Helen Machin

I am a Lecturer in Social Work at Keele University, serving as Disability Inclusion Tutor and Lead for the Professional Doctorate in Social Work within the School of Medicine.

With an academic foundation in English Literature (Durham University), a postgraduate degree in Social Work (Liverpool John Moores University), and a Certificate in Chinese Languages and Culture (Xi’an Jiaotong University), I completed my PhD in Social Work at Keele University, exploring the lived experiences of undocumented Chinese migrants in England. My teaching spans ethics, professional values, social justice, and social work research, with a particular focus on working with children, families, and marginalised groups.

My research interests lie at the intersection of migration, legality, and social inclusion. My doctoral thesis, “Hot and bitter tears” (辛酸泪): An inquiry into Chinese migrants’ experiences of undocumented status, examined emotional dimensions and everyday life under undocumented conditions. I’ve published work on how social workers narrate relationships with undocumented migrants and continue to develop analyses of rural–urban migration and practice responses in mainland China.

My work aligns strongly with CHaI’s themes through its focus on cultural identity, health and illness imaginaries shaped by migration and legal status, and the social work profession’s role in understanding marginality. I’m especially passionate about narrative methods for uncovering meaning and ethics in everyday survival and belonging.

Through CHaI, I’m eager to collaborate across disciplines in developing culturally attuned research methods, share insights into migrant health and belonging, and explore arts-based narrative dissemination.

Email: h.e.machin1@keele.ac.uk

Affiliation: Keele University, United Kingdom