Ann Shuttleworth Rising Star Award

Some nurses stand out from the moment they enter the profession. They are natural leaders whose motivation is to constantly improve the quality of their own practice and of the services they work in. Their caring natures ensure they will not only offer compassionate care themselves, but will demand it of those around them and raise concerns if it falls short. They have the capacity to develop essential nursing skills quickly, the creativity to innovate and reshape services, and the ability to engage and motivate those around them. Nurses like these will be a positive influence on the profession throughout their careers. This award aims to recognise a nurse working in the NHS or independent sector who has been qualified for less than five years, and demonstrates exceptional qualities that embody the best of nursing and the leadership skills to inspire others to follow their example.

Randolph Alburo
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

As an internationally educated nurse from the Philippines, Randolph came to this country with a dream of making a positive impact on people's lives. Throughout his nursing career, he has shown unwavering passion, relentless sacrifice, and a disciplined work ethic that have not only shaped him but also made a significant impact on the lives of those he has cared for. His commitment to his profession is evident in his quest to seek knowledge by undertaking leadership programs such as INMA Leaders and Fellows Leadership Programme and pursuing academic excellence as an apprentice currently in the Master in Business Administration. He sincerely believes that there is always a kinder and more humane way of doing things, and he has tried to embody this philosophy in his personal and professional life, especially while working in the National Spinal Injuries Centre and now as a Deputy Charge Nurse looking after Medicine for Older People. He is proud to have distinguished himself, serving among many nurses who came to this country. During the height of the global pandemic, he was voted as the Executive Secretary of the Kalinga Filipino Organisation in the province. Through his efforts, the organisation was recognised as the official network of BHT with initiatives that benefited not just colleagues but patients and the community. He feels honoured to have played a major role in making a difference in the lives of countless individuals during such challenging times. He firmly believes that kindness and greatness exist within humanity, and as healthcare professionals, it is our duty to look beyond the numbers and see patients as individuals with unique needs. By prioritising their safety and experience, we can guide them towards a better quality of life. He strives to inspire future generations of nurses to become better versions of themselves.

Elaine Blow
Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust

I would like to nominate Elaine for this award, Elain is a paediatric nurse, working in a Neurodevelopment Service, has lived experience having her own diagnosis of Autism and ADHD and a carer for her daughter who also has Autism and ADHD. Elaine has demonstrated huge passion, determination and clinical expertise to devise and develop her role as a Neurodiversity Support Practitioner in the service. Elaine has developed her role from scratch and works hard to deliver a service that is evidence-based, within NICE guidance and seamlessly synched with the Autism/ ADHD assessment pathway. Elaine is an innovator within service delivery, and she constantly strives to seek opportunities for learning and to consider how services can be improved. Research and evaluation are very important to Elaine and the development of the service. She works hard to ensure her sessions are based at a level that are accessible for children, young people and families (CYPF) and in an environment that reduces socio-economic barriers to create equality. Elaine works tirelessly bringing in her own knowledge and lived experience with best evidence practice delivering support, strategies and validation to CYPF that empowers them to move forwards, builds resilience and supports positive outcomes. Elaine has surpassed the expectations for her role and many partner agencies and other services seek Elaine’s expertise and experience for engaging and working with neurodivergent children and young people. Her passion and energy are infectious. The feedback she receives from families, young people and professionals is overwhelmingly positive. Elaine’s role helps to support a huge gap in service provision both for pre and post diagnostic support, she is integral to the service and workforce development, and has been instrumental in improving patient journey and experience of our pathway. Elaine’s role has set the precedent to introduce across other Neurodevelopment Services.

Daniel Branch
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

I believe that I should be considered to win this award because I feel that across all the different criteria, I have set a high quality of achievement and been an inspiring example. I believe that my work as a student and a newly registered nurse has set a positive example of what can be achieved. I have taken all the available opportunities to positively influence the student and nursing experiences of my peers and colleagues locally as a student rep and co-chair of the student empowerment group as well as nationally with RCNNRN, NHS England and FNF SEG. In doing so I have been of benefit to both my patients and my colleagues I have shown the positive personal development that volunteering can give you whilst also doing public good. As part of the Intensive Support Team (IST) I have been able to recognise patient needs and address ongoing issues to clearly improve their care and patient experience. Through my work with the RCNNRN, and NHS England I have also tried to have a positive influence nationally by analysing key issues and attempting to improve the performance of my colleagues. I have recognised the importance of good leadership in my role and have undertaken both the FONS and Edward Jenner courses to better understand and develop my personal leadership style and abilities. Completing these has enabled me to perform better thereby helping my colleagues to also perform better. Improving my leadership has also given me opportunities to innovate in improving the mental wellbeing of my colleagues enabling us to continue to perform at the highest level for our patients. I qualified as a Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) to enable me to help my colleagues to deal with the current wellbeing and staffing crisis within the NHS.

