Professor Deborah Sturdy OBE is set to take up a new role representing social care nurses and providing clinical leadership to the workforce, having been appointed Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care in England.
In her new role, Professor Sturdy will work closely alongside the Minister for Care and the Chief Nursing Officer as an important role in ensuring the provision of high quality, personalised, joined up care.
The Chief Nurse position will also act as an inspiring leader for social care nursing and help develop social care policy and how it relates to the workforce.
Minister for Care Helen Whately said: “I’m delighted to welcome Deborah Sturdy as our first Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care.
“This is a really important new role ‒ supporting, leading and speaking up for social care and our fantastic care workers.
“This year has shone a light on the commitment of carers across the country. Care staff and nurses have risen to the challenge of providing skilled, compassionate care in the face of the huge challenges of the pandemic.
“The appointment of a Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care is another step towards giving carers the support and recognition they absolutely deserve.”
The role is an interim appointment for up to six months, in order to further increase the professional support and expertise in the department over the tough winter period ahead.
The post will be filled on a more permanent basis in 2021.
Professor Sturdy steps into the role with a wealth of experience, having had a long and successful career in nursing, including working with older people and people living with dementia. Since February 2020, she has worked partially on secondment as a strategic adviser for social care nursing to the Chief Nursing Officer in England.
She has also provided nursing advice to the Gosport Independent Panel, set up to address concerns about the care of residents in Gosport War Memorial Hospital. Prior to this, she had worked as Professional Nursing Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care between 2000 and 2011.
Professor Sturdy explained: “I am honoured to have been asked to help define a new narrative for social care nursing and support colleagues to find their voice, and contribute to the development of the workforce in the coming months and work together to deliver the best care possible.
“The social care nursing and care workforce together are a powerful force to help shape and deliver the health and social care agenda. I hope that in this role I will be able to give a voice to those working in social care and develop the workforce, through the difficult months ahead and beyond.”
