Rachel has worked at The University of Winchester since 2004. Rachel is a Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care and has been Programme Leader for the BSc (Hons) Health, Community and Social Care Studies; the BSc (Hons) Health, Community and Social Care (Disability) Studies and Course Director for all City and Guilds courses. Rachel is a Top Cited Author for Wiley Journals and supports academics in other institutions to meet quality targets for their degree programmes. She has previously managed residential homes and mentored managers working with people who had both physical impairments and intellectual disabilities. Rachel is committed to raising quality in both social care and education provision, with a view to raising the value of everyone within social care systems and creating easier pathways into Higher Education for those least likely to access it. She has created many bespoke programmes with these aims. Rachel’s PhD in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities with the University of Kent researched the impacts of austerity on the care and social networks of people with intellectual disabilities, parents and service providers and the ways in which positive social change can be achieved. 

Rachel’s PhD in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities with the University of Kent researched the impacts of austerity on the care and social networks of people with intellectual disabilities, parents and service providers and the ways in which positive social change can be achieved. Rachel provides impact evaluations for organisations who want to evidence their positive outcomes in order to bid for funding. Rachel recently researched the impacts of austerity on people with intellectual disabilities, parents and service providers. She also recently won research funding to research the value of outdoor education for children with SEND who are part of the care system and have been excluded from school; to research the activity needs of people with intellectual disabilities; to research the ways in which people with intellectual disabilities measure and value their wellbeing; and to research the ways in which charities can work more effectively with parents of people with intellectual disabilities. Rachel has previously published research on the ways in which the NHS and universities can work together more effectively for better outcomes.  

Health, Community and Social Care; Social Justice; Disability

Health, Community, Social Care, Social Justice, Disability

@RachSocialCare; @uow_hcsc; @IPS_UOW

01962 827035

Harrison, R. A. and Earthy, S. (2024) Engage, Listen, Act: How to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities in the New Forest and surrounding area. A report commissioned by Mencap New Forest.

Harrison, R.  A. (2023) Measures of Wellbeing, a report commissioned by Blue Apple Theatre (performing arts for learning disabled performers).

Harrison, R. A  and Johnston, C. (2023) Youth Options, a report into current and future practice of Alternative Educational Provision.

Harrison, R. A., Bradshaw, J., Forrester‐Jones, R., McCarthy, M., & Smith, S. (2021). Social networks and people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34(4), 973-992. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12878

Forrester-Jones, R., Beecham, J., Randall, A., Harrison, R., Malli, M., Sams, L., & Murphy, G. (2021). The impact of austerity measures on people with intellectual disabilities in England. Journal of Long Term Care, 241-255. DOI: http://doi.org/10.31389/jltc.59

Harrison, R. (2021) Using mixed methods in social care research. In L. Tilly (Ed.). Health and Social Care Research Methods in Context: Applying Research to Practice. (pp. 7-22). Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003157724-1

NIHR SSCR (2020) Becoming Less Eligible? Intellectual Disability Services in the Age of Austerity, Research Findings 100, NIHR School for Social Care Research, London. https://www.sscr.nihr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/SSCR-research-findings_RF100.pdf

Harrison, R. (2019), "Commentary on “Afraid to leave the house: issues leading to social exclusion and loneliness for people with a learning disability”", Tizard Learning Disability Review, Vol. 24 No. 4, pp. 176-179. https://doi.org/10.1108/TLDR-08-2019-0026

IASSIDD. (2017-18) (Assistant Editor). Abstracts and Conference Proceedings: International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Conference, Bangkok (2017) and Athens (2018). www.iassidd.org Published in the Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com

(2011) Professional Development Portfolio, The Common Induction Standards Workbooks, Hampshire County Council

Meads, G., Jones, I., Harrison, R., Forman, D. and Turner, W. (2009) How to sustain interprofessional learning and practice: messages for higher education and health and social care management. Journal of Education and Work, 22(1), pp.67-79

