Berkley Care Group Welcomes QICN And DHSC Leaders For Launch Of New Faculty Of Adult Social Care Nursing

The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing’s newly appointed Chief Executive marked her first day in post with a visit to a leading all-inclusive care group to launch a national initiative for adult social care nursing.

Berkley Care Group welcomed Steph Lawrence MBE, newly appointed Chief Executive of the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing (QICN), to Jubilee House on Monday 1st July for her first official day in post. She was joined by Deborah Sturdy CBE, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

The visit coincided with the launch of a major new initiative, the Faculty of Adult Social Care Nursing, a national programme designed to strengthen the voice, visibility, and professional support available to nurses working across adult social care.

The new Faculty is the first of its kind in the UK, and aims to offer strategic leadership, specialist education, and professional advocacy to support nurses delivering person-centred care across care homes, domiciliary services, and community care.

Deborah Sturdy CBE, who has long championed the development of adult social care nursing, said she was “delighted to join Steph Lawerence and QICN colleagues at the launch of the QICN Social Care Nursing Faculty at Jubilee Court Care Home”, adding that “this initiative provides an important recognition of the value and importance of the role of social care nursing within the community. The faculty will be a great place for the social care nursing community to come together and build its knowledge and skills and share excellence in practice”.

Speaking during the visit, Steph Lawrence MBE, Chief Executive of the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing, said:
“I’m delighted to launch the new Faculty of Adult Social Care Nursing on my first day leading the QICN. The Faculty recognises the expertise and leadership of adult social care nurses who deliver care in diverse and often challenging environments.

“It will provide a much-needed platform to influence policy, research, and innovation in care and marks a major step forward in raising the profile of this essential workforce. It was a real pleasure to begin this journey at Jubilee House, where the passion and professionalism of the team truly reflects what we want this Faculty to stand for.”

Commenting on the visit, Masline Chitura, Quality Director at Berkley Care Group, said:
“It was a real privilege to host Steph and Deborah at Jubilee House on such an important day for adult social care nursing. The launch of the new Faculty is a landmark moment, and we’re proud that our team could help bring it to life through the quality of care, professionalism, and passion they demonstrate every day.

“Visits like this are a chance to showcase the incredible work happening in our homes, but also to start meaningful conversations about how we continue to elevate nursing across the sector. We’re excited to see where this new collaboration with QICN can take us and proud that Berkley Care could play a part in such a forward-looking step for care.”