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Our 20^th Oxleas annual Nursing Conference was a roller coaster of emotions with tears and laughter, culminating in the announcement of our Nurses and Healtchcare support Worker of the Year 2023.

We were there to capture the events of the day – keep an eye open for our film coming soon.

Huge congratulations to Caroline Chummun, Bexley and Greenwich Community Children’s Nursing Team Manager, who was named as our Nurse of the Year and to Shelley Meunier, from the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team, who was named our Healthcare Support Worker of the Year.

The event was held on Friday 16 June and was opened by Chief Executive, Ify Okocha. He said: “I am delighted to be here and celebrating nursing is exactly what we should be doing today. You are the largest professional group within the NHS and within Oxleas and what you do is hugely valued. Your spirit and passion shines through and I am enormously proud of you all and the service you provide.” 

Director of Nursing, Jane Wells, welcomed colleagues to the event, and said: “It is wonderful for so may of us to come together and have our conference in person and to live stream across the organisation. Thank you for everything you do every day for our patients and for all the support that you give to each other – always going above and beyond and every opportunity.”

Dame Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, shared a message via live stream and announced in person a posthumous Gold Chief Nursing Officer Award for Francis Adzinku. She said: “I want to say thank you to you all for being there for each other and for the people we serve, and for everything that you continue to do. I am also honoured to recognise Francis Adzinku, who was a dedicated nurse, leader, mentor and amazing man, with a Gold Chief Nursing Officer Award for his contribution to our profession.” His award was presented by Edwin Ndlovu, Chief Operating Officer at East London NHS Foundation Trust and member of the Jabali Men’s Network to Francis’ partner Julianna Alli.

Throughout the day there were presentations on wellbeing, our Professional Nurse Advocate role, the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) and raising the nursing voice through research, culminating in our awards ceremony, where outstanding work was recognised and celebrated, and awards presented to:

• Nurse of the Year: Caroline Chummun, Bexley and Greenwich Community Children’s Nursing Team Manager
• Healthcare Support Worker of the Year: Shelley Meunier, Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team
• Nursing Associate of the Year: Pippa MacGregor, HMP Exeter
• Practice Assessor of the Year: Siraad Ismail, Bexley CAMHS
• Placement of the Year: Millbrook Ward
• Special Recognition for Bravery: Ian Tang, Healthcare Support Worker, Millbrook Ward
• Humphrey Greaves Award in Recognition of Humanitarian Work (sponsored by the University of Greenwich): Cherie Trew, Team lead and Matron, Bexley Rapid Response Service
• Nurse of the Year (Runner-up): Kerri Dayment, Frailty Case Manager, Greenwich Community Assessment and Rehabilitation Service
• Healthcare Support Worker of the Year (Runner-up): Jane Harding, Learning Disability Team, Bexley
• Nursing Associate of the Year (Runner-up): Shanna Wicanowski, Norman Ward, Green Parks House

Jane added: “Huge congratulations to all our winners and runners-up. Today is a day to celebrate our profession and recognise some very special nurses. It makes me very proud to be a nurse amongst so many amazing Oxleas nurses, nursing associates and healthcare support workers.”