Dr Jessica Runacres

Senior Lecturer

Health, Education, Policing and Sciences

I am a Senior Lecturer in Research Practice within the school of Health, Science, and Wellbeing. I teach research methods and analysis across multiple courses within the school. I am the PGR (Postgraduate Research) Lead for the School of Health, Science, and Wellbeing, and the PhD Course Lead for Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Welfare, and Biology PhD students. I lead the step-up to PGR course, and I am also a member of the School’s Research Ethics Committee. I am a mixed-methods researcher, and my research interests include unpaid or informal carers (including student carers dementia carers, and more), suicide postvention, social prescribing, health inequalities, and epistemic injustice. Further academic interests include inclusive approaches to research, such as patient and public involvement, user-led research, and working with students as researchers.

Professional memberships and activities

  • Fellow of Higher Education Academy

Academic qualifications

  • PhD, ‘Social Prescribing in Practice: A Critical Examination of Service Data and Stakeholder Perspectives’, Birmingham City University.
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE), Birmingham City University.
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Research Practice (PGCert), Birmingham City University.
  • BSc Psychology, Lancaster University

Expertise

  • Research methods
  • Scoping and systematic reviews
  • Qualitative and quantitative data analysis
  • Research ethics

Research interests

  • Informal / unpaid carers, student carers, dementia carers, or the family, and friends of people with mental or physical health conditions
  • Interventions to improve and / or maintain physical health, mental health, or wellbeing
  • Health inequalities and epistemic injustice
  • Suicide postvention
  • Inclusive approaches to research: patient and public involvement (PPI), user-led research, and working with students as researchers. 

Grants

Echo Healthcare £5,295 - Exploring the use of immersive simulation to teach research to student paramedics: A mixed-methods approach. Runacres, J., and Wheatley, S (2023). British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants £5,402 – How can universities better support student carers? An exploration of student carer priorities and support needs. Runacres, J, Herron, D, & Cust, F. (2022) Policy Impact Acceleration funding £1,877.50 – Using the nominal group technique to identify the support and research priorities of older carers of people living with dementia. Herron, D., & Runacres, J. (2022) 

Teaching

I am the PGR (Postgraduate Research) Lead for the School of Health, Science, and Wellbeing, and the PhD Course Lead for Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Welfare, and Biology PhD students. I also lead for the Step-up to PhD course.

Please get in touch with me if you are interested in learning more about doctoral opportunities within the school. I lead multiple modules across both the undergraduate and postgraduate provision. These largely focus on medical education, research methods, and analysis. I supervise both masters and PhD research projects.

Publications

Publications:

Runacres, J., & Herron, D. (2023). Designing Inclusive Qualitative Research with Carers of People Living with Dementia: Methodological Insights. Healthcare, 1 1(15), 2125; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11152125

Adshead, C., Runacres, J., & Kevern, P. (2023). Exploring the Subjective Experiences of Peer-Led Social Support Groups for Individuals Bereaved by Suicide. Illness, Crisis & Loss, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10541373231194174

Herron, D., & Runacres, J. (2023). The Support Priorities of Older Carers of People Living with Dementia: A Nominal Group Technique Study. Healthcare, 11(14), 1998. Doi:10.3390/healthcare11141998

Runacres, J., & Cust, F. (2023, April 28). Are we placing too much focus upon higher degrees for university lecturers?. Times Higher Education. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/are-we-placing-too-much-focus-upon-higher-degrees-university-lecturers

Gamgee, J., Runacres, J., Norman, A., & Pradhan, P. (2023). The Secondary Impact of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Experiences of Family Members. The Family Journal, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10664807231164421

Hunt, J., Herron, D., & Runacres, J. (2023). Understanding healthcare stigma and marginalisation through a lens of epistemic injustice: The lived experiences of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Social Science and Medicine. (Under review)

Tolhurst, E., Weicht, B., & Runacres, J. (2023). Sustaining relational subjectivity: the experience of women with dementia. Sociology of Health & Illness, 45(3), 503-521. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.13594

Runacres, J., & Cust, F. (2023, January 23). Who cares about our student carers?. The Nursing Times. https://www.nursingtimes.net/opinion/who-cares-about-our-student-carers-23-01-2023/

Herron, D. L., Runacres, J., Danton, I., Beardmore, J. (2023). Carers’ experiences of caring for a friend or family member with dementia during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dementia. 0(0). doi:10.1177/14713012221150298

Cust, F., & Runacres, J. (2022, December 14). Peer mentoring to assist staff retention and wellbeing. AdvanceHE. Peer mentoring to assist staff retention and wellbeing | Advance HE (advance-he.ac.uk)

Cust, F., & Runacres, J. (2022, December 7). Peer mentoring to support staff well-being: lessons from a pilot. Times Higher Education. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/peer-mentoring-support-staff-wellbeing-lessons-pilot

Runacres, J., Crisp, C., Halck, A., Harvey, H., O’Brien, S., & Saunders, R. Paramedics as researchers: a systematic review of paramedic’s perspectives of research as researchers from training to practice. PROSPERO: International prospective register of systematic reviews. 2022. CRD42022310711. Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022310711.

