Rachael A Rooke

I am a Senior Lecturer in the department of Social Care and Social Work since 2019.  I am a registered social worker and have been in practice since 2004.  I qualified as an AMHP (Approved Mental Health Professional) in 2012.  My academic interests are aligned in two main areas; mental health and social work practice learning.  I am also a Stage 2 qualified Practice Educator and therefore have experience of supporting and assessing social work students through their final placements in statutory social work settings.  I am an External Examiner on a MA social work programme for a university based in the north of England.

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.  I bring knowledge of contemporary social work to my teaching as I continue to practice in my AMHP role on behalf of a Local Authority.   

My interests relate to developing student learning, and a sense of belonging in Higher Education.

I established the departments ‘research to practice’ twilight sessions in 2022.  These are an opportunity for researchers in the department to showcase and share their research to students, practicing social workers, and other interested stakeholders. 

Attending the sessions provides opportunities for practicing health and social care professionals to record CPD to main their professional regulation.  Additionally, as academics we often encourage students to apply theory or research findings to practice, and so providing the opportunity to meet the researcher and hear their explanation of their research was a way to break down some of the barriers students may encounter when attempting to interpret research. 

Students can interact with practicing professionals and hear how they apply research in their practice.  They are also a fantastic opportunity for our alumni to keep in touch.

I also established, and co-facilitate the department’s black, Asian and ethnically diverse student network. We meet monthly, online, and this has been beneficial and rewarding to academics and students alike to uphold our mission to develop our students into highly employable, socially, and environmentally responsible professionals.