London
Welcome Joanna as Co-Chair of London’s Social Care Nursing Advisory Council
- Enable care home nurses to deliver IV treatments in their place of work.
- Keep championing research and evidence-based practice.
- Develop a leadership offer for nurses in adult social care, in partnership with the RCN.
- Create a learning module for all new staff and students working in or with social care for the first time.
- Support universities and care providers (including nursing homes and home care services with nurses) to offer student nurse placements in social care settings.
- Explore fun and innovative ways to improve dementia knowledge across the workforce.
“I’m honoured to co‑chair the Social Care Nursing Advisory Council for London.
I look forward to working with colleagues across London and other regions in England, alongside people with lived experience, to strengthen social care nursing, support our workforce, and drive inclusive, person‑centred care.”
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Co Chair - Louise Keane
Louise Keane
I’m a nurse with over 35 years of experience across adult social care and the NHS, both in the UK and overseas. My background spans adult nursing and mental health nursing, and for the past decade, I’ve focused on nurse education particularly in adult social care, with a strong interest in simulation-based learning. I’m passionate about the health and wellbeing of the workforce.
I developed a health and wellbeing bus and championed resilience-based clinical supervision to support staff across care settings. I'm a proud Queen’s Nurse, a Gold Award holder from the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, and a recipient of multiple HSJ and Nursing Times awards recognising my innovative programmes of work.
I led nationally recognised work in the rollout of digital technology in adult social care during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, with my implementation praised as one of the most successful. I now run my own education and consultancy business, supporting providers with both workforce development and the integration of digital technologies in care settings.
I am currently the Co-Chair of the Social Care Nursing Advisory Council for London, a role that enables me to champion the voice of social care nurses, influence policy, and drive improvements across the region.
Throughout my career, I have been a tireless advocate for person-led care, always championing the voices, choices, and rights of residents. Ensuring that people who draw on care and support remain at the heart of decision-making is central to everything I do.
Research continues to fascinate me especially its power to elevate practice in adult social care. I’m committed to encouraging more adult social care nurses to engage in research and have championed student nurse placements in social care settings to help shape the next generation of skilled, confident practitioners.
email: louise.london@scnac.co.uk
Mobile: 07872585504
Co Chair - Joanna Grant
Joanna Grant
Chief Nurse - Karen Bonner
Chief Nurse
Karen Bonner
Chief Nurse London
Karen is the Regional Chief Nurse for NHS London region NHS England.
In her qualified nursing career, Karen has worked in several large NHS organisations in London. She was the Chief Nurse and Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust where she led during the pandemic between 2020-2024. She holds a diploma, a BSc (Hons) in Nursing and an MSc in advanced practice leadership from Kings College University.
She is a graduate of the NHS Leadership Academy Senior Leaders and Nye Bevan programme and the Leadership College for Government Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) accelerated programme.
From 2017 until 2021 Karen was a member of the National Health Service (NHS) Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) strategic advisory group. She was recognised by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) in 2021- 2024 as one of the 50 most influential Black, Asian and minority ethnic people in health.
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the NHS, Nursing Times recognised Karen as one of the 75 nurses who have positively shaped the NHS over the past 75 years. In June 2024 she was awarded an MBE in recognition of her contribution to nursing, as part of the King’s Birthday Honours.
Karen is a member of the General Advisory Council at the King’s Fund. In a capacity as a volunteer and campaigner, Karen works with Prostate Cancer UK, to educate and raise awareness of the disease. She is also a Trustee at Helpforce, which seeks to bolster volunteering in health and social care and in 2022 her work saw her recognised as a Burdett Hero by the Burdett Trust for Nursing.
Karen is passionate and privileged to be a nurse.
