Supporting clinical and professional development
I regularly visit care homes to provide leadership and clinical support, and I see excellent practice across the sector. I see the dedication and professionalism of the social care nursing workforce, who work tirelessly to enhance the wellbeing of residents.

I have led and engaged in work on staff wellbeing and I am currently developing a Quality Improvement Care Pathway pilot designed to improve collaboration between care homes and acute older people’s wards across South East London. The project aims to enhance outcomes for residents while improving efficiency across the wider health and care system.

A central part of this work is supporting the clinical and professional development of registered nurses within social care, equipping them with additional knowledge and expertise to proactively prevent unnecessary admissions and facilitate safer, earlier discharges. I work with care homes across South East London. Staff have raised challenges and come up with practical suggestions that will streamline care for residents. The goal is to create a more integrated, person‑centred system where residents, families, care home staff, and hospital teams experience safer, more coordinated transitions.

Influencing change
My role gives me immense satisfaction: I have the opportunity to directly influence the quality of care provided to residents, lead and development initiatives that allow me to learn, grow and stay at the forefront of best practices in social care. Working closely with nurses can be incredibly rewarding, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.

Looking to the future, integrated working holds great promise. By fostering closer collaboration between health and social care services, it can lead to more holistic and coordinated care, improving patient outcomes.

Standout moments in my career
After nominating a South East London care home for the Chief Nurse Award, a highlight was meeting Professor Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, and presenting the team with their award. 

Another recent highlight was being invited to serve as a judge for the RCN Rising Star Awards. Being part of the judging panel alongside esteemed nursing leaders was a meaningful opportunity to spotlight emerging talent in our profession. I was also honoured to feature on the video for the awards ceremony, celebrating the achievements of this year’s winners.

A further deeply significant milestone was being awarded the prestigious Queen’s Nurse title. This is a nationally recognised mark of excellence, awarded to community and social care nurses who demonstrate outstanding commitment to high standards of practice, leadership, learning, and patient-centred care. Being welcomed into The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing network has been an incredible honour and a highlight of my professional journey.