What does your job involve?

I work at Heatherwood Court Hospital which is a low secure unit for 47 services users on a forensic mental health pathway.

The hospital is split into 4 wards, 3 female, 1 male. I manage one of the female wards.

It is my responsibility to ensure the ward is running safely and efficiently, and that the environment is conducive to promoting the therapeutic process and positive outcomes for our service users.

A key element of my role is managing my team of Nurses and Support Workers, ensuring we have sufficient cover at all times and that everyone is receiving the support they need to fulfil their role as well as achieving their own personal career goals.

Why did you join Ludlow Street Healthcare?

Before I moved to Heatherwood I worked for 7 years in adult inpatient mental health care, including psychiatric intensive care. I worked as a staff nurse and later became a deputy ward manager with Cardiff and Vale UHB.

I enjoyed what I was doing but was ready for a change. Heatherwood gave me the chance to expand my area of knowledge and further develop my team management skills.

What’s the best part of your job?

Watching people develop and knowing I have played a part in that development.  Not just the service users as they develop the skills and resilience to move back into the community, but also my own team as they grow in confidence and expertise and achieve their own personal career milestones.