Jess Harris is a Research Fellow at the Health & Social Care Workforce Research Unit (HSCWRU) at King’s College London, and joined its predecessor, SCWRU, in 2006.

She is conducting an NIHR HSDR funded study examining approaches to mental capacity assessment where multiple exclusion homelessness is a factor. She led the prior NIHR SSCR funded study on Strengthening adult safeguarding responses to homelessness and self-neglect and two SSCR funded follow-on projects, on Evidencing the social work role within responses to multiple exclusion homelessness and on Addressing multiple exclusion homelessness in social work education. She is also co-investigator on the Housing Model Evaluation (HOME) study.

Jess runs the HSCWRU Homelessness Event Series, webinars on homelessness research and innovative practice which are open to all, and links Unit work with other research, policy and practice groupings on multiple exclusion homelessness. In 2022 she undertook a project engaging people with experience of homelessness in the production of a short film, funded by the UKRI Participatory Research Fund, about participating in research and in 2020 co-led national impact activities to promote research on Strengthening pathways out of hospital for people who are homeless.

She established and ran the Unit's annual conferences on older people’s social care and mental health & social care. Previously research included examination of the Nursing Associate Role, the Longitudinal Care Work Study (LoCS), the evaluations of 'Jobs First' and ‘Social Work Practices with Adults’, studies of what works in Social Work ‘Grow Your Own’ initiatives, of disclosure of disability within social work, teaching and nursing for the (then) Disability Rights Commission, of the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (PoVA) List, and a guide to local government strategic approaches for black and minority ethnic older citizens.

Jess has an MSc in Voluntary Sector Organisation from LSE and previously worked developing people’s engagement in policy and practice at Better Government for Older People, within a London local authority, a Health Authority Health Improvement Programme for Older People, and a small community organisation. She has 15 years' voluntary experience in community sector organisational governance.

PhD student:

• Carolin Hess

Jess Harris: Recent publications | ORCID iD | Research Profile at King's