Rachel Russell

About:  

Rachel has done many things during her 28-year career as an occupational therapist, but they have all focused on using the built aspects of the home environment to improve health and well-being. As a practitioner, she has spent most of her time in adult social care, including being the Principal Occupational Therapist at Calderdale Adult Health & Social Care before starting at Foundations.

As an academic and researcher, Rachel gained an MSc in Accessibility and Inclusive Design. She was then awarded a scholarship from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to study full-time for a PhD in the School of the Built Environment at the University of Salford. Her PhD research gained recognition in 2014 when she was awarded the Early Researcher Award from the United Kingdom Occupational Therapy Research Foundation.

Rachel was part of the team involved in the UK government-commissioned review of the Disabled Facilities Grant. Finally, Rachel is one of the authors of ‘Adaptations Without Delay’, published and launched by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists in June 2019. 

Fields of Expertise:  

• Occupational therapy in social care & housing 

• The role of the occupational Therapist in the DFG and adaptations process 
• Impact of adaptations on health and well-being