About

I am a Lecturer in Health and Social Care and have been teaching since 2017. I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Teaching responsibilities

I teach the BA (Hons) Health and Social Care to undergraduates.

I am module leader for four modules Working with People (Stage One); Critical Issues in Adult Care (Stage Two); Researching Health and Social Care (Stage Two); Counselling Perspectives (Stage Three).  

I am a personal academic tutor across all three stages and the Foundation year including an Independent Studies tutor for stage three and Placement Supervisor for Stage Two and Three.

Research interests

My research interests focus on the sex work industry and child sexual exploitation, specifically female street-based sex work and child sexual exploitation. I am interested in how the sexually exploited child is 'hidden' within the adult body and how the legal and moral structures view the sexually exploited child as a consenting adult.

Membership of professional bodies

• British Academy Early Career Research Network - Midlands Hub
• The Sex Work Research Hub 

Qualifications

Undergraduate Qualifications

BA (Hons) Applied Youth and Community Work, University of Derby 

Research Qualifications

PhD Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology, Loughborough University

Experience in industry

I have held a number of positions in the VCI sector and Local Authority as a Youth Worker and Senior Practitioner in the Early Help Team supporting female street-based sex workers and young people who experienced child sexual exploitation.

Additional interests and activities

I am interested in forging collaborative relationships with partners to move forward with evidence-based policy and practice to support both groups.

Recent publications

Searcey, R. (2022). Capturing Accidental Moments: The Self-Reflective Researcher and the Utility of the Research Diary. In: Sanders, T., McGarry, K., Ryan, P. (eds) Sex Work, Labour and Relations. Palgrave Advances in Sex Work Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

Searcey, Rachel (2022): Youth transitions pathways from child to adult sexual exploitation: the voices of female street sex workers and agencies. Loughborough University. Thesis