kiernan, J., Chester, R., and Chapman, H., (2021). Development of the compendium of intellectual disability nursing interventions. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34, pp.1277. DOI: 10.1111/jar.12917.
Kudita, C., Mafuba, K., and Kupara, D. (2021). Pre-registered student nurses' experiences and perceptions of service user involvement in their education. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34, pp.1292. DOI: 10.1111/jar.12917.
Kupara, D., Mafuba, K., and Kudita, C. (2021). The role of intellectual disabilities acute liaison nurses: Documentary analysis of job descriptions. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34, pp.1292-3. DOI: 10.1111/jar.12917.
Mafuba, K., Forster, M., Chapman, H., Kiernan, J., Kupara, D., Kudita, C. and Chester, R. (2021). Understanding the contribution of intellectual disability nurses: Scoping research. Volume 3 of 3 – Compendium of intellectual disability nursing interventions. London: University of West London / RCN Foundation.
Mafuba, K., Chapman, H., Kiernan, J., Kupara, D., Kudita, C. and Chester, R. (2021). Understanding the contribution of intellectual disability nurses: Scoping research. Volume 2 of 3 – Scoping survey research report. London: University of West London / RCN Foundation.
Mafuba, K., Forster, M., Chapman, H., Kiernan, J., Kupara, D., Kudita, C. and Chester, R. (2021). Understanding the contribution of intellectual disability nurses: Scoping research. Volume 1 of 3 – Scoping literature review report. London: University of West London / RCN Foundation.
Mafuba, K., Forster, M., Kupara, D. and Gates, B. (2021) Mixed methods literature review on improving the health of people with a learning disability – a public health nursing approach. Target journal: Journal of Advanced Nursing (Impact factor – 1.998).
Mafuba, K; Roberts, S; Sauer, C.; Kheirkhahzadeh, A., Cozens, M, and Gates, B. (2021) Development of a prototype tool for measuring the context of care delivery in intellectual disability settings. Target journal: Journal of Nursing Management (Impact factor – 1.905).
Mafuba, K., Gates, B. and Kudita, C. (2021) A survey of community learning disability nurses’ public health roles. Target journal: British Journal of Learning Disabilities (Impact factor - 0.418).
Mafuba, K., Forster, M., Kupara, D. and Gates, B. (2018) Mixed methods literature review on improving the health of people with a learning disability – a public health nursing approach. Final Report. London: University of West London / Public Health England.
Mafuba, K.; Gates, B.; Cozens, M. (2018) Community intellectual disability nurses’ public health roles in the UK: An exploratory documentary analysis. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 22(1), p.61 – 73.
Mafuba, K., Gates, B. and Sivasubramanian, M. (2016) Report of a mixed methods systematic review of literature to inform the development of ‘sustainable safe staffing’ guidance in learning disability (LD) services for NHS Improvement. London: University of West London / NHS Improvement.
Mafuba, K., Gates, B. and Cozens, M. (2016) Community intellectual disability nurses’ public health roles in the UK: An exploratory documentary analysis. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 1–13, DOI: 10.1177/1744629516678524.
Mafuba, K., Gates, B. and Shanley, O. (2016) International systematic review of literature on intellectual disability staffing levels, and their relationship to safety, quality and delivery of compassionate nursing care. Journal of Advanced Nursing (In print - 2016).
Gates, B. and Mafuba, K. (2016) Use of the term “learning disabilities” in the United Kingdom: Issues for international researchers and practitioners. Learning Disabilities: A Contemporary Journal, 14(1), p.9-23.
Mafuba, K. (2015) Children with intellectual disabilities and or complex needs - Special Issue Editorial. Journal of Child Health Care, Special Issue 3, p.1-3.
Mafuba, K., Kupara, D., Cozens, M. and Kudita, C. (2015) The importance of role clarity in community learning disability nursing – A critique of the literature. Learning Disability Practice, 18(8), p.28-31.
Mafuba, K., Gates, B. and Shanley, O. (2014) Final report of a systematic review of literature in the public domain on learning disability nursing staffing levels, and its relation to the safety, quality and the delivery of compassionate nursing care. London: University of West London / NHS England.
