Rachel was brought up in rural Northumberland and became a student nurse when she left school.

After studying midwifery in Edinburgh, she worked as a general nurse for some time.

In 1993, Rachel started doing A levels in English Literature and Sociology. The following year she began a BA in Sociology with Social Policy and went on to do a Masters degree in social work where she specialised in community care.

Rachel later obtained a job with Coventry Social Services in frontline Children¿s Services. She has been there ever since as a social worker and a team manager in a number of different teams but mostly working in Referral and Assessment. She is currently a team manager in the Children¿s Disability Team in Coventry.