Bluesky: @karenbonner.bsky.social
LinkedIn: Karen Bonner MBE
Council Members
London
| Member Name | Bio | Job Title | Organisation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louise Keane (Co-Chair) | Nurse Education Lead | ||
| Joanna Grant (Co-Chair) | Director of Nursing | MCS Healthcare | |
| Karen Bonner | Regional Chief Nurse London | NHS | |
| Diane Jones | Chief Nursing Officer | North East London ICB | |
| Darren Jones | Director of Nursing | North West London ICB | |
| Anne Middleton | Director of Nursing | North West London ICB | |
| Holly Ashford | Deputy Chief Nurse | North West London ICB | |
| Jenny Goodridge | Director of Quality and Interim Chief Nursing Officer | North Central London ICB | |
| Elaine Clancy | Chief Nursing Officer | South West London ICB | |
| Vinice (Vi) Thomas | Deputy Chief Nursing Officer | South East London ICB | |
| Gwen Kennedy | Interim Chief Nursing Officer | South East London ICS | |
| Lizzie Wallman | Deputy Chief Nursing Officer | South East London ICS | |
| Benedicta Okpor (Benny) | Social Care Nursing Clinical Practice Development Lead | South East London ICS | |
| Nuno Santos Lopes (Co-Chair) | Director of Research & Innovation | Nightingale Hammerson | |
| Laura Anthony | Read | Senior Locality Manager | Skills for Care |
| David Taylor | Regulation Advisor for Independent Health & Care - London | NMC | |
| Tawanda Bvumburai | Read | Employer Link Service Advisor | NMC |
| Dawn Beaumont-Jewell | Acting Chief Operating Officer | National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) - South London | |
| Pam Hodge | Senior Lecturer in Practice Learning | Middlesex University London | |
| Maggie Candy | Nurse Consultant | Cavendish Professionals Homecare | |
| Clemence Muchingaguyo | Registered Manager | Nightingale Hammerson | |
| Millie Simms | Read | Lead Nurse Independent Health & Social Care | Royal College of Nursing |
| Preeti Hamal | Deputy Manager | Ravenscroft Park Nursing Home | |
| Richard Taylor-Elphick | Partnership Director | North London Councils | |
| Kate Meacock | Campaigner | Rights for Residents | |
| Choonwha Jung | Senior Community Learning Disabilities Nurse | Clinical Health Team for Adults with Learning Disabilities - London Borough of Sutton | |
| Peter Webb | London Care & Support (LCAS) Forum | ||
| Dudley Sawyerr | London Care & Support (LCAS) Forum | ||
| Isatta Sisay | Director of Care | Royal Trinity Hospice | |
| Celia Jeffreys | Deputy Director for Safeguarding Adults | NHS North East London | |
| Esther NA Adjaye | Student Nurse | Middlesex University London | |
| Ziyanai Shiripinda | CQC | ||
| Tom Pisani | Care England | ||
| Mirko Ridolfo | Operations Manager | Majesticare | |
| George Appleton | Head of External Affairs | SCIE - Social Care Institute of Excellence | |
| Beatrice Godfrey | General Manager | Southgate Beaumont Care Community - Barchester | |
| Anna Lynch | Continuing Health Care Advisor Policy and Engagement Advisor | London Borough of Newham NHS Confederation | |
| Mike Armstrong | Havering Care Homes Ltd | ||
| Pauline Fahy | Senior Programme Manager, Health & Care in the Community | NHS England, London Region | |
| Jacqueline Robinson-Rouse | Clinical Workforce Improvement Lead (Capital Nurse) | NHS England, London Region | |
| Alyce Sheedy | Read | Wellbeing Ambassador (Nurse) | Riverstone Living |
| Julie Burton | Head of Operations | Twinglobal Care Limited | |
| Aekta Babhania | Read | Clinical Leadership & Development Lead | Azalea Court, Enfield |
| Alin-Valentin Cojocaru | Read | Business Manager | Azalea Court, Enfield |
| Patricia Johnson Howell | Read |
Projects
#ButFirstADrink: A Proven Initiative for Improved Hydration in Care Homes
Project Summary
Introduction
We are thrilled to announce the success of the #ButFirstADrink initiative, a program designed to improve hydration among care home residents/ patients and clients in health and social care. Originally piloted in South West London, #ButFirstADrink has demonstrably enhanced well-being and is now being adopted as a standard practice across the region.
Background
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a significant concern in care homes, often leading to hospital admissions and increased healthcare burden. Recognising this challenge, South West London embarked on the #ButFirstADrink pilot in October 2022.
The #ButFirstADrink Approach
#ButFirstADrink is a straightforward yet impactful approach that promotes teamwork and behavioural change around hydration. The core principle is to ensure that everyone who has a first contact with residents/patient/client offers them a drink. By doing this it will increase the opportunities they have to drink throughout the day and increase fluid intake. This simple act has yielded remarkable results.
Celebrating Achievements
- Increased Fluid Intake: Data analysis reveals a 34% average increase in fluid intake across participating care homes.
- Reduced UTIs: We’ve observed a downward trend in UTI occurrences, with some homes reporting no UTIs since implementing the program.
- Improved Well-being: Feedback highlights positive impacts on resident health, including faster wound healing, enhanced mobility, and reduced constipation.
- Staff Awareness: The initiative has fostered a heightened awareness of hydration among care staff, leading to more consistent completion of fluid charts.
