Heather Owen

Biography

RN, RM, BSc (Hons) ENB 998

I qualified as a Registered Nurse (Adult) in 1988 and worked as a Staff Nurse on an acute medical ward for 12 months. In 1989 I started my Midwifery training and qualified in March 1991.

I spent over 10 years working as a Midwife, initially for 4 years within the Maternity Unit and then for 7 years as a Community Midwife within Stoke on Trent. It was whilst working as a Community Midwife that I developed an interest in Teenage Pregnancy and Sexual Health. This led me to support the development of a specialist support service for Teenage Parents, particularly those at risk of Child Sexual Exploitation.

Between 2001 and 2013 I supported a designated caseload of vulnerable young parents and worked predominantly within the arena of Safeguarding Children. Alongside this, I attained qualifications within Sexual Health and provided a bespoke outreach contraception service for vulnerable women.

From 2013 -2018 I worked as a clinician and manager within the Sexual Health Service and Sexual Assault Referral Centre, supporting both adults and children who had been the victims of sexual assault.

I joined the teaching staff at Keele University in December 2018.

My teaching and research interests include all areas of Women’s Health but in particular Sexual Health, Domestic Abuse, Sexual Exploitation, Grooming and Trafficking.