Ms Helen Carr

I work closely with our NHS Trusts in their delivery of practice education, developing placement capacity whilst maintaining a focus on improving the quality of practice learning experiences. I am also Project Lead the HEE-funded Schwartz Rounds project in our Faculty, and as a small team, we are evaluating the implementation of this model, identifying how it supports our students as they transition into practice. Within this role, I am a trained Facilitator for Schwartz Rounds.

I co-founded our Bridging the Gap to Leadership project (2021), a collaboration between CCCU and the University of Brighton. In line with both CCCU’s Closing our Gap strategy and wider NHS concerns, this project continues to address racial inequalities in practice learning through students creating resources for practice educators, on topics such as microaggressions and allyship. We have supported over 45 students across both universities. In addition to supporting students to present their work to practice educators, we have highlighted the project’s impact nationally at conferences and networking events, leading to winning the national University Alliance Award (June 22) for the project’s creativity and impact. We also won CCCU’s Teaching Excellence Team Award (June 22) and were shortlisted for the HE Innovate Award (Nov 22). I am continually inspired by the transformative opportunities that this project generates, which drives my continuing focus on developing leadership opportunities for students, working with students as partners in learning.

I have a background in Social Care, from working in children’s homes and within the refugee sector, and I teach across the Faculty on Migration and Health. My academic career began with teaching in the field of Forced Migration at the University of Kent, before moving to the Social Work team at CCCU in 2006. Social justice and allyship are continual threads throughout my work.

Career Highlights

• Lecturer in Social Care to Principal Lecturer in Practice Learning, 2006 - present
• Lecturer in Social Care, University of Kent, 2003-2006
• PGCHE and HEA Senior Fellowship

I have taught across the Social Work curriculum and most recently was module lead for Migration & Mental Health at MSc level. I run training workshops for practice educators and academic staff for supporting students in practice placements, including managing complaints and concerns, developing speaking up and safer spaces. I have extensive experience of designing, delivering and leading learning activities from Foundation to Masters’ levels of study. With a background in Social Care, I enjoy the wealth of opportunities for interprofessional education at CCCU.
In June 2023, I co-ran a conference at CCCU with the University of Brighton: ‘Bridging the Gap to Leadership: Tackling Racial Inequalities in Practice Education’.

Academic Presentations

• Advance HE Learning & Teaching Conference (July 2023) workshop: ‘Shaping the future of inclusive education: collaboration, co-production and leadership, our tools for achieving equity in practice placements’
• HEE Advancing Anti-Racism in Undergraduate AHP Training Educational Symposium (June 2022): ‘Bridging the Gap to Leadership – A collaborative interprofessional placement to enhance BAME students’ practice placement experiences’
• Building Bridges Conference, Crete (July 2017): ‘An Evaluation of The Sleep Project for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children in Kent’, Keynote Speaker
• The National Association of Educators in Practice (NAEP) Conference (April 2017): ‘The Development of Interprofessional Practice Support’
• BASW Conference (July 2016): ‘Applying Theories of Loss, Grief and Bereavement to Forced Migrants: Confounding Grief’
• SWAN Conference (Apr 2015): ‘Migration and Voluntary Return’
• RCN Conference (Mar 2015): ‘Partners in Practice: Educating for Health and Social Care Integration’

I am currently Project Lead of a 2 year realist evaluation project to develop a sustainable model of support for our Health and Social Care students and new registrants as they transition into practice, funded by NHSE.

I have been a co-investigator of two research surveys: ‘Understanding the experiences of Black, Asian, Mixed Heritage and Other Minoritised Ethnic students within health and social care practice learning environments’; and ‘Understanding the experiences of practice educators in supporting ethnically diverse students within the practice learning environment’ (both HEE-funded).
I received an Early Researcher Grant (2016) and co-published ‘Evaluation of the Sleep Project for Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking Children in Kent’, in collaboration with Sussex NHS Partnership Trust.

My MSc dissertation was a systemic review on the experiences of asylum seekers and refugees returning to their country of origin: Carr, H. (2014) Returning ‘Home’: Experiences of Reintegration for Asylum Seekers and Refugees, British Journal of Social Work, ‘World on the Move’ Special Edition – Vol. 44, i140-i156.

Successful Funding Bids:

• Bridging the Gap to Leadership: Enhancing the Experiences of Black, Asian, Mixed Heritage and Other Minoritised Ethnic Students, Funder: Health Education England, 2022 (£21,000)
• Bridging the Gap to Leadership: Enhancing the Experiences of Black, Asian, Mixed Heritage and Other Minoritised Ethnic Students, Funder: Health Education England, 2021 (£11,000)

I am the Chair of Trustees of a charity, Abbey Physic Community Garden, which has the aims of reducing loneliness, supporting people to maintain/improve their mental health and to build social connections. This role includes keeping an oversight of the charity’s governance, seeking financial grants and stabilising the income for the garden, and proudly, on behalf of all our members, the garden has been nominated and assessed for a King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2024, results yet to be announced.