- Alignment with CQC Regulations: #ButFirstADrink demonstrably aligns with CQC regulations concerning person-centred care, meeting resident needs, and ensuring proper hydration and nutrition.
Beyond the Pilot: #ButFirstADrink as Standard Practice
While the initial pilot phase concluded in March 2025, #ButFirstADrink is here to stay. We encourage all health and social care environments to embrace this program as a fundamental of hydration care.
Benefits of Implementation
- Improved resident health and well-being
- Reduced UTIs and associated healthcare costs
- Simple and sustainable approach
- Alignment with CQC regulations
Benefits of the initiative
As well as seeing an increase in the health and wellbeing of your residents/clients/patients there is also the following benefits:
- Low-cost initiative
- Sustainability
We believe this initiative aligns perfectly with the following CQC (Care Quality Commission) regulations:
- Regulation 9: Person-centred care. #butfirstadrink promotes resident well-being with a simple yet effective framework that respects individual preferences.
- Regulation 12: Meeting needs. Proper hydration is essential for good health, and #butfirstadrink directly addresses this need.
- Regulation 14: Meeting hydration and nutritional needs. #butfirstadrink directly addresses this regulation by ensuring residents receive adequate fluids to maintain good health.
- Regulation 17: Staffing. The program requires minimal staff training, ensuring efficient use of resources.
We are sharing this program with all stakeholders, including regulators. By implementing #butfirstadrink, you can demonstrate your commitment to meeting these CQC regulations.
Support and Resources
We remain committed to supporting the implementation of #ButFirstADrink. We offer:
- Training: We provide comprehensive training on the program and hydration best practices.
- Promotional Materials: Staff and residents. There are free promotional materials available for staff and residents.
- Events: A pan-London webinar in September 25 to learn more and celebrate the program’s success.
Contact Us
For further information or to join the initiative, please contact Charlotte Trumper programme lead at charlotte.trumper@swlondon.nhs.uk or Hannah Shields business support officer at Hannah.shields@swlondon.nhs.uk
Moving Forward Together
#ButFirstADrink is a testament to the power of collaboration in improving care. By working together, we can ensure that all residents/patients/clients receive the hydration they need to live healthier and happier lives.
Key Points:
- #ButFirstADrink is no longer a pilot but a successful, established program.
- Data showcases the program’s effectiveness in improving hydration and reducing UTIs.
- Emphasis on residents/patients/clients’ well-being and alignment with CQC regulations.
- Ongoing support and resources are available for care homes.
London Regional Meetings
Meeting Date
Documents
15th July 2025
Email sent on behalf of the London SCNAC Co-Chairs, Nuno Santos Lopes and Louise Keane
Dear London SCNAC Members,
Please find attached the Attendance, Apologies and Notes document for this quarter’s London SCNAC Meeting that took place on Tuesday 15th July 2025, along with the action points agreed (the full Excel working document and more easily accessible summary pdf/.png are attached.)
Please do note the additional notes from Vi Thomas in the attached document who came back on to the meeting hoping to talk about risks surrounding the changes in immigration rules in ‘any other business,’ but we had managed to finish the meeting early! Vi is reaching out to the SCNAC to offer help and support on this so if you would like to get in touch, please contact Sonia and she will put you in touch.
As a reminder, if you have not done so already, please could you forward a high-res photo and short bio (approx. 100 words) so that we can including them on our council page.
As you may be aware, the Nursing Placement Strategy Launch event: Social care as a nursing placement of choice, that Margaret Sharpe from Skills for Care mentioned during the meeting that was initially taking place on 17th July 2025, has been rescheduled as a virtual meeting for Wednesday 23rd July 2-25 from 10:00-11:00. To find out more and register, please click here (flyer also attached.)
Please share this widely in your networks.
If you have any queries, or require further information, please do get in touch.
Many thanks and kind regards,
Nuno and Louise
4th April 2025
7th January 2025
25th September 2024
25th July 2024
Useful Documents
Dear Colleagues,
We are delighted to share with you the final resource we have developed to support awareness and adoption of the Universal Care Plan (UCP) by London care homes.
This guide is aimed specifically at the wider system that works with, or supports, care homes. It is intended for, but not limited to, colleagues such as care home GPs, primary care staff, Care Home Support Teams, community provider services and community nursing, Urgent Community Response teams, Rapid Response, London Ambulance Service crews, local authorities, hospital discharge teams etc.
The Health Innovation Network South London has valued working with you over the past few months and we thank you for the time you spent contributing to this programme of work.
The central Universal Care Plan Programme team will continue to engage with you and keep you informed of any further UCP updates.