IASSIDD. (2018) (Assistant Editor). Abstracts: 2018 International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Conference, July 16 -20, 2018, Athens, Greece. www.iassidd.org Published in the Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com

IASSIDD. (2018) (Assistant Editor). Conference Proceedings: 2018 International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Conference, July 16 -20, 2018, Athens, Greece. www.iassidd.org Published in the Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com

IASSIDD. (2017) (Assistant Editor). Abstracts: 2017 IASSIDD 4th Asia-Pacific Regional Congress, November 13 - November 16, 2017, Bangkok, Thailand. www.iassidd.org

IASSIDD. (2017) (Assistant Editor). Conference Proceedings: 2017 IASSIDD 4th Asia-Pacific Regional Congress, November 13 - November 16, 2017, Bangkok, Thailand. www.iassidd.org

(2011) Professional Development Portfolio, The Common Induction Standards Workbooks, Hampshire County Council

Meads, G., Jones, I., Harrison, R., Forman, D. and Turner, W. (2009) How to sustain interprofessional learning and practice: messages for higher education and health and social care management. Journal of Education and Work, 22(1), pp.67-79

2019, May: Co-Presented: The impact of austerity on people with Intellectual and developmental (IDD). Rachel Forrester-Jones and Rachel Harrison, The Tizard Centre Conference, Euston, London.

2019, March: Facilitated: Dissertation Panel Discussion, Department of Interprofessional Studies Student Conference, University of Winchester

2018, November: Attended: External Examiner Conference, Newman University, Birmingham

2018, October: Keynote Speaker: Employability and people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Minstead Trust AGM, Minstead.

2018, July: Co-Presented: Becoming less eligible? Intellectual and developmental (IDD) services in the age of austerity in the UK. Rachel Forrester-Jones, Lara Sams, Melina Malli, Rachel Harrison, Glynis Murphy and David Raper, International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Athens, Greece. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jar.12486

2018, July: Presented: The impact of austerity on the social networks of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Rachel Harrison, Rachel Forrester-Jones and Michelle McCarthy, International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Athens, Greece. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jar.12479

2018, July: Poster Presentation: Social Networks and the lives of people with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review and synthesis, Rachel Harrison, Rachel Forrester- Jones and Michelle McCarthy, International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Athens, Greece. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jar.12476

 2018, January: Presented: ‘Empowering Students through Innovative Learning and Teaching’, Learning and Teaching Event, University of Winchester

2017, July: Attended: Open University Social History of Learning Disability, Milton Keynes

2017, May: Facilitated: Dissertation Panel Discussion, Department of Interprofessional Studies Student Conference, University of Winchester

2016, September: ‘Values in an age of Performance’, David Raper and Rachel Harrison, Values in Education International Conference, University of Winchester

2016, June: Presented: “You see Maple, we see Oak: comparing Canadian and UK education and perspectives in early childhood settings” Rachel Harrison and Martine Wilkinson, University of Winchester

2013: Presented: ‘Safeguarding Disabled Children in Inclusive Activities’, Workshop, Inspiring Inclusion, Hampshire County Council, Hampshire

2013: Facilitated: ‘Disabled young people: Hearing our Voices’ workshop, Inspiring Inclusion, Hampshire County Council Conference, Hampshire

2010: Presented: ‘Learning Disability’, Workshop, Inspiring Inclusion, Hampshire County Council Conference, Hampshire

2010: Presented: ‘Autism’ Workshop, Inspiring Inclusion, Hampshire County Council Conference, Hampshire

2017-present: New Forest Local Implementation Group (Mencap and Minstead Trust).

2013: Hampshire Parent Carer Network, Consultant

2012-2014: Parent Voice, Consultant

2004-2015 Hampshire County Council, Consultant and bespoke training provider

Rachel's PhD was funded by a University of Kent Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship. 

2009: Fellow, Higher Education Academy

Member, Autism Research Network, University of Portsmouth

Member, Open University Student Association.