Two members of Stockport’s school nursing, health visiting and Start Well early years team have received separate awards recognising their contributions to high quality care for local children and young people. 

Health visitor Harriet Griffiths, who qualified last year from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), has been recognised for her dedicated and passionate work supporting older vulnerable children, while school nurse apprentice Rachel Donnelly, studying at the same university, has been rewarded for her excellent poster project supporting LGBTQA+ young people.

Both work within the Stockport Family integrated service for 0-19 year olds in partnership between Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council. 

Harriet Griffiths received the SCPHN (Specialist Community Public Health Nurse) Health Visiting Apprentice Prize from MMU for her hard work, compassion and dedication during the SCPHN Apprenticeship course.

Harriet has performed outstandingly in supporting older vulnerable children and tackling health inequalities, particularly with families who had missed out on the post natal groups due to the pandemic, and also with asylum seekers who have faced particular hardship.

She is described by colleagues as someone who has a great rapport with families, and will always go the extra mile to help them achieve their potential.

School nurse apprentice Rachel Donnelly received the SAPHNA (School And Public Health Nurses Association) School Nurse Student of the Year for her poster presentation on work supporting LGBTQA+ young people in local schools.

Rachel, who is still studying at MMU while working with the team, produced a vibrant, clear and informative poster breaking down the various health inequalities which young LGBTQA+ people are facing, together with the strategies reduce these inequalities and improve health outcomes. 

The poster will be used at the SAPHNA annual virtual conference next month as a resource for colleagues across the country. 

Nic Firth, Chief Nurse for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said “We’re very proud of the school nursing, health visiting and early years service we provide for children and young people in Stockport so its fantastic to see two of its members being rewarded for their brilliant work. In the fields of both supporting vulnerable young people, and providing care for young LGBTAQ+ people in our schools, both Harriet and Rachel are both great examples of the kind of caring nurse that we want to encourage and nurture for the future.”