Steven Jewell
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Steven qualified as a registered Mental Health Nurse in September 2023. Having began his journey in mental health with the Turst in 2019 as a health care support worker, later successfully undertaking both the Trainee Nurse associate programme and finally the RNDA and has since been working on Dickens older Adult ward which specialises in the ongoing care and treatment of older adults with dementia. Steven is an incredible example of how it is never to late to fulfil your ambitions and dreams. Prior to beginning his journey in health care at the age of 45, Steven had worked for many years as a green grocer, having left school with no qualifications and spending a short period of time living homeless in Blackpool following being evicted from the family home at the age of only 15. Steven had worked many low paid unskilled jobs, but had always held a desire to care for and support others. In his early/mid 20s Steven experienced his own mental health challenges and was treated for depression with extensive phycological therapy to address multiple childhood traumas. However Steven never lost hope of his Nursing dream and post qualifying has won multiple local and national accolades for his determination including apprentice and ambassador of the year at the North West APP awards as well as live streams and pod casts with NHS England, including Q&A sessions while championing the nursing profession and advocating for various educational and supportive routes for those with similar life challenges to his own. Despite only a short time post registration, Steven has now also become an NHS England ambassador for Nursing and attends schools and collages to promote the profession and share his story as well as being accepted to be a key member of the NHS young peoples council.

Suraj Kumar
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

I joined the NHS as a transitional nurse in October 2020 and got my NMC PIN in January 2021. I have always thrived to excel in my workplace and to provide the best and most compassionate care to my patients. I have excelled in my career as a transitional nurse, getting my band 6 post by December 2021 and then my band 7 in 2023. It was not an easy road, though I believed it happened due to the support of my mentors and colleagues. I was able to go and present my trust at 10 Downing Street, completed my level 7 masters course and did my poster presentation, completed my chief nurse fellowship, was able to go and represent my fellow nurses at Florence Nightingale commemoration services, and won NT awards as preceptor of the year in 2022. Being an IEN, I always mentored and coached my fellow nurses and students. I worked on my personality and myself from the time I joined the NHS. For instance, I work on being a compassionate leader, encouraging my fellow colleagues to excel in their careers, and working towards the quality of care I provide to my patients. I was a part of the QI project, where I worked in collaboration with the team to reduce pressure ulcers among patients using NIV, and it was a great success. Being a ward manager now in an acute respiratory ward and working with a team of 60, I always consider everyone a part of my family. Therefore, I deserve to win this award, as I have proven myself worthy of it.

Ellin McIntyre
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

I would like to put forward Ellin McIntyre for the Ann Shuttleworth Rising Start Award, she has been working as a nurse for 4 years and will be entering her 5th year next year. Despite being early on in her career Ellin has shown an aptitude and passion for nursing. I am Ellin’s operational manager and she has been such a positive influence on our team throughout her time with us. A lot of her positive traits and service improvements overlap all of the below categories as she champions each of these qualities in turn. I hope as you read through them you can see the genuine incredibly impact she has brought to our team and service users. Ellin embodies all the excellent qualities of a nurse but most especially teamworking, she is the heart of our team and jumps in quickly to support service users and colleagues. She is a forward thinking problem solver and I very much look forward to watching her grow throughout her career.

Greeshma Nair
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Greeshma, is a dedicated dual qualified nurse from Maharashtra, India. Holding professional registration as both RGN, and RMN she arrived in the UK in late 2019 and was one of the first over seas nurses to join the NHS in Lancashire/North West. From the outset as a newly recruited band 5 Greeshma showed incredible potential, with incredible leadership and nursing qualities from the outset. With 3 previous nursing degrees all with distinction, Gresham's academic success has continued to flourish in the UK, with her now embarked and part way through the MSC, Trainee ACP advanced practitioner course a role in which she is now employed and band 7 progressing to 8A on successful completion. Despite only a short time and less than 5 years in the UK Greeshma has progressed beyond her own expectations, shining in all areas of nursing practice, education and support of others alongside her commitment to improving patient care and keen interest in quality improvement and promotion of the physical health in mental health agenda. Passionate about inclusion, her advocacy extends beyond her Trust, evident by her impactful speeches at leadership forums and visible changes as testified by members of her Trust management team, both past and present. Her commitment to excellence extends to her patients, ensuring they receive the best care. A single mother of two lovely girls, Greeshma exemplifies excellence, dedication, and compassion. Her pastoral support of others is too commendable and through out the last 5 years to present day she has championed, supported and offered extensive guidance and emotional connection to newly recruited over seas nurses across Lancashire and the UK. An incredible role model and advocate for not only international nursing recruits but all newly qualified nurses Greeshma's reputation and success goes before her, she really is a true rising star.

