Lorraine Wilson
Nurse Development Facilitator
Bromley Education Training Hub, South East London
The Journey
Having retired from working as a Registered Mental Nurse, Lorraine wanted to maintain her skills and NHS contacts, and was also keen to explore working in a Primary Care setting—something she had not done before. She was then offered a role in Primary Care Support (PCS) and thought, why not give it a try? She was appointed to an HCA post in a GP practice but, within six months, was offered the opportunity to train as a GPN, a role she fully enjoyed. A new Nurse Development Facilitator post was advertised in Bromley, and Lorraine successfully secured the position.
When newly appointed to the Nurse Development Facilitator role, Lorraine was fortunate to take up the CARE Programme, which came at the right time in her life as she settled into her new role. The PCNs Lorraine supported were often unaware of her role and responsibilities since she was employed externally.
As Lorraine began supporting her GPN colleagues and new nurses in primary care, she noticed that many felt isolated and unsupported, with some considering leaving the profession. To address this, Lorraine brings the nurses together and has set up a WhatsApp group, allowing them to interact and seek help when needed. Lorraine found that the learning from the CARE Programme reinforced her desire to nurture and support her colleagues by providing mentoring and guidance. She values listening to her nurses, whether they face challenges or not. The positive impact of this approach on staff and clinical workforce resilience has been recognised by the Training Hub, resulting in the employment of a second Nurse Development Facilitator.
“I like to bring positivity, joy, and happiness to the workplace.”
As a result of the CARE Programme, Lorraine now feels more confident in her role. The programme was highly relevant to her work, offering insights she could immediately apply.
She is proud to have completed the CARE Programme, which has made her more proactive and given her the courage to speak up. Above all, Lorraine is committed to bringing positivity, joy, and happiness to the workplace, fostering an environment where her team can thrive.
“I am happy to have completed the CARE Programme. I have learned so much.”
The Impact
- Improved confidence in leadership style and approach
- Increased opportunities to influence change and engage people
- Improved job satisfaction
- Increased collaboration and network opportunities
- Recognised personal value and benefits of unique role in primary care
- Improved understanding of leadership tools available to support her work with others
