Hannah Poulter is a research associate for the Evaluation and Impact Team in the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law. She graduated from Leeds University with first class honours in Psychological Science and was awarded a distinction in her MSc in Health Psychology and Clinical Skills from Teesside University. Hannah also has a University Advanced Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Studies and Skills from the University of Derby.

Hannah is undertaking her PhD by publication is based on her research on harm reduction for people who use drugs in Teesside such as Heroin Assisted Treatment (HAT), street tablet usage, and co-location of physical healthcare and treatment services 

Prior to joining Teesside University in 2019, Hannah had worked in a variety of roles in the housing sector, most recently as Research Analyst on the Policy and Research Team at Thirteen Housing Group. In this role she was responsible for delivery of a range of qualitative and quantitative research projects on issues affecting Thirteen and their customers, including the impact of welfare reform. Earlier experiences within the Business Development Team included working on a number of strategic projects in the employability and skills sector, including the development of grants and bids. One of these projects, the DWP’s and ESF’s Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) programme, has ensured over 1.5million pounds of public funds has been distributed across the Tees Valley, and has supported over 1200 people with employment, education or training. 

Hannah also has experience as a support worker, and worked in settings with young parents, individuals experiencing mental health difficulties, families within the social care system, homelessness individuals and with people with drug and alcohol dependency issues.

Hannah is interested in research which focuses on reducing health inequalities and increases psychological, physical and social wellbeing for vulnerable groups and communities.

Hannah is interested in research that reduces harm for, and improves the health and wellbeing of, people who use drugs. She has led her own project funded by NIHR on street benzodiazepines in Teesside. Hannah works part time at Bristol University as a Senior Qualitative Researcher on a multisite national trial on lethal benzodiazepines and opioid interactions, leading the work in Teesside, funded by the Medical Research Council. 

Service provider views on harm reduction and prescribing practices for people who co-use opioids or benzodiazepines.  Awarded Feb 23 to Bristol University. ESRC. Co-investigator.

‘No Wrong Door’ evaluation. Redcar and Cleveland Council, Total Grant £30000, 2023, Co-Applicant

Opioid overdose deaths: Understanding the lethal interactions between benzodiazepines and opioids to develop new harm reduction strategies. MRC Neurosciences & Mental Health Board (awarded to Bristol University). Senior Qualitative Researcher.

Health and Lifestyle of Patients with Mesothelioma (HELP-MESO). Mesothelioma UK, 2021 £39, 678.60. Research Support.

Understanding Chronic Urinary Tract Infection Experiences (CUTIE). Awarded June 22. Early Career Researcher Participatory Funding Award, Teesside University. £3999. Principle Investigator. 

A collaborative approach to the implementation of restrictions of hot food takeaway outlets. Awarded 2022. NIHR SPHR Impact Accelerator Account. Total grant: £14,537. Co-Investigator.

Street Tablet usage in Middlesbrough: an exploratory study. Awarded 2022. NIHR Targeting Health Needs. Total grant:£18,662. Principal Investigator.

Emotional Wellbeing Peer Suport Project. Awarded Jan 2022. Middlesbrough Council. Total Grant £45301. Co-Investigator

PHE Food Environments. Awarded May 2020. Public Health England. Total grant: £29707. Co-Investigator

Heroin Assisted Treatment Intervention (HATI): A qualitative exploration. Awarded October 2020. NIHR-ARC NENC. Total grant: £59630. Co-Investigator.

Mental Health Trailblazer Evaluation. Awarded April 2020. North of England Commissioning Support Unit. Total grant: £19931. Co-Investigator.

Enhancing Place-Based-Partnerships in public engagement. Awarded December 2019. UK Research & Innovation. Total grant: £27,585. Co-Investigator.

Evaluation of Heroin Assisted Treatment Pilot Programme. Awarded October 2019. The Police and Crime Commissioner Cleveland; Total grant: £6,434. Principal Investigator.

Life at a Distance: a pilot study of two mutual aid services to support vulnerable individuals in coastal communities. March Network (UCL).  £19533. Co-Investigator.

An Education Programme Evaluation. Awarded October 2020. STEM UK. Total grant £10,800. Co-Investigator

NHS Health Check Case Studies: CVD Prevention Team. Awarded 2018. Newbury-Birch D, Ells L. Total grant: £18,792.00. Research Support

Suicide Surveillance. Public Health England. Awarded 2018. Newbury-Birch D, Ling J, Haighton K. £32,005.00. Research Support

Piloting a consistent evidence-based messaging approach for health care professionals to support conversations on healthier weight before, during and after pregnancy. Public Health England. Awarded 2019. Newbury-Birch D, Ells L, Moore H, Subramanian M, Watson P. £24,999.00. Research Support