Supporting Learners in Health and Care Award Winner

Emma Steeles (Manchester)
Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI)

Emma worked in the main theatre at MRI for eight years as an operating department practitioner (ODP). During this time she was and still is deeply passionate and proud of her work in a perioperative environment where patients are most vulnerable. It won’t surprise you to hear that she has always been committed to promoting learning and development as a means to improve the quality of care and she has been driven by a set of very clear goals in her work. This has meant she was able to seamlessly move into a new and challenging job to support others just twelve months ago.

Emma is adamant about the importance of supporting student ODPs in her new role as a clinical skills facilitator. She has a clear sense of responsibility and an ambition to develop and improve all the perioperative care given by future practitioners. She states with confidence that the early experience that student ODPs receive through their training will influence the practitioners they become in the future. In just a short space of time she has transformed the support for student ODPs at MRI, devising key learning resources and rolling out new student support packages. She continually aspires to ensure all students and their mentors have the right knowledge, skills and support to deliver safe, efficient and compassionate care by working alongside students and with colleagues, never imposing from above, but drawing on knowledge and building perspective in a reflective manner.

Nominated by Sharon Green

Supporting Learners in Health and Care Runners Up

Arts Loco in partnership with PARTIA – Elaine McNeill – Liverpool John Moores University

Paula O’Malley – Aintree University Hospital Trust, Liverpool