Kelly’s research focuses on adult social care. She has a particular interest in researching the role of voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in the social care sector, as well as international retirement migration.

Her research on social care in England has centred on care markets, social enterprises, micro enterprises and social innovation. Her most recent work explored the contribution of social enterprises to the social care sector (https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/research/projects/social-enterprise-social-care.aspx). 

Her research on international retirement migration focuses on the migration and return of vulnerable, older British people within the EU and more recently the impact of Brexit. She has undertaken a number of studies in collaboration with Age UK, Age Concern España and the British Consulates to explore the lived experiences of older British people in Spain, including access to and experiences of care. She co-leads the charitable association and website www.supportinspain.info in collaboration with the British Consulates, Spain.

She draws on participatory approaches in her social care research and is currently co-leading a project (with Birmingham Voluntary Services Council) designed to build research capacity in voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in Birmingham. The project is designed to build knowledge of participatory research in social care, facilitate stronger connections between social care researchers and VCSEs and deliver training and mentoring to researchers and VCSEs on participatory methodologies.  

Her research has been published in academic books and journals, including Ageing and Society and Public Management Review. She has also published a number of policy briefs and animations.

Kelly joined the Department in August 2013 as a Lecturer in Social Policy. She had previously worked as Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Northampton, before which she worked as a Research Fellow for the Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham.

Kelly is currently the Deputy Head of School (staffing) in the School of Social Policy and Society.