Recognition for amazing Powys Learning Disability Nurse
A member of the Powys Teaching Health Board’s nursing team has spoken of her pride after being chosen as the first ever Learning Disability Nurse of the Year at the RCN Wales Awards 2024.
Catherine Davies has been recognised for her commitment and drive to make healthcare work better for people with learning disabilities across the county.
This work has included raising awareness amongst GPs and other health professionals on how people with learning disabilities may need particular support and leading the charge to ensure that around 90% of this group receive an annual learning disability health check. This percentage is by far the highest in all of Wales.
“I’ve trained, lived and worked pretty much all of my life with Powys,” said Liaison Nurse Catherine who hails from Abercraf in the Swansea valley and who is based at Bronllys hospital, “and it’s amazing to have received the award. But it’s not just me, it’s been a team effort and this is all about improving the lives of the individuals that we support.”
“We know that across the UK people with learning disabilities have a reduced life expectancy, often dying prematurely from avoidable and preventable causes. Our work is about reducing these health inequalities,” she added.
Part of the awards process involved a panel interview with the RCN Wales judges. This came at a difficult time for Catherine whose Mum passed away in the week before the interview. “I wasn’t sure if I could do it but then, my colleagues encouraged me, and I thought I’ve got to do it for Mum as she was always such an inspiration for me. When I was at her bedside in hospital towards the end she was telling me I should be getting on with my work instead.
Catherine joined nurses from across Wales at the prestigious awards ceremony in Cardiff. Her colleagues and friends shared their joy on social media, describing Catherine as “an inspiration” and the accolade as “very well deserved”.
Her line manager Hayley Tarrant, Head of Learning Disability Services with the health board nominated Catherine. “Catherine always goes over and above the requirements within her role. This award is amazing and we are honoured to have someone like Catherine in our team.”
Along with Hayley, Claire Roche, Executive Director of Nursing, Quality, Women and Family, was also able to join in the celebrations: “I am incredibly proud of Catherine's achievement, which is so well deserved. Catherine demonstrates so much passion for Learning Disability Nursing and her focus is always on the needs of our service users in Powys.”
Catherine has also branched out to provide training to social care colleagues and the Welsh Ambulance Service alongside delivering sessions to practice nurses and newly qualified health staff on the Preceptorship programme. To date Catherine has trained over 500 learning disability champions and has many future sessions planned.
Catherine is the first winner of this particular award as the category previously covered Mental Health and Learning Disabilities in one category. For 2024 there were separate awards for each specialism.
She is no stranger to success either, as the health board's Learning Disability Liaison Team was a well-deserved winner in the health board’s Staff Excellence Awards last year.
Photo: Catherine (left) with line manager Hayley Tarrant at the ceremony.
Published 11/12/24