QNI appoints new Nursing Director and Deputy CEO
The QNI has appointed Steph Lawrence MBE as the new Director of Nursing and Deputy Chief Executive Officer.
Steph has been a nurse for more than 37 years, with the last 22 years spent working in the community.
She is both an adult and children’s trained general nurse as well as being a very proud District Nurse. She was until her retirement at the end of August 2024 the Chief Nurse at Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust. She also spent three years working at the CQC as the National Professional Adviser for Community Services. She continues to practice clinically as a District Nurse.
Dr Crystal Oldman CBE said: “I am delighted that Steph is joining the QNI team and bringing a wealth of expertise in community and primary care nursing practice, leadership, regulation and education at such a crucial time in the QNI's evolution.”
Steph Lawrence MBE said: “I am delighted to be starting work with the QNI as the Director of Nursing and Deputy CEO.
“This is an exciting time for community services and having recently retired from my role as Chief Nurse for a community trust feel I have a lot to offer for what the future for community nursing in its widest sense could look like.”
She added: “If we are to truly realise that shift from hospital to community funding and resource must follow.
“As nurses we need to ensure our voice is heard at all levels and feel this is a great opportunity for me to do this and support others to do the same. I am excited about this opportunity and cannot wait to get started.”
Steph led the national trailblazer group for the District Nurse Apprenticeship standard which is now being delivered in many English universities.
She also co-chaired the Clinical Reference Group for the National Community Nursing plan for several years.
She was recognised in the Queen’s 2022 Jubilee Birthday Honours and received an MBE for services to District Nursing.
Whilst retired from the NHS she has taken up a new role with the Queen’s Nursing Institute from October 21, 2024 as the Director of Nursing and Deputy CEO.
As a Queen’s Nurse and Fellow of the QNI this is a great opportunity to continue to shape community nursing and ensure the community nursing voice is heard at all levels.