Tell us about your job working in care? What’s your typical day/week?
First and foremost, I am a Nurse, I love the personalised care I can give which ensures someone’s clinical, spiritual, emotional and physical needs are met. I am also a Team Leader for Education, and this role enables me to teach other members of the team and ensure they are up to date with the necessary skills for their individual roles. Education is something I have always been passionate about, and I believe as a nurse we take on the role of teaching others from when we start our own training; we are all keen to share our knowledge to ensure we can provide ‘gold standard’ care. I educate the team in clinical skills, care delivery and emotional support, as well as play and how to provide a safe environment for that play. I can provide a level of support to the teams that’s important for building confidence as well as competence.
What do you enjoy most about working at CHSW and/or in care/nursing?
I feel proud and honoured to be able to provide a level of support pertinent to the individual child, young person and their family, not only in their journey in palliative care but also in bereavement.
CHSW is a place of fun and laughter with a level of support like no other.
I enjoy the ongoing desire from CHSW teams to learn and be able to deliver such a broad range of learning to all different health care professionals.
What motivated you to apply for your role?
I worked at CHSW for 14 years as a Nurse prior to Covid. Seeing nurses in hospitals struggling with things such as sickness and no breaks, I had an urge to support in this tough time, so I went to offer my help. I received opportunities which led to my development in education. I had always said CHSW was a place I wanted to work again due to the individualised care delivery and support within the teams.
When the position of Educator arose for CHSW, I jumped at the chance.
How did you become a Nurse? What job were you doing before?
I wanted to be a nurse from the age of 9 or 10. I went to the University of the West of England in Bristol which led to many learning opportunities through placements. I elected to come and spend a few days at Little Bridge House, as complex care and palliative care were two topics I was keen to learn about - this experience developed my passion for the nursing role within a children’s hospice. Prior to nursing I was a Shop Assistant and Waitress to develop my funds for my future learning, I believe all these roles helped to develop interpersonal skills and myself as a caring person.
What would you say are the skills you need to do your job? Have you learnt any new skills since being in post?
You need excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with professionals, colleagues, children and their families.
Communication is particularly important to deliver education, I am often told a good lesson lies within the delivery!
Knowledge of clinical skills is important, and the willingness to develop these further for the complex needs which we see in the hospices. I have developed my emotional resilience and leadership skills since being in post.
How does it feel to be a part of the CHSW family?
The teams at CHSW are all so supportive and all care for each other. There is such an awareness of the emotional impact of what we do. One of the things I like best about the CHSW family is the expertise and knowledge shared among the whole organisation, and the links and collaborative working throughout the teams across all 3 of the CHSW sites.
I am currently in the job I aspired to be in, and it still feels like a dream at times.