Rachael Spencer

Dr Rachael Spencer DHSci MSc BSc PGCHE SFHEA RM RN SCPHN L/PE

Deputy Head of Department, Nursing and Midwifery


Summary

As Deputy Head of Department I support the student experience for undergraduate and postgraduate pre- and post-registration nursing and midwifery programmes. Supporting the Head of Department I am part of the leadership team, leading a complex portfolio and implementing the Department and College strategic plans.

About

As Deputy Head of Department I support the student experience for undergraduate and postgraduate pre- and post-registration nursing and midwifery programmes. Supporting the Head of Department I am part of the leadership team, leading a complex portfolio and implementing the Department and College strategic plans.

Teaching

School of Health and Social Care

College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences

Courses taught
BSc (Hons) Midwifery
MSc Midwifery
Non medical prescribing

Modules taught

Evidence and Enquiry for Practice
The Advancing Professional
Creating Original Practice
Researching for Practice

Research

 My research expertise is public health and midwifery, specialising in research exploring experiences of infant feeding and perinatal mental health. My work synthesises research, education and practice and predominately utilises a qualitative approach to inquiry. I have a particular interest in the role of healthcare professionals in supporting women and families in early parenthood and undertake pedagogical research that evaluates the impact of education on practice. I work collaboratively, with colleagues from different disciplines and sectors. My doctorate study explored women’s experiences of infant feeding and I have continued to focus my research activities predominately on breastfeeding experiences in the early postnatal period.

Breastfeeding experiences of women with perinatal mental health problems
Developing local authority research activity using an embedded researcher model
Research Capacity Building in Nursing and Midwifery
Nursing and Allied Health Professional Digital Capability


Memon, Z., Reale, S., Ahmed, W., Spencer, R., Lashari, T., Bhutta, Z. and Soltani, H. (2022) ‘Effect of integrating Family Planning with Maternal, Newborn and Child Health services on uptake of voluntary modern contraceptive methods in rural Pakistan: Protocol for a Quasi-experimental study’. JMIR Research Protocols, 11(3):e35291. doi: 10.2196/35291.
Spencer, R.L., Stephenson, J. and Thomas, C. (2022) “One of those things the student is left to do”. Student midwives' clinical experience of infant feeding’. Nurse Education in Practice. Available on this website.
Fair, F., Watson, H., Marvin-Dowle, K., Spencer, R. and Soltani, H. (2022)    “Everything is revolved around me being heavy … it’s always, always spoken about.” Qualitative experiences of weight management during pregnancy in women with a BMI of 40kg/m² or above.’ PLOSOne. Available on this website.
Marvin-Dowle, K., Soltani, H. and Spencer, R. (2021) ‘Infant feeding in diverse families; the impact of ethnicity and migration on feeding practices’ Midwifery 103 (9) 103-124.
Spencer, R.L. and Fraser, D.M. (2018) “You’re kinda passing a test”. An interpretive phenomenological study of women’s experiences of breastfeeding.' British Journal of Midwifery, 26 (11) 724-730.
Akuamoah-Boateng, J. and Spencer, R. (2018) 'Woman-centred care: Women's experiences and perceptions of induction of labour for uncomplicated post-term pregnancy: A systematic review of qualitative evidence'. Midwifery, 67, 46-56.

Publications

Spencer, R., & Yuill, O. (2018). Support for pre-registration midwifery studentsand mentors in clinical practice: a small scaleevaluation of the duty teacher role. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest, 28 (1), 11-16.

Hinsliff-Smith, K., & Spencer, R. (2016). Researcher perspectives from a study of women’s experiences of breastfeeding. Nurse Researcher, 23 (3), 13-17. http://doi.org/10.7748/nr.23.3.13.s4

Spencer, R., Greatrex-White, S., & Fraser, D.M. (2015). ”I thought it would keep them all quiet”. Women’s experiences of breastfeeding as illusions of compliance. Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 71 (5), 1076-1086. http://doi.org/10.1111/jan.12592

Spencer, R., Greatrex-White, S., & Fraser, D.M. (2014). ”I was meant to be able to do this”: women’s experiences of breastfeeding. A phenomenological study. Evidence Based Midwifery, 12 (3), 83-88. https://www.rcm.org.uk/sites/default/files/Evidence%20Based%20Midwifery%20-%20September%202014.pdf

Hinsliff-Smith, K., Spencer, R., & Walsh, D. (2014). Realities, difficulties, and outcomes for mothers choosing to breastfeed: Primigravid mothers experiences in the early postpartum period (6–8 weeks). Midwifery, 30 (1), 14-19. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2013.10.001

Spencer, R., & Fraser, D. (n.d.). You feel like you’re being checked up on...you’re kinda passing a test’ : an interpretive phenomenological study of women’s experiences of breastfeeding. British Journal of Midwifery, 26 (10).

