A passion for improving the wellbeing of young families, with a focus on children

As a universal health visitor at Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH), where I have worked for about 10 years, I have the privilege of supporting local families to achieve the best possible outcomes in life.

I came to nursing when I was almost 40, beginning my nursing career as a children's nurse, and later continuing my education to become a specialist community public health nurse. I now work with the whole family, placing a strong emphasis on father-and-sibling involvement, while remaining child focused. My role includes undertaking health needs assessments and using behaviour change techniques to enhance health and social wellbeing, as well as identifying wider determinants of health to reduce inequalities.

As a nurse and health visitor, I have become a forward-thinking practitioner, intervening to pre-empt any future issues by promoting good health through a preventive approach, as set out in the mission statement from Public Health England (2019), to empower people to help themselves and their communities to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible.