Rachel Hek
Senior Lecturer
Biography
Rachel Hek is the Programme Lead for the Social Work Degree Apprenticeship at University Centre Shrewsbury and is an HEA fellow. Rachel Is a qualified registered social worker and works at UOC for three days per week and remains in practice as a social worker for 2 days per week. Rachel qualified in 1988 and worked as a generic social worker and then as a children and families social worker for various London Local Authorities (Newham, Hackney, Haringey), when she worked in the areas of Child Protection & Safeguarding, with children who are looked after, in child and adolescent mental health and with families in need. Rachel has also worked in social work education for 20 years at in London and the West Midlands and is a qualified practice Educator. Rachel has lived experience of social work input and the care system.
Teaching and Supervision
Rachel currently teaches on and is module lead for a variety of taught modules for Social Work Apprentices, including placements. Rachel keeps her teaching up to date and relevant by undertaking CPD regularly and by still practicing as a social worker, including as a practice educator and assessor for practice educators.
Research and Knowledge Exchange
Rachel Hek has been involved in a variety of research including the National Evaluation of the Children's Fund (University of Birmingham), research with young refugees and asylum seekers, research re; parenting and risk, research with Turkish mothers re; their experiences of pregnancy and childbirth, evaluation of placement opportunities for social work students. Rachel is currently involved in a small research project at UOC about the impact of the apprenticeship as a route to social work training and with Arts Council research re; Social workers knowledge of acquired brain injury.