The Social Care Nursing Advisory Councils (SCNACs) express immense delight in announcing that Emily Pimm, one of our recently appointed co-chairs, has been selected as the Lamp Carrier for the upcoming 59th Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF) Commemoration Service at Westminster Abbey in May. This honor holds significant importance for our sector, marking a truly special moment.
I am incredibly honoured to be chosen as the Lamp Carrier for the 59th Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF) Commemoration Service, due to be held in Westminster Abbey in May. I’m extremely proud to represent Social Care Nurses at this event, and to celebrate what has been an exciting and pivotal year for this sector. Having worked in this sector for close to 12 years, I have a deep appreciation and respect for the social care nursing workforce – and to be the first social care nurse to be the lamp carrier at this event is reflective of the recent fantastic work taking place to increase the visibility and skills of these amazing practitioners.
The Florence Nightingale Lamp on the Altar at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.
I was delighted when an opportunity to apply for the FNF Leadership Scholarship came about, and I was even more delighted to be accepted into the scholarship! I have been able to grow and develop as a nurse and a nurse leader in many ways throughout the Scholarship, as well as network with some inspiring nurse leaders across different sectors, and across the UK.
The Scholarship enabled me to develop my confidence, and so when an opportunity to go onto an FNF programme to develop skills to become a Chair of a Social Care Nurse Advisory Council (SCNAC) came up, I didn’t hesitate to apply. After a 6-month programme, with the SCNAC Chairs working closely with Professor Deborah Sturdy (Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care), the Chairs worked with local ICB Chief Nursing Officers to begin setting up Social Care Nurse Advisory Councils.
We have now moved to a more sustainable regional structure, and I am very privileged to have been elected as Co-Chair of the South West SCNAC. I am looking forward to this next phase of my Social Care Nurse leadership journey – and to continue to raise the voices of social care nurses in the process!