Team Spotlight:
Community Nurse Assessor
Meet Abbots Care’s Community Nurse Assessor, Katie, who is our registered nurse here at Abbots Care. Katie works alongside our training team to ensure our care workers receive the best training in order to provide the best service to our clients. Katie specialises in PEG tubes/ feeding, bowel management in spinal cord injury, care of tracheostomies and ventilators. So, let’s meet Katie…
Hi Katie, can you tell us about your role as Community Nurse Assessor?
In care, there are a handful of tasks that can only be taught to care workers by a registered professional; nurse, physio, doctor etc. I’m here to develop and deliver the training for these tasks, alongside the training team, and go out to clients houses and sign off care workers as competent by observing them providing this care. I’m also around for any nursing questions, though I’m not here to replace a district nurse or perform any nursing tasks.
Can you tell us about your key responsibilities as Community Nurse Assessor ?
Key responsibilities are to develop training around things like PEG tubes and feeding, bowel management in spinal cord injury, care of tracheostomies and ventilators; to deliver this training alongside the training team to the care workers who need it; to help write and adapt new and existing policies to reflect the enhanced care we as a company are able to provide; work alongside the complex care team to help make the care plans extensive and person-centred.
“I love being able to meet our clients and get a feel for what is important to them when we deliver their care, I love being able to work within a team all striving towards making people’s lives better“
Katie, Community Nurse Assessor
How did you get into this role?
I was working as a sister on an Intensive Care Unit, and unfortunately things changed and I needed to look for something else. I knew I didn’t want to find another clinical role, because I would never find anything clinical that I loved as much as critical care nursing, so decided to look for something completely different. This job popped up on one of the job sites, and it looked really interesting, not clinical but using my clinical head. It was also a new role, which meant I could come in and put my stamp on it, develop it in real time, which was really exciting to me. I came for the interview and everything about the office, the people and the company made me really want to work here.
What three skills would you say are key to being successful in your role?
Communication, dedication and the ability to be a good team player.
How long have you been with Abbots Care?
Since October 2023, so not too long but look forward to continuing my journey here at Abbots Care!
Can you tell us what you love most about your role?
I love being able to meet our clients and get a feel for what is important to them when we deliver their care, I love being able to work within a team all striving towards making people’s lives better, and I love being able to sit and research all different kinds of conditions and illnesses in order to provide education for others!
What does a day in your work life look like?
So far, there isn’t a typical day! One day I could be in meetings about a particular care package, another day I might be out and about doing initial assessments, I could have a day of signing care workers off, another day of sitting and researching and creating PowerPoints and training packages. I’m still learning myself, so I may have training of my own to do, I’m currently completing a qualification in teaching and education, so I may have a day where I sit and do my lessons for that. Every day is different and that’s what I love!
What are your hobbies/ interests outside of work?
We have 2 children, so most of my free time is spent ferrying them to various football/cricket/running events! But when I’m not doing that, I’m a season ticket holder at Stevenage FC and have been a supporter since I was 13; it’s where I met my husband – all 4 of us have season tickets and are there every weekend! I also run, I crochet (badly), I play video games, I play football (even worse than I crochet), and I walk our two dogs.
What inspires you in your role every day?
I’m very passionate about helping people, I always have been. My biggest inspiration comes from seeing how much healthcare workers can support people in their time of need. People who give their working lives over to helping others, often for little monetary reward and little appreciation, are the biggest inspiration of all. To be a small part of that group of people is hugely inspiring, and what keeps me doing what I do.