Staff profile

I joined Durham University in 2017 after working at University of Hong Kong for two years as postdoctoral fellow. I was first trained as a social worker in Hong Kong, and later completed my PhD at the University of York (UK) in 2015. My academic interests are in feminist participatory methodologies, social work practice research and model building as well as violence against women.

My research always involves working with social work practitioners and service users, women who have experienced violence and Hongkonger diaspora. Through participatory or collaborative processes, we explore ways to democratise knowledge production through methodological innovations. The methods/methodologies that we have developed include

• Cooperative Grounded Inquiry (2015)
• Collaborative focused group analysis (2020), plus the use of theatre (2018)
• Collaborative Practice Research for Social Work (2022)

These new methods/methodologies advance the theorisation and debates on the relationship between research and social practice, challenge hierarchies of victimhood and enhance understanding of gender-based violence at the intersection of personal and political lives. Core theoretical contributions include the development of

• a relational model for care in the context of intimate partner violence
• a relational personhood in end-of-life care
• hierarchical harmony and hierarchy of victimhood in politicised personal lives.

I also co-founded the BASW UK Network for Social Work Practitioner Research for supporting knowledge exchange and coproduced research among social work practitioners and academic researchers.

I have been awarded the prestigious British Academy/Wolfson Fellowship in 2021 to work on transnational social work and Hongkonger diaspora in the UK for three years. The project looks at the contested identities of Hongkongers and how these identities shape their community and home building in the UK. Alongside this project, I collaborate with the British Association of Social Workers to develop a national curriculum and workplace support for Hong Kong diaspora social workers who have recently moved to the UK.

• Hong Kong Studies
• Transnational Social Work
• Violence Against Women in Political and Personal Spaces
• Social Work Practice Research – theorising practice and theorising for practice
• Qualitative Methodologies – innovative methods and participatory methodologies

Chapter in book

• Problematizing Hongkonger Political Subjectivity: The Struggle for, and over, Democracy
  
  Kong, S. T., Ho, P. S. Y., & Jackson, S. (2024). Problematizing Hongkonger Political Subjectivity: The Struggle for, and over, Democracy. In G. K. Bhambra, L. Mayblin, K. Medien, & M. Viveros-Vigoya (Eds.), The Sage Handbook of Global Sociology. Sage.
• Extending women's voice through innovative methods: Lessons from struggles for democracy in Hong Kong
  
  Kong, S., Ho, P., & Huang, Y. (2021). Extending women’s voice through innovative methods: Lessons from struggles for democracy in Hong Kong. In J. Devaney, C. Bradbury-Jones, R. Macy, C. Øverlien, & S. Holt (Eds.), The Routledge International Handbook of Domestic Violence and Abuse (1st ed., pp. 765-782). Routledge International.
• Expanding paradigm: Arts as performance and performance as communication in politically turbulent times
  
  Ho, P., Chan, C., & Kong, S. (2018). Expanding paradigm: Arts as performance and performance as communication in politically turbulent times. In R. Siegesmund & M. Cahnmann-Taylor (Eds.), Art-Based Research in Education: Foundations for Practice. Routledge.
• Performance Management in Social Service Provision: A Framework for Collective Learning
  
  Wang, X., & Kong, S. (2017). Performance Management in Social Service Provision: A Framework for Collective Learning. In A. Farazmand (Ed.), Global Encyclopaedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance.. Springer Verlag.

Journal Article

• Reconceptualising the Cyclical Process in Participatory Action Research: A Focus on the Individual-Collective Dynamics
  
  Noone, C., & Kong, S. (2025). Reconceptualising the Cyclical Process in Participatory Action Research: A Focus on the Individual-Collective Dynamics. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251346262
• Editorial: Social Work Practitioner Research in a Globalised Context
  
  Kong, S., McCusker, P., & Shears, J. (2023). Editorial: Social Work Practitioner Research in a Globalised Context. The British Journal of Social Work, 53(7), 3337-3343. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad222
• Seeking Love and Justice Amid Hong Kong’s Contentious Politics
  