Gates, B., Mafuba, K., Roberts, S., Sauer, C., and Matoorianpour, N. (2014). Report on the development of a prototype tool for measuring the context of care delivery in learning disability inpatient settings and; a business case and high level technical specification for an online secure platform for future local, regional and national review (The TCOC-LDS: Version 1). London: University of West London.
Mafuba, K. (2013) Public health: Community learning disability nurses’ perception and experience of their role. Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of West London, UK.
Mafuba, K. and Gates, B. (2015). An investigation into the public health roles of community learning disability nurses. British Journal Learning Disability, 43(1), p.1-7. DOI: 10.1111-bld.12071.
Mafuba, K. (2012) Going public: How government policy affects service provision. Learning Disability Practice, 15(6), p.20-22.
Mafuba, K. (2012) Importance of job descriptions in learning disability nursing practice. Learning Disability Practice, 15(4), p.19-21.
Mafuba, K. and Gates, B. (2012) Sequential multiple methods as a contemporary method in learning disability nursing practice research. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 16(4), p.287-96. DOI: 10.1177/1744629512462178.
Mafuba, K. (2009) The public health role of the learning disability nurse: A systematic literature review. Learning Disability Practice, 12(4), p.33-37.
Books
Mafuba, K. (2023) Learning and Intellectual Disability Nursing Practice (2nd edn) Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. ISBN 9781032282763 (Publication date 28 March 2023).
Gaston-Hales, M., Allen, V., Davey, P., Mafuba, K. and Taylor, D. (edts) (2016) University of West London BSc(Hons) Nursing Pre-registration Programme Course Reader. London: Sage. ISBN: 978-1-4739-9998-5.
Mafuba, K. and Gates, B. (2015) Learning disabilities nursing: Modern day practice. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Taylor Francis / CRC. ISBN: 9781482215588.
Book chapters
Mafuba, K., Chapman, H., Chester, R., Kiernan, J., Kupara, D., and Kudita, C. (2023) Current and future roles of intellectual disability nurses. In, Mafuba, K. (2023) Learning and Intellectual Disability Nursing Practice (2nd edn) Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. ISBN 9781032282763.
Kudita, C. and Mafuba, K. (2023) The nature of intellectual disabilities and its relationship to intellectual disability nursing. In, Mafuba, K. (2023) Learning and Intellectual Disability Nursing Practice (2nd edn) Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. ISBN 9781032282763.
Mafuba, K. (2018). Qualitative approaches. In, Gates, B. and Barr, O. (edts)(2018) Oxford Handbook of Learning and Intellectual Disability Nursing (2nd edn) Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Mafuba, K. (2018). Quantitative approaches. In, Gates, B. and Barr, O. (edts)(2018) Oxford Handbook of Learning and Intellectual Disability Nursing (2nd edn) Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Mafuba, K. (2018). Ethical issues in research. In, Gates, B. and Barr, O. (edts)(2018) Oxford Handbook of Learning and Intellectual Disability Nursing (2nd edn) Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Mafuba, K; Gates, B. (2015) Learning disability nursing throughout the lifespan. In. Gates, B; Mafuba, K. (2015) Learning Disability Nursing: Modern Day Practice. London. Taylor and Francis. ISBN 9781482215588.
Mafuba, K; Gates, B. (2015) The future of learning disability nursing. In. Gates, B; Mafuba, K. (2015) Learning Disability Nursing: Modern Day Practice. London. Taylor and Francis. ISBN 9781482215588.
Mafuba, K. (2015) History and modern-day practice of learning disability nursing. In. Gates, B; Mafuba, K. (2015) Learning Disability Nursing: Modern Day Practice. London. Taylor and Francis. ISBN 9781482215588.
Mafuba, K. (2015) Role of the learning disability nurse in promoting health and well-being. In. Gates, B; Mafuba, K. (2015) Learning Disability Nursing: Modern Day Practice. London. Taylor and Francis. ISBN 9781482215588.
Mafuba, K. Community learning disability nursing. In. Gates, B; Mafuba, K. (2015) Learning Disability Nursing: Modern Day Practice. London: Taylor and Francis. ISBN 9781482215588.
