Rachel is Head of Regional Advice at Foundations, the national advisory body for Disabled Facilities Grant and Home Improvement Agencies. With 30 years' experience as an occupational therapist, she has a particular interest in how the built aspects of the home environment can impact older and disabled people's health and well-being.
As a practitioner, Rachel spent most of her time in adult social care, including serving as Principal Occupational Therapist at Calderdale Adult Health and Social Care. In her current role, her team of regional advisors provide advice and support to local authorities, practitioners, home improvement agencies and the wider housing sector on the DFG and improving service delivery for adaptations.
Her passion for understanding the built environment's impact on wellbeing led to her involvement as co-investigator on Bathout 2, the first randomised trial in this field. Rachel actively builds professional networks, hosting the OT Network and Behaviours of Concern Community of Practice, and currently serves as project steer for the Royal College of OT Housing Without Delay project.
Her MSc in Accessibility and Inclusive Design and PhD investigating the adaptations process underpin her practical work, and she represents the sector's research needs on the School of Social Care Research steering group.