Amy Woodward

I have worked for the NHS for 27 years I qualified as a staff nurse in 2003 the years prior I was a clinical support worker. In 2013 I became a band 6 Front Door Response Sister/Generic Assessor also working to the competency of a band 3 Occupational therapist and physiotherapist. My role involves completing a holistic social, functional and personal assessment to facilitate a timely safe discharge due to a multiple of presentations be it injury , illness , mental health or social reasons from a multitude of areas in the hospital A&E, acute assessment units the frailty unit and base wards assessing a wide range of age range of patients/clients with a variety of needs be it illness, frailty, injury, disability, neurological conditions and trauma.

My role consists of holistically assessing a client/patient and identifying there social, functional, mental health ,care and equipment needs and referring them to the appropriate pathway/services to facilitate a safe , timely discharge the assessment at times involves me identifying undiagnosed medical issues for example postural hypotension , undiagnosed malignancies, abnormal bloods and missed fractures. As part of the holistic assessment I am involved with complex discharges and safeguarding of vulnerable adults working closely with other agencies to trying to investigate and put strategies in place.

This role can be challenging and no day is the same it requires identifying and taking risks but putting safety nets in place to support a patient/clients discharge.

Within this role I work closely with a multitude of healthcare professionals more so with First contact team (social services) be it internally in the hospital or within the community setting safeguarding and the home first prevention team assessing individuals with social issues , vulnerable adults that have been placed under a safeguarding , hoarding and illegal immigrants assessing and signposting/referring them on to the appropriate services.

I also have volunteering experience with the clinical navigator team in the hospital dealing with domestic violence and crime and also with the Framework homeless team

I still practice as a general nurse on a daily basis providing high standards of nursing care and identifying a unwell and deteriorating patient performing clinical observations and the administration of medications and general nursing duties.

My role as a band 6 involves supporting junior members of staff and students participating in there training and assessing there competencies I am also the learning environment manager for the team and have helped with the set up and service management working alongside the university to accept student nurse placements . In the absence of the team leader I co-ordinate the team ensuring the appropriate staffing levels the smooth running and allocation of the caseload and the accepting and triaging of new referrals.

I have been involved in many service plan initiatives throughout the service I was part of the development and launch of a discharge to die pathway in A&E which is now used trust wide I have a big interest and knowledge in palliative care and end of life care in which I am the link worker for the team.

I have excellent verbal and non verbal communication skills I communicate with patients , family's and professionals on a daily basis be it face to face or on the telephone at times some difficult and conflicting conversations I am always professional in my manner when communicating and having conversations, I also provide excellent and accurate documentation meeting the standards be it in my assessments or patients documentations or on a vary of referral computer systems

I work to high standards working to my proud values putting patients first, being respectful and demonstrating ownership, unity and delivery I give 110%.

Covid was a personal and professional challenge to myself working throughout this period with 2 children. Unfortunately it affected me physically and emotionally causing a breakdown in a 14 year marriage this affected my mental health causing me to have a breakdown and a period of time off work with a warning this was April 2024 with support of work, my GP and mental health support/ occupational health

This last year my life and job was back on track giving 100% attendance multiple positive feedback professionally and from relatives and students recently I am facing another challenge of going through a difficult divorce causing my mental health to decline and being treat for anxiety and depression unfortunately this has led to me being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol leading to a 2 year ban, I want to be open and honest about this I am truly apologetic, remorseful and embarrassed by this

Yet again this has been challenging and I am receiving and accepting of the appropriate support my GP, medications and therapy

I am now at the point of my career of looking for a new challenge where I can forward on my experience, knowledge and skills

Nursing is my dedication despite the challengers professionally and personally I thoroughly enjoy the generic aspect of my role of fact finding and helping a vulnerable individuals situation and signposting onwards to a resolution I am a dedicated, professional, trustworthy, flexible, caring approachable person who endeavours to always give 100% and more

My future is looking for a new challenge where i can forward on my knowledge skills and experience

In 2003 I qualified as a staff nurse working on a Colorectal ward when I worked previously as a Clinical support worker.

My role as a staff nurse was specialised around nursing colorectal patients following simple and complex bowel surgery.

My role involved basic nursing duties . personal care, administration of medications , Iv drugs and fluids and wound and stoma care.

Additional roles were PIC lines , hickman lines and TPN