Journal articles

Billings, H., Horsman, J., Soltani, H., & Spencer, R. (2024). Breastfeeding experiences of women with perinatal mental health problems: a systematic review and thematic synthesis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 24 (1). http://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06735-1

Memon, Z.A., Tahmeena, , Fazal, S.A., Reale, S., Spencer, R., Bhutta, Z., & Soltani, H. (2024). Effective strategies for increasing the uptake of modern methods of family planning in South Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Women's Health, 24 (1). http://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02859-2

Cadman, V., Soltani, H., Spencer, R., Marvin-Dowle, K., & Harrop, D. (2023). Cesarean birth rates among migrants in Europe: A systematic review. Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care. http://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12718

Memon, Z.A., Mian, A., Reale, S., Spencer, R., Bhutta, Z., & Soltani, H. (2023). Community and Healthcare Provider Perspectives on Barriers and Enablers of Family Planning Use in Rural Sindh: A Qualitative Exploratory Study. JMIR Formative Research, 7. http://doi.org/10.2196/43494

Spencer, R., Stephenson, J., & Thomas, C. (2022). "One of those things the student is left to do". Student midwives' experience of infant feeding education. A phenomenological study. Nurse Education in Practice, 63. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103416

Fair, F.J., Watson, H., Marvin-Dowle, K., Spencer, R., & Soltani, H. (2022). “Everything is revolved around me being heavy … it’s always, always spoken about.” Qualitative experiences of weight management during pregnancy in women with a BMI of 40kg/m 2 or above. PLOS ONE, 17 (6). http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270470

Memon, Z.A., Reale, S., Ahmed, W., Spencer, R., Lashari, T.H., Bhutta, Z., & Soltani, H. (2022). Effects of integrating family planning with maternal, newborn, and child health services on uptake of voluntary modern contraceptive methods in rural Pakistan: protocol for a quasi-experimental study. JMIR Research Protocols, 11 (3), e35291. http://doi.org/10.2196/35291

Marvin-Dowle, K., Soltani, H., & Spencer, R. (2021). Infant feeding in diverse families; the impact of ethnicity and migration on feeding practices. Midwifery, 103124. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2021.103124

Spencer, R., Greatrex-White, S., & Fraser, D.M. (2014). 'I was meant to be able to do this': A phenomenological study of women's experiences of breastfeeding. Evidence Based Midwifery, 12 (3), 83-88.

Spencer, R.L., Greatrex-White, S., & Fraser, D.M. (2010). Practice improvement, breastfeeding duration and health visitors. Community practitioner : the journal of the Community Practitioners' & Health Visitors' Association, 83 (9), 19-22.

Higgins, G., Spencer, R.L., & Kane, R. (2010). A systematic review of the experiences and perceptions of the newly qualified nurse in the United Kingdom. Nurse education today, 30 (6), 499-508. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2009.10.017

Spencer, R.L. (2008). Research methodologies to investigate the experience of breastfeeding: a discussion paper. International journal of nursing studies, 45 (12), 1823-1830. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2008.04.008

Linsley, P., Kane, R., McKinnon, J., Spencer, R., & Simpson, T. (2008). Preparing for the future: nurse education and workforce development. Quality in primary care, 16 (3), 171-176.

Spencer, R. (2007). Ontological perspectives of breastfeeding. British Journal of Midwifery, 15 (12), 779-783. http://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2007.15.12.27796

Spencer, R.L. (2006). Nurses', midwives' and health visitors' perceptions of the impact of higher education on professional practice. Nurse education today, 26 (1), 45-53. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2005.06.006

Conference papers

Spencer, R., Thomas, C., & Stephenson, J. (2019). Infant feeding education, clinical experience and preparedness for practice: student midwives' experiences [abstract only]. In 30th International Networking for Healthcare Education Conference, Keele, UK, 3 September 2019 - 5 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919151338/https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2019-08/Strands%201A-1I.pdf

Spencer, R. (2017). The impact of a weighted marking criteria domain rubric in marking – a pilot study from the School of Health Sciences [abstract only]. In Christmas TeachFest, 2017. iated: http://doi.org/10.21125/edulearn.2018.1232

Spencer, R., Leekhuan, P., & Higginbottom, G. (2017). Understanding adolescent pregnancy from the perspectives of pregnant adolescents in a Northern Thailand province: A phenomenological study [abstract only]. In World Congress on Nursing & Nurse Education, Rome, Italy, 7 September 2017 - 9 September 2017.

Spencer, R. (2015). Breastfeeding and the obese mother. In British Journal of Midwifery: Obesity Conference, 15 July 2015 - 16 July 2015.

Spencer, R., Greatrex-White, S., & Fraser, D. (2013). Keeping up Appearances: Women’s experiences of infant feeding. In Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-Cultural Perspectives, Grange over Sands, Cumbria, 10 June 2013 - 12 June 2013.

Spencer, R., Greatrex-White, S., & Fraser, D. (2010). Health Visitors and the potential impact of practice improvement strategies to improve breastfeeding duration. In CPHVA Annual Conference, Harrogate, 20 October 2010 - 22 October 2010.

Spencer, R., Greatrex-White, S., & Fraser, D. (2009). An exploration of the breastfeeding experiences of women in one East Midlands city. In RCN International Nursing Research Conference, 24 March 2009 - 27 March 2009.

Spencer, R., & Greatrex-White, S. (2008). Methodologies for Researching Women’s Experiences of Breastfeeding. In 7th Annual Qualitative Research Conference, Bournemouth, 8 September 2008 - 10 September 2008.

Spencer, R., & Reilly, R. (2007). Designing and delivering a public health focused pre registration adult nursing degree programme: a nurse for the 21st century? In Nurse Education Today, Cambridge, 4 September 2007 - 6 September 2007.

Other activities

  • Quality Assurance Registrant Visitor for Mott MacDonald on behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Council
  • Member of LME/NMC strategic reference group
  • Member of LME national executive group
  • Currently external examiner for BSc (Hons) Midwifery Programme, Professional Midwifery Advocate (Level 7 short course) and
  • Newborn Physical Examination (Level 7 short course), University of Worcester
  • Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Member of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
  • Member of the National Association of Educators in Practice (NAEP)
  • Member of the Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology (SRIP)
  • Member of the Jessop Wing Academic Board

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