Gates, B. and Mafuba, K. (2015) Challenging and distressed behaviour in people with learning disabilities: The role of learning disability nursing. In. Gates, B; Mafuba, K. (2015) Learning Disability Nursing: Modern Day Practice. London: Taylor and Francis. ISBN 9781482215588.
Harmon, C., Petrie, P. and Mafuba, K. (2013) Learning disabilities, In Elder, R., Evans, K., Nizette, D. and Trenoweth, S. (eds.) Mental Health Nursing – a Manual for Practice. Chatswood, Australia: Churchill Livingstone (ISBN: 9780702044939).
Conferences

Mafuba, K. (2024) The contributions of learning disabilities nurses. Learning Disabilities Nursing Practice Assessors and Students Conference: The Future of Work: Building Relationships, Driving Growth, University of West London, London, UK, Friday 19 July 2024.
Mafuba, K., Chapman, H., Kiernan, J., Kupara, D. and Kudita, C. (2023) Understanding the contribution of intellectual disabilities nurses: Scoping research. Trinity Health and Education International Research Conference 2023 (THEconf2023): 'Back to normal or forward to better? New horizons in healthcare, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, 7-9 March 2023.
Mafuba, K., Chapman, H.M., Kiernan, J., Kupara, D., Kudita, C. and Chester, R. (2021). Scoping review: contribution of intellectual disability nurses.  International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 6-8 July 2021.
Mafuba, K., Chapman, H.M., Kiernan, J., Kupara, D., Kudita, C. and Chester, R. (2021). An investigation into intellectual disability nursing interventions and their impact. International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 6-8 July 2021.
Mafuba, K., Chapman, H.M., Kiernan, J., Kupara, D., Kudita, C. and Chester, R. (2021). Development of the compendium of intellectual disability nursing interventions. International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 6-8 July 2021.
Mafuba, K., Kupara, D., and Kudita, C. (2021). Mixed methods systematic review of literature to inform the development of ‘sustainable safe staffing’ improvement resource in intellectual disability (ID) services for NHS Improvement. International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 6-8 July 2021.
Mafuba, K., Kupara, D., and Kudita, C. (2021). Improving the Health of People with an Intellectual Disabilities using a Public Health Nursing Approach – Systematic Literature Review. International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 6-8 July 2021.
Mafuba, K., Kupara, D., and Kudita, C. (2021). Public health: Community intellectual disability nurses’ perception and experience of their role – An exploratory sequential multiple methods study. International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 6-8 July 2021.
Kupara, D., Kudita, C. and Mafuba, K. (2021). The role of intellectual disabilities acute liaison nurses: Documentary analysis of job descriptions. International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 6-8 July 2021.
Kudita, C., Mafuba, K. and Kupara, D., (2021). Pre-registered student nurses’ experiences and perceptions of service user involvement in their education. International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 6-8 July 2021.
Mafuba, K. (2019). Review of literature concerning the ‘Development of Sustainable Safe Staffing Guidance for Learning Disability Services’. Delivering Care Phase 9 Learning Disability Nursing, Expert Reference Group Workshop – Public Health Agency. Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim, Northern Ireland. 10 September 2019.
Mafuba, K. (2018). The lessons learnt from decongregation in the UK setting. Registered Nurses’ in Intellectual Disability Section - Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. Portlaoise, Co Laois, Republic of Ireland. 22 March 2018.
Mafuba, K. (2017) NMC Pre-registration Nursing Standards 2018 - The Direction for LD Nursing. University of West London. 9 Nov 2017.
Mafuba, K. (2016) The evidence base for the ‘Development of sustainable safe staffing guidance for learning disability services’. Safe and Sustainable Staffing Evidence Summit, NHS Improvement, London. 12 December 2016.
Mafuba, K. (2016) Models of service provision for sustainable safe staffing in learning disability services. NHS Improvement, BILD, Birmingham. 16 September 2016.
Mafuba, K. (2016) Writing for publication. 24^th World Congress of Learning Disabilities. London Campus of the University of Sunderland (UK), London. 9-10 September 2016.
Mafuba, K. (2016) Sustainable safe staffing in learning disability services – What does the evidence tell us. NHS Improvement, BILD, Birmingham. 18 July 2016.
Mafuba, K. (2016) NMC Revalidation - Implications for nursing practice. Thames Community (LD) Nurses’ Forum. University of West London. 21 January 2016.
