“My name is Jackie and I’m the Regional Clinical Lead for the East region. I have worked in the healthcare sector since 1982 and the time really has flown!
“I like to think that in my nursing career I have always tried to give the best care I can and have always believed that I should strive to care for people the way I would want myself or one of my loved ones cared for. I recently lost both my parents to Dementia and am glad that I was able to care for them alongside other wonderful healthcare professionals. I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others and always believe that everyone has something they can teach someone else. I have high standards of care and always strive to be professional, but I do have a good sense of humour as well! I like working across the Multi-disciplinary Team and have a good network of Healthcare professionals both in the Acute, Community and Industry sectors.
“I have been happily married for 26 years and I believe that having a husband who is in the Healthcare profession has helped enormously. I love all animals and have a Labrador called Max and am lucky to share a horse called Khan. I love being outdoors and enjoy walking – our lovely beaches In Norfolk are a great place to reflect/de-stress. I also enjoy going to the theatre, sewing, making jewellery, and eating out.”
“I decided to take early retirement from the NHS in November 2020 as I wanted the opportunity to use my skills and knowledge in a different kind of care setting. Helping Hands already feels like a team that are friendly and supportive and I think that I will fit in well.
Career pathway
“I started my enrolled nurse training at the end of 1982 at Bristol & Weston School of Nursing, Weston-Super-Mare and qualified in 1985. My first qualified post was at an Orthopaedic Theatre complex in Gloucestershire – you had to drive through a working farm to get to it – it was very rural as used to be a TB Hospital many years ago.
“I moved to London in 1986 to complete a major head, neck and ENT course and worked within that for 3 years. At the same time, I went back to evening classes to gain a couple more GCSE’s to enable me to apply to convert to an RGN. I undertook this Conversion training from 1989 – 1991 at Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow and became a Registered Nurse in 1991.
“During the 90’s and early 2000’s I worked in ENT surgical nursing, undertook the ENB ITU course, the ENB diabetes course and the ENB teaching/assessing course. I worked in ITU at the London Clinic, Harley Street, London, St Marys Hospital, London and Acute Medicine at Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge where I secured my first ‘Sister’ post in 1996 managing an Acute Endocrine Ward and Diabetes OPD. I then worked as a Modern Matron covering acute medicine – fitting in having two children and continuing to work full time. During this time, I was also the Regional Rehabilitation Lead for assistive technology and I also assisted in the implementation of a centralised equipment library.”
Qualifications and Professional Development
“I moved with my family to Norfolk in 2003 and started work as Senior Sister of a Rehabilitation unit at James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – during this time I was seconded for 3 months to assist with implementing the Agenda for Change pay system across the Trust. I completed my BA(Hons) in Policy, planning and Leadership at the University of East Anglia in 2007. I then managed the Cardiology Ward from 2007-2010.
“I moved into NHS Continuing Healthcare at the same Trust in 2011 and moved these skills into the Lead CHC nurse at the NNUH in 2015. I gained experience in Adult safeguarding, the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS).
“I undertook 6 months within the Risk and Governance Team to broaden my knowledge base and this is where I became interested in Tissue Viability & Wound care. I undertook a Master’s Wound care module at Anglia Ruskin University in 2018 and the Leg ulcer Management Degree module in 2019. I have loved working within Tissue viability and have built up expertise on managing dehisced wounds, Topical Negative Pressure Therapy and assessing and advising on managing the loss of skin integrity.
I also gained experience in undertaking Root Cause Analysis and Serious Incident Investigations. I enjoy teaching and this ranges from medical students, health care assistants and newly qualified nurses and midwives in a classroom setting or on an informal basis when delivering care – I like that staff feel that I am approachable and are happy to come and ask me for advice in the clinical setting.”
