Hannah is a Social Sciences researcher based in CASCADE, Cardiff University’s Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre. Since October 2019 she has been working on an HCRW-funded post-doctoral fellowship, exploring care experienced young people's opportunities to access and succeed in higher education in Wales.
Following a PhD in Urban Studies Hannah worked for Cardiff University's Widening Participation team, heading up a number of projects including mentoring programmes for young people with autism spectrum conditions, and care-experienced young people. This latter experience led to her move into research.
Between 2018 and 2019 she worked on a qualitative research project commissioned by Social Care Wales to explore the experiences of young people from Wales who have spent time in a Secure Children's Home, working with some of the country’s most vulnerable young people. She has also worked closely with the What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care.
Her interests include the education of care-experienced young people, child and adolescent mental health, children's residential care (including secure care), and policy change in these areas.