Meet Emily: “Witnessing a child’s transformation under our care is incredibly rewarding”

Sunday 12 May is Nurses’ Day, a day to celebrate all our outstanding nurses at Sheffield Children’s! 

Today we’re shining the spotlight on Emily, a nurse who works at Sheffield Children’s Becton Centre for Children and Young People, a state-of-the-art centre for children and young adults aged up to 18 with mental health issues and learning disabilities.

Meet Emily, keen cheesecake maker and bookworm who also happens to be a Clinical Staff Nurse specialising in Learning Disabilities.

Emily joined the Sheffield Children’s team three and a half years ago after graduating from Sheffield Hallam University with a degree in Learning Disabilities and Social Work. Reflecting on her journey, Emily shares: “I discovered my calling during a work experience stint at a day centre for adults with learning disabilities. From that moment, I was determined to pursue a career in learning disability nursing.

“I went on to study Health and Social Care at college followed by a three-year undergraduate degree. In my first year of university I went on a mental health placement, which inspired me to tie in mental health with learning disabilities.

“I also really wanted to work with children so when a job came up at Sheffield Children’s that combined all of my passions I had to jump on it and I absolutely love it!”

The Becton Centre is a unique service specialising not only in mental health but also in learning disabilities so working at Becton enables Emily to use all of her knowledge, skill and passions to help children.

Day to day you’ll find Emily providing holistic care for the children and young people she looks after: “We tailor the care we provide to each child’s unique needs, considering their mental and physical well-being, home environment, and sensory preferences,” she explains.

Emily is part of a team of nine and really enjoys nursing alongside her colleagues: “The  team I work with are brilliant, they’re all really supportive and they’re a big part of why I love my job.”

As we honour our nurses today, Emily reflects on the profound significance of her profession. Emily said: “I think the main thing I love about being a nurse is the problem-solving, you’re always trying to find an innovative way to care for a child or young person and it’s great when you find a solution that works.

“Being a nurse allows me to make a tangible difference in a child’s life. While the journey may be challenging, witnessing a child’s transformation under our care is incredibly rewarding.”

Thank you Emily for your compassion, skill and dedication to the children you care for and thank you for sharing your story!