Sign of the times - Cardiff University's Specialist Community Public Health Nursing Team

“We’re absolutely thrilled,” says Michelle Moseley, Director of Learning In Practice at Cardiff University’s School of Healthcare Sciences, at the news that the Specialist Community Public Health Nursing Team to which she belongs has been shortlisted for a Student Nursing Times Award. “Sometimes we see these awards going on and they’re very English-focused. You don’t tend to see Wales in there much. But this year I thought ‘This would be a great opportunity to promote what we’re doing here in Wales. We work really hard at what we do. I’m going to put us up’. And, lo and behold, we were shortlisted!”

The Specialist Community Public Health Nursing Team consists of four health visitors – Michelle, Programme Manager Amanda Holland, Student Rep Co-ordinator Kate Phillips and Lorraine Joomun, Professional Head of Primary Care and Public Health Nursing – who in Michelle’s words “are really passionate about what health visitors do.” Together, they deliver a programme at Cardiff University which boasts an excellent track record of preparing nurses and midwives to become qualified health visitors. Although that only really tells half the story.

“We’re quite different in the way that we interact with the students and deliver our theory,” says Michelle. “We try and replicate what actually goes on in practice. For example, some of our sessions involve role-play in the form of theatre forums which enable students to experience what it’s like dealing with difficult situations involving aspects of our work such as honour-based violence or child protection conferences.

"We’re innovative. I always think that’s better than being sat and fed just the theory element. We interact with our students. We also go out and interact with our health boards here in Wales. Keeping those connections going is really important because it enhances the student experience and helps to raise the profile and agenda of health visitors on a national level. 

“Health visiting and safeguarding is written through me like a stick of rock. In fact all four of us are really passionate about what we do. As health visitors ourselves, we’ve seen how working closely with a family over that 0-5 year period can make such a difference. Having compassion for families and children who are vulnerable and might be going through some of the most horrific experiences is essential. Health visitors are in a prime position to identify some of those adverse childhood experiences involving parental issues such as substance misuse and domestic abuse. Looking at the history of the parent is vital, because parents are so influential in their children’s lives. It’s about working with them to improve their situation and try and break that cycle. There’s lots of research out there on epigenetics and adverse childhood experiences which we want to transfer to our students so they can make a difference in children’s lives, because they can make a huge difference.”

Pictured here, from left to right, is Kate, Michelle, Amanda and Lorraine with this year's cohort of students.