Wendy Leighton awarded CNO Gold Award as she ends long and successful time at Skills for Care

One of our own former employees has been awarded a CNO Gold Award for her contribution to social care.

Wendy Leighton, former Project Manager for Regulated Professionals at Skills for Care, has been awarded a Chief Nursing Officer Gold Award for outstanding services to social care from Chief Nurse for Social Care, Deborah Sturdy.

The award came as Wendy marked her last day working with Skills for Care in January 2022, after three successful years with the organisation, where Wendy made a real impact on nursing in social care.

The award was presented to Wendy in a virtual meeting attended by Wendy, Deborah and many of Wendy’s Skills for Care’s colleagues who were sad to see her move on from the organisation but were delighted to see her honoured with this important award.

Speaking of the award Wendy said:

Commemorating her late mum she added, “Mum would have loved this.”

Honouring Wendy, Deborah Sturdy said:

Wendy joined Skills for Care in January 2019. During her time at Skills for Care she worked on multiple projects to support the social care nursing workforce, and whilst previously working in Higher Education she was instrumental in the introduction and development of the nursing associate role leading on the first wave of applicants to this role in Lincolnshire; social care leaders were key strategic partners, this saw some of the first Nursing Associates supported in a social care setting.

Wendy has also played a key role in supporting student nursing placements and creating various guidance to support registered nurses, nursing associates, student nurses, and their employers across the social care sector. Wendy has worked closely with the Chief Nursing Officer and the wider team at Skills for Care. She says that the role of the Chief Nurse in social care has been invaluable to the workforce development aspirations for the social care workforce.

Wendy led the work to produce the Valuing Social Nursing in Social Care Conference in October of 2021 this was aimed at employers, student nurses and HEI colleagues. Giving voice to the innovation and value of nursing in social care and Wendy is particularly proud of how the voice of the expert by experience was not just included but involved in the development of the conference.

Wendy is now  focusing full-time on her role as Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln.

We're #CelebratingSocialCare in April, including sharing good news stories from the sector throughout the month. Find out how you can get involved.

If you have a good news story to share send it to marketing@skillsforcare.org.uk

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