Lovelyn Ndubuisi-Okoroezi
East Kent Hospitals Unive

I qualified as a Registered Nurse - Adult in August 2021 and got my NMC pin September 2021. I have now been on the NMC register for over 2 years. Having read the criteria for this category of award, I believe my skills, attributes, leadership and impact to colleagues and patients within this short space of time make me stand out. Since qualifying and joining the NHS, first as a band 5 staff nurse, I have always delivered outstanding patient care and leadership. Post qualification, I stepped up to leadership to work as nurse in charge during shifts within 2 months of getting my NMC pin. I got commended by my Head of Nursing on my first day as nurse-in-charge, due to the outstanding way I advocated for my patient's safety and my leadership capability as nurse in charge in handling patient flow and safety issues. I got asked how long I had been qualified for as a Nurse for and was recommended to my line manager for promotion. Within 2 months of getting my NMC pin, I got my band 6 role as Education and Development Nurse for Internationally Educated Nurses due to my passion to support their transition, education and retention in the UK. During this time, my Trust generally had no pastoral care team despite ongoing active IEN recruitment. I stepped up to this role at Divisional level and exceeded expectations. 10 months into my band 6 role, I got promoted again to my band 7 role as Clinical Nurse Educator. Again, I exceeded expectations through outstanding leadership and contributions to patient safety and advocating for colleagues. My voice was heard across the organisation and I continued to develop. 3 months into band 7, I secured my new band 8B role on May, 2023 (1 year 11months).

Kirti Paik-Inkar
Cygnet Group

Kirti Paik-Inkar qualified as a registered mental health nurse in October 2019. She is integral to the staff and service user experience at Cygnet Hospital Woking, as well as the inclusion of our multi-cultural staff across the wider organisation. She is a driving force in developing and enhancing the team at Cygnet Hospital Woking to improve their experience, practice and ability to deliver the highest standards of professional nursing care. Kirti initially began her employment as a mental health support worker. She has a constant desire to grow and learn. She subsequently started her nursing education and returned to work as a nurse in 2019. She later advanced to the position of Clinical team leader. Due to her upbringing and culture, Kirti encountered some difficulties from some of the personnel she worked with, which contributed to her decision to take on the position of Multi-Cultural Ambassador. Kirti also supports Freedom to Speak Up, serves as a Practise Educator for preceptorship nurses and students, is a CTL, and recently finished a training on mental health first aid. She epitomises compassionate leadership, focusing on relationships through careful listening to, understanding, empathising with and supporting other people, enabling those she leads to feel valued, respected and cared for, so they can reach their potential and do their best work. Every day she demonstrates her commitment to ensuring the safe and highly effective delivery of nursing care. She is committed to staff engagement, empowerment and enabling them to develop experience, knowledge and skills at all levels. She is very passionate, adaptive, and fast-learning, keen to explore new innovative ideas and treatments. She particularly enjoys collaborating with researchers from different disciplines to develop new skills and resolve new challenges.

Matthew Roberts
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Matt qualified in September 2019 and has worked in female acute psychiatric wards since then. In 2021 he gained his band 6 position as a senior staff nurse, and undertook the Mary Seacole NHS leadership course. From there he was promoted to deputy ward manager in 2022 and was also ward manager for a period. Matt has been interested in improving the quality of care on the ward since he qualified. His main interest is working with patients living with complex needs, and supporting colleagues in doing so. As a junior nurse he worked with the ward management team on an AQUA project looking to reduce the number of restraints on the ward by implementing RAID training. He has delivered training to Preceptees and currently works with MDT colleagues delivering training specifically for female acute staff. He also took lots away from RAID training himself, and is glad that has now become a standard part of the ward staff training package. He is always looking at least restrictive approaches to working with patients. His current project is encouraging uptake of training for ward nursing staff to use wound glue for self-injury: this will hopefully reduce the need to send patients to emergency departments and improve their patient experience, both themes that sit within NICE guidance. He is also interested in giving student nurses a good placement experience and has been nominated for the 2024 Student Nursing Times Practice Supervisor of the Year. He is also a student himself, and has completed his first year of UCLAN’s MSc in personality Disorders, where he was recognised for submitting consistently high-scoring assignments. He has had to defer this MSc, as in September 2023 he successfully applied and started as a Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner, which carries its own MSc and supports advanced practice.

Jordan Spires
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

It is hard to summarise this young gentleman as he is such an inspirational nurse. Jordan is a newly qualified mental health nurse who has joined our team in Chorley mental health in January 2024. Prior to his substantive role, Jordan was a student nurse and also worked as a health care support worker across the Central and West Inpatients. Jordan has stood out since he started his nursing journey. He is a natural born leader and motivator and does not let the challenges he has faced and faces stand in his way. Jordan is one of the most patient centred, compassionate and driven nurse I have had the pleasure of working alongside. Jordan has gone above and beyond in order to improve the lives of the patients on his ward, but also support his colleagues to aim higher and genuinely believe nothing is unachievable. Jordan has demonstrated the ability to improve care already and consistently demonstrates innovation and dedication to his patients and colleagues alike. Jordan is not afraid to aim high and work towards reshaping inpatient mental health services for the better, all the while nurturing and supporting others to achieve a shared goal. Jordan has championed LGBTQ+ for both staff and service users and is working towards supporting patients when admitted to hospital to ensure their sexuality needs are supported during admission. He is supporting a project to de-commission a seclusion on a male mental health ward and has designed a "life skills suite". Jordan is in the process of collecting supportive data for his idea and this will be put forward to obtain funding later this year. Jordan has ADHD and champions neurodiversity for both patients and staff alike, to ensure that people have diverse, compassionate and person centred care.