Birmingham Nurse Honoured with Gold Chief Nursing Officer Award at House of Lords
A Birmingham-based nurse has received one of the highest honours in the nursing profession at a prestigious Parliamentary reception held in the House of Lords.
Lianne Ford, Head of Nursing at leading complex care provider, Exemplar Health Care, has been awarded the Gold Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Award, recognising exceptional leadership, innovation and impact across social care nursing.
The award was presented at an invitation-only Parliamentary reception, with closing remarks from Professor Deborah Sturdy CBE, the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care at the Department of Health and Social Care, who recognised the invaluable contribution Lianne makes to the profession.
Lianne was nominated by colleagues from The Outstanding Society – a group of industry peers who collaborate to improve the quality of social care in the UK – in recognition of her work strengthening links between social care and academia, while championing evidence-based practice and national research.
Zoë Fry OBE, Director of Nursing, The Outstanding Society CIC shared: “Lianne is a role model who consistently achieves the highest standards in adult social care. Her career reflects distinction, integrity, and a profound commitment to improving outcomes for people who use services and their families. Her leadership is inspirational, her contribution is exceptional, and her impact is far-reaching.”
Lianne’s work includes her vital role implementing the VIVALDI study within Exemplar Health Care to collect data to improve infection prevention and the understanding of long-term care environments, while ensuring the voices of people who work in or draw on care are central to research design. Lianne has shared this expertise with the wider sector through a series of seminars.
Lianne has also helped translate existing academic research into practice as part of enhancing Exemplar Health Care’s longstanding Sexuality Champions Initiative. This project aims to ensure people living in care homes feel supported to have personal relationships and express their sexuality.
Lianne now delivers the training of nominated carers in topics including sexual expression, privacy, gender identity, mental capacity, and professional boundaries, ensuring colleagues can respond to individual needs in a safe, respectful, and inclusive way.
Lianne’s most recent accolade follows her winning the Social Care Research Award at October’s Social Care Leadership Awards.
Speaking on her award win, Lianne Ford said: “I’m passionate about ensuring adults living with complex needs receive care that is evidence-based, inclusive, and rooted in dignity and respect. For me, this award represents the power and potential of social care nursing, and the importance of starting everything we do with the individual and their voice.
“It also shines a light on the vital contribution social care nursing makes to people and communities across the UK, the rewarding and diverse career opportunities the sector offers, and how social care nurses are empowered to develop new methods and improve the lives of the people they support.”
Zoe Shears, Home Manager at Maypole Grove care home added: “I’ve had the privilege of working with Lianne for many years and she consistently demonstrates exceptional leadership, integrity and dedication to nursing. She leads with compassion, inspires those around her and is wholly committed to improving outcomes for the people we support and the care team.”