Mafuba, K. (2015) Tool for measuring the context of care delivery in learning disability settings [The TCOC-LDS]. National Learning Disability Workforce Conference – A national sharing event. Think Tank, Millennium Point, Birmingham, UK. 14 July 2015.
Mafuba, K. (2015) Tool for measuring the context of care delivery in learning disability settings [The TCOC-LDS]. National Learning Event, National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham, UK. 29 June 2015.
Mafuba, K. (2015) Importance of carer involvement in health and social care education. Ealing Carers’ Conference, University of West London. 11 June 2015.
Gates, B; Mafuba, K; Blackman, N, and Fitzgerald, A. (2015) Evaluation of Training Senior Intellectual Disability Practitioners in Understanding and Working with Trauma a Psychodynamic Perspective. Poster presentation - 6th International Conference on Disabilities. Tel Aviv, Israel. 6-9 July 2015.
Mafuba, K; Roberts, S; Sauer, C; Matoorianpour, N, Cozens, M, and Gates, B. (2015) Development of a Prototype Tool for Measuring the Context of Care Delivery in Intellectual Disability Settings. Poster presentation - 6th International Conference on Disabilities. Tel Aviv, Israel. 6-9 July 2015.
Mafuba, K; Shanley, O; Kupara, D, and Gates, B. (2015) Systematic Review of Literature on Intellectual Disability Nursing Staffing Levels, and Its Relation to the Safety, Quality and Delivery of Compassionate Nursing Care. 6th International Conference on Disabilities. Poster presentation - 6th International Conference on Disabilities. Tel Aviv, Israel. 6-9 July 2015.
Mafuba, K. (2014) The public health role of the community learning disability nurse. University of Hertfordshire, UK. 3 April 2014.
Mafuba, K. (2014) Learning disability nursing staffing levels, and its relation to the safety, quality and the delivery of compassionate nursing care. Mental health and learning disabilities research conference: South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – A Keele University Teaching Trust Drayton Manor Park, Tamworth, UK. 27-28 March 2014.
Mafuba, K. (2014) Raising the profile of learning disability nursing. 20 years of Real World Research – the work of the Richard Wells Research Centre, University of West London, UK. 25 February 2014.
Mafuba, K. (2014) “Getting Staffing Right" – Systematic Literature Review: Learning Disabilities Nursing Task and Finish Group. Birmingham, UK. 7 February 2014.
Mafuba, K. (2014) The public health role of the learning disability nurse. UK Learning Disability Nurse Consultant Network Conference. Cardiff, UK. 14 January 2014.
Mafuba, K. (2012) The public health role of the learning disability nurse. Research Seminar – University of West London, UK. 29 February 2012.
Mafuba, K. (2012) The public health role of the community learning disability nurse. University of Hertfordshire. 20 November 2012.
Mafuba, K. (2009) The public health role of the community learning disability nurse. Thames Nurses’ Forum, Haperbury Hospital, UK. 16 October 2009.
Mafuba, K. (2009) Intellectual disability and ‘madness’. International Association of Nigerian Psychiatric Nurses, University of East London, UK. 29 May 2009.
Research degree supervision

Perceptions of the role effectives of advanced nurse practitioners (ANP) within primary health care: An exploratory study. PhD (Lee-anne Isaacs).
How to students with ASD’s experience groupwork at UWL? DEd (Sophia Louise Hutchison).
Practice assessors and practice supervisors’ experience and perceptions of their roles. PhD (Constance Mambanje).
A Multimodal Analysis of Involving Patients who Identify as Neurodiverse in Influencing NHS Healthcare Commissioning: Investigating the Contribution of Patient Involvement to Addressing Inequality. DNurs (Naomi Good).
Safety at work and quality care: Mental health care staff exposure to violence, abuse and trauma. PhD (Prince Ade-Odunlade).
Exploring the health and social care service needs of younger people with dementia from the perspective of service users and their carers. PhD (Nathaniel Hwata).
Learning disability health liaison nurses’ perception and experience of their role. PhD (Dorothy Kupara)
Pre-registered student nurses’ experiences and perceptions of public involvement in their education. PhD (Chiedza Kudita).