Spotlight on Care Home Nursing

Care England, the largest representative body for independent providers of adult social care, has welcomed the announcement from Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, that Professor Deborah Sturdy OBE, has been appointed as the first ever strategic advisor for social care nursing.

Professor Deborah Sturdy OBE says:

“I am delighted to be taking on this role with Ruth and her team as the first Strategic Advisor on nurses working in Social Care. This is a significant opportunity to shine a light on the important work of nurses across the system. This role affords them a platform for their voice to be heard and included as part of Ruth’s vision for nursing, and to influence the integration agenda more broadly”.

Professor Sturdy will provide the Chief Nursing Officer with expert advice from those nurses working to deliver the high quality care for people living in care homes, helping them to stay health, happy and independent for longer.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:

“I am thrilled with Professor Sturdy’s appointment. As proven by her esteemed career, including her role at The Royal Hospital Chelsea , a member of Care England, Deborah is a force for good and a champion for care home nurses. Care home nurses are often under valued and do not have a sufficient voice, I hope that this appointment will correct this anomaly and go some way in maintaining the long term future of adult social care in conjunction with the NHS. I was particularly pleased that The Chief Nurse the Deputy Chief Nurse and Professor Sturdy were able to meet with Care England members last week to discuss the issues around social care nursing”.

This new post will ensure that the voices of nurses in care homes are heard at the very top of the nursing profession. It will also tie in with the NHS Long Term Plan by ensuring that care homes have stronger links with local GPs and community services. Professor Deborah Sturdy will work closely with Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer, who herself started her career working in a care home.

General Sir Adrian Bradshaw KCB OBE, Governor Royal Hospital Chelsea, says:

“I am delighted that Professor Deborah Sturdy, our Director of Health and Wellbeing, will be taking on this very important role supporting the Chief Nurse for England to recognise the important work nurses do in social care. Deborah has been instrumental in developing the services we provide for 300 Chelsea Pensioners, the older Army veterans whose home is here the Royal Hospital Chelsea. This appointment recognises her achievements and will enable her to contribute in a leadership role for the wider nursing profession in their important work looking after some of the country’s most vulnerable people.

We have been caring for older veterans for over 325 years. Her dual role will also mean she will be able to share some of the insights that we have gained over that time.”