  Kong, S. T., Jackson, S., & Ho, P. S. Y. (2023). Seeking Love and Justice Amid Hong Kong’s Contentious Politics. Feminist Encounters: A Journal of Critical Studies in Culture and Politics, 7(2), Article 19. https://doi.org/10.20897/femenc/13547
• Collaborative practice research in social work: piloting a model for research and professional learning during COVID-19
  
  Kong, S., Stepanova, E., & Thanki, V. (2023). Collaborative practice research in social work: piloting a model for research and professional learning during COVID-19. European Social Work Research, 1(1), 84-101. https://doi.org/10.1332/xpuv7930
• Social Workers’ Sensual Bodies during COVID-19: The Suspended, Displaced and Reconstituted Body in Social Work Practice
  
  Kong, S., Noone, C., & Shears, J. (2022). Social Workers’ Sensual Bodies during COVID-19: The Suspended, Displaced and Reconstituted Body in Social Work Practice. The British Journal of Social Work, 52(5), 2834-2853. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab207
• Doing being observed: Experimenting with collaborative focus group analysis in post-Umbrella Movement Hong Kong
  
  Kong, S., Ho, P. S., & Jackson, S. (2021). Doing being observed: Experimenting with collaborative focus group analysis in post-Umbrella Movement Hong Kong. Sociological Research Online, 26(3), 485-504. https://doi.org/10.1177/1360780420961400
• Beyond ‘Safeguarding’ and ‘Empowerment’ in Hong Kong: Towards a Relational Model for Supporting Women who Have Left their Abusive Partners
  
  Kong, S. (2021). Beyond ‘Safeguarding’ and ‘Empowerment’ in Hong Kong: Towards a Relational Model for Supporting Women who Have Left their Abusive Partners. Journal of Family Violence, 36(6), 683-694. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-020-00185-x
• Extending Voice and Autonomy through Participatory Action Research: Ethical and Practical Issues
  
  Kong, S. T., Banks, S., Brandon, T., Chappell, S., Charnley, H., Hwang, S. K., Rudd, D., Shaw, S., Slatcher, S., & Ward, N. (2020). Extending Voice and Autonomy through Participatory Action Research: Ethical and Practical Issues. Ethics and Social Welfare, 14(2), 220-229. https://doi.org/10.1080/17496535.2020.1758413
• Brushed under the carpet: Examining the complexities of participatory research
  
  Lenette, C., Stavropoulou, N., Nunn, C., Kong, S. T., Cook, T., Coddington, K., & Banks, S. (2019). Brushed under the carpet: Examining the complexities of participatory research. Research for All, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.18546/rfa.03.2.04
• Speaking against Silence: Finding a Voice in Hong Kong Chinese Families through the Umbrella Movement
  
  Ho, P., Jackson, S., & Kong, S. (2018). Speaking against Silence: Finding a Voice in Hong Kong Chinese Families through the Umbrella Movement. Sociology, 52(5), 966-982. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038517726644
• Democratising qualitative research methods: Reflections on Hong Kong, Taiwan and China
  
  Ho, P., Kong, S., & Huang, Y. (2018). Democratising qualitative research methods: Reflections on Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. Qualitative Social Work, 17(3), 469-481. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325018764133
• Building a Community of Practice for Transforming ‘Mothering’ of Abused Women into a ‘Mutual Care Project’: A New Focus on Partnership and Mutuality
  
  Kong, S., & Hooper, C. (2018). Building a Community of Practice for Transforming ‘Mothering’ of Abused Women into a ‘Mutual Care Project’: A New Focus on Partnership and Mutuality. British Journal of Social Work, 48(3), 633-655. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcx055
• Organizational capacities for ‘residential care homes for the elderly’ to provide culturally appropriate end-of- life care for Chinese elders and their families
  
  Kong, S., Fanga, M., & Lou, W. (2016). Organizational capacities for ‘residential care homes for the elderly’ to provide culturally appropriate end-of- life care for Chinese elders and their families. Journal of Aging Studies, 40, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2016.12.001
• Solving the ‘Personhood Jigsaw Puzzles’ in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly in the Hong Kong Chinese Context
  