Fynn, W., & Runacres, J. (2022). Dogs at school: A cross-sectional analysis of parental perceptions of canine-assisted therapy in schools mediated by child anxiety and therapy type. International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy, 16 (4). Doi: 10.1186/s40723-022-00097-x

Adshead, C., & Runacres, J. (2022). Sharing is Caring: A Realist Evaluation of a Social Support Group for Individuals Who Have Been Bereaved by Suicide. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228211070152

Runacres, J., & Herron. (2022, April 19). Students with caring responsibilities face significant challenges – but universities are hindering rather than helping them. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/students-with-caring-responsibilities-face-significant-challenges-but-universities-are-hindering-rather-than-helping-them-180373

Runacres, J., Herron, D., Beardmore, J., Runacres, J. B., & Sheffield, D. What role does perceived injustice play in the healthcare experiences of people with chronic physical health conditions in the UK?. PROSPERO: International prospective register of systematic reviews. 2021. CRD42021262834. Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=262834.

Runacres, J., Wardach, I., & Sheffield, D. (2021). A mindful playground: Exploring the perceived benefits of climbing for psychological wellbeing. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. (Under review)

Fynn, W., & Runacres, J. (2021). Dogs at school: A cross-sectional analysis of parental perceptions of canine-assisted therapy in schools mediated by child anxiety and therapy type. International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy. (Under review)

Hunt, J., Herron, D., & Runacres, J. (2021). Understanding healthcare stigma and marginalisation through a lens of epistemic injustice: The lived experiences of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Social Science and Medicine. (Under review)

Runacres, J., Herron, D., Beardmore, J., & Sheffield, D. What role does perceived injustice play in the healthcare experiences of people with chronic physical health conditions in the UK?. PROSPERO: International prospective register of systematic reviews. 2021. CRD42021262834. Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=262834.

Runacres, J., Herron, D., Buckless, K., & Worrall, K. (2021). Student carer experiences of higher education and support: A scoping review. International Journal of Inclusive education. Doi: 10.1080/13603116.2021.1983880

Herron, D., & Runacres, J. (2020). Carers' experiences of caring for a friend or family member with dementia during the Covid-19 pandemic. Health Psychology Update, Special Issue: Covid-19.

Morris, D., Shortland, S., Buffin, J., Runacres, J., Shorrock, S. (2020). Integrated Social Prescribing in Birmingham and Solihull. Report of a study for Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group, undertaken by the University of Central Lancashire and Birmingham City University, 2019/20.

Phillips, E., Jones, S., Runacres, J., Lintern, M., & Radford, M. (2017). Understanding the distribution of A&E attendances and hospital admissions for the case managed population: A single case cross sectional study. Applied Nursing Research, 33, 24-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2016.10.005

Wigelsworth, M., Humphrey, N., Black, L., Symes, W., Frearson, K., Ashworth, E., Peterson, K., McCaldin, Runacres, J., Demkowicz, O., Pert, K., Tronsco, P., & Anders, L. (2017). Social, psychological, emotional, concepts of self and resilience outcomes: Understanding and Measurment (SPECTRUM). A brief guide to the selection, use and interpretation of SPECTRUM measures.

 

Conference presentations:

Gamgee, J., Runacres, J., Norman, A., & Pradhan, P. (2023). The Secondary Impact of mTBI. Ahead Together presents: Families after Brain Injury – the Untold Stories. Oxford. 11.05.2023

Runacres, J., & O’Brien. (2022). Challenges and Opportunities for Teaching Research to Paramedic Students in Higher Education​. Winter Learning and Teaching Festival. Staffordshire. 08/12/2022

Herron, D., Runacres, J., & Tolhurst, E. (2022). Care at home behind closed doors: structural and relational issues for older carers. Symposium session title: Dementia Care Planning during Covid-19. British Society of Gerontology 51st Annual Conference. 07/07/2022

Runacres, J., & Herron, D. (2022) Carers’ experiences of caring for a friend or family member living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic. British Society of Gerontology 51st Annual Conference. 07/07/2022

Runacres, J. (2022). The problem with the definition of ‘social prescribing’: Exploring the language used, and key roles within the concept. 4th International Social Prescribing Network Conference: Online. 10/03/2022

Black, L., Herron, D., & Runacres, J. (2020). Students as Research Partners. Festival of Learning 2020: Derby. 14/07/2020

Runacres, J. The necessary factors for effectives social prescribing. Public Health Canada 2018: Montreal. 30/06 – 1/07/2018

Runacres, J. Understanding social prescribing & Social prescribing: Why is it not reaching it’s potential? C-SCHaRR Health conference 2018. 24/01/2018

Runacres, J. The perceived barriers to social prescribing in general practise. RCGP Annual Primary Care Conference. 11-13/10/2017

Runacres, J. Understanding social prescribing. RCGP 2017 Midland Faculty Symposium. 18/05/2017

Jones, S., Phillips, E., & Runacres, J. Using routinely collected data to inform service design and delivery: Trials, tribulations and successes. West Midlands Health Informatics Network (WIN) Conference. 24/01/2017

Runacres, J. A concept analysis to understand social prescribing. Annual health research conference: Connecting communities. 30/11/2016

Runacres. J. Understanding social prescribing. Turning practice-based evidence into evidence-based practice. West Midlands Health Informatics Network (WIN) Conference 20/01/2016

External profiles

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021