Current Role: Deputy Chief Nurse
I am currently the Deputy Chief Nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital. In this role, I deputise for the Chief Nurse and work collaboratively alongside her on several key workstreams.
These include leading on professional development and wellbeing support for our nursing teams, as well as supporting the workforce and quality lead on projects such as ward accreditation, Pathway to Excellence, the nursing strategy, and the operational optimisation/flow programme across the Trust.
Alongside this, I am one of the deputies for the Association of Chief Children’s Nurses (ACCN), where I help to organise conferences and raise awareness of the specific needs of Babies, Children and Young People’s (BCYP) nurses.
My career journey
I am a qualified children’s nurse with over thirty years of experience in BCYP nursing. My career began in 1993 as a specialist children’s cancer nurse, where I worked for fifteen years.Over the years, I have worked across eight acute provider Trusts and steadily progressed from a Band 5 nurse to my first Band 7 role in 1998.
Following several years as a clinical Band 7, I expanded my scope into managing all aspects of BCYP nursing, becoming a matron in 2012. Since then, I have taken on a variety of senior nursing leadership roles, including Head of Nursing. In 2021, I was appointed as the national NHS England BCYP nursing lead, before returning to Great Ormond Street Hospital in 2024 to take up my current Deputy Chief Nurse role.
What does good leadership mean to you and how has this inspired your career?
For me, good leadership is about being strong, resilient, and visible—especially in times of challenge. It means being willing to speak out for the babies, children, and young people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering the nursing teams who provide that care.
I believe a strong leader leads through change with positivity, inspires others by setting high standards, and helps colleagues to see new possibilities and opportunities for their own careers.
Recognising the voice and needs of BCYP has always been a passion of mine. Throughout my career, I have worked to raise this voice—both through networking and by supporting newer BCYP nurses to challenge their horizons and develop their careers.
What support can you offer to members of the Network?
I am well networked within the BCYP specialism and committed to supporting colleagues across the profession. I would be delighted to offer mentoring and career coaching to members of the Network.
This would be a confidential space to reflect, explore challenges, and think about career progression.