  Kong, S., Fang, C., & Lou, V. (2016). Solving the ‘Personhood Jigsaw Puzzles’ in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly in the Hong Kong Chinese Context. Qualitative Health Research, 27(3), 421-433. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732316658266
• Social work practice research innovation, implementation and implications: A case of ‘Cooperative Grounded Inquiry’ with formerly abused women in Hong Kong
  
  Kong, S. (2016). Social work practice research innovation, implementation and implications: A case of ‘Cooperative Grounded Inquiry’ with formerly abused women in Hong Kong. Qualitative Social Work, 15(4), 533-551. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325015595856

Report

• Social Work During Covid-19: Learning for the Future Challenges, Best Practice and Professional Transformation
  
  Kong, S., Noone, C., Quintana, A., Pharoah, C., Wills, D., Shears, J., Sildatke, K., Roberts, W., Thanki, V., Stepanova, E., Charnley, H., Smith, R., Banks, S., & Hawkes, S. (2021). Social Work During Covid-19: Learning for the Future Challenges, Best Practice and Professional Transformation. British Association of Social Workers.
• Best Practice for Working with the Dying and the Family in End-of-Life Care in Residential Care Homes
  
  Fang, C., Lou, V., & Kong, S. (2017). Best Practice for Working with the Dying and the Family in End-of-Life Care in Residential Care Homes.
• Four Medical-Social Shared Care Models Providing End-of-Life Care in Residential Care Homes
  
  Fang, C., Lou, V., & Kong, S. (2016). Four Medical-Social Shared Care Models Providing End-of-Life Care in Residential Care Homes.
• 親密伴侶暴力受害人「孤立狀況」研究 (A Study on the Social Isolation of Victims of Intimate Partner Violence)
  
  Kong, S. (2013). 親密伴侶暴力受害人「孤立狀況」研究 (A Study on the Social Isolation of Victims of Intimate Partner Violence).
• A review of the impact of the implementation of the Domestic Violence Ordinance (Cap. 189, revised 2008) on the well-being of domestic violence victims
  
  Ho, K., & Kong, S. (2011). A review of the impact of the implementation of the Domestic Violence Ordinance (Cap. 189, revised 2008) on the well-being of domestic violence victims.

Working Paper

• Concerns and Experiences of Hong Kong Social Workers in England and Wales: Registration and Job Seeking
  
  Kong, S., & Chow, H. (2023). Concerns and Experiences of Hong Kong Social Workers in England and Wales: Registration and Job Seeking (No. 1). internal.
• Post-Separation Support as the Key to Abused Women and their Children’s Recovery
  
  Kong, S. (2017). Post-Separation Support as the Key to Abused Women and their Children’s Recovery.
• Empowering Residential Homes for the Elderly (RCHEs) as a Key Strategy for Delivering Quality End-of-Life Care in Hong Kong (Policy No. 2).
  
  Fang, M., Lou, W., & Kong, S. (2016). Empowering Residential Homes for the Elderly (RCHEs) as a Key Strategy for Delivering Quality End-of-Life Care in Hong Kong (Policy No. 2).
• Overview of the Legal and Administrative Barriers to Caring and Dying in Place in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly (RCHEs) (Policy No. 4)
  
  Fang, M., Lou, W., & Kong, S. (2016). Overview of the Legal and Administrative Barriers to Caring and Dying in Place in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly (RCHEs) (Policy No. 4).
• The Provision of End-of-Life Care in Residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) as a Feasible Option to Living and Dying Well for an Ageing Population (Policy No. 1)
  
  Fang, M., Lou, W., & Kong, S. (2016). The Provision of End-of-Life Care in Residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) as a Feasible Option to Living and Dying Well for an Ageing Population (Policy No. 1).
• Aligning Medical and Social Care to Deliver Quality, Effective and Compassionate End of Life Care for the Dying in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly (Policy No. 3).
  
  Fang, M., Lou, W., & Kong, S. (2016). Aligning Medical and Social Care to Deliver Quality, Effective and Compassionate End of Life Care for the Dying in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly (Policy No. 3).