Kaleigh's story
She first considered nursing as a career after a personal experience caring for someone when they became critically unwell and required emergency support. Her natural instinct kicked in and she just started caring for them, while waiting for the ambulance to arrive, without any formal medical training.
"...My interest spiralled from there and I decided to abandon my course in PR and Italian, and applied to university again to start my training. From the minute I started my training as a nurse, I knew I had made the right decision. I was so impassioned and motivated by everything I learned and experienced that I couldn’t imagine why I had even considered any other career. When I completed my degree and started working as a registered nurse, my enthusiasm grew every day.
I wanted to experience all aspects of paediatric nursing and so completed a rotational 18 month programme within a tertiary level major trauma centre before deciding where I wanted to work more permanently.
I quickly realised my passion and natural skill within acute medical and surgical nursing, specifically children involved in trauma and with brain injuries. After significant clinical experience, education within neurosciences and gaining a broad set of skills, I transitioned into the role of clinical nurse specialist in paediatric neurology, neurodisability and acquired brain injury. After several years in this role, within multiple acute hospital major trauma settings, I decided my long term passion and interest lay within the specific, yet complex field of neurorehabilitation.
For years I had worked alongside The Children’s Trust, referring children from a hospital setting and then following them up long-term in my nurse led clinics. I began to learn more about The Children’s Trust and all the amazing work they do, as well as forming strong professional relationships with staff. Children and their families would always speak highly and energetically of the staff and rehabilitation services, praising all the hard work with a beaming smile on their faces. I knew that my long term career goal was to work alongside like-minded and passionate teams in an environment specifically and beautifully designed to meet the needs of children and young people with brain injuries.
I have achieved that goal having recently joined The Children’s Trust as the Lead Nurse for Neurorehabilitation, overseeing and developing the rehabilitation service. The 24-hour approach towards rehabilitation underpins the way in which care is structured, and involves every member of the multidisciplinary team working in collaboration with the individual child or young person and their family.
The education and training opportunities are the most impressive I have encountered in my entire career. My colleagues are not only incredibly friendly and welcoming but passionate and caring, even during the most challenging times. The Children’s Trust also offers a significant variety of benefits and opportunities unavailable in many other settings. I even get to keep my NHS pension!
The transition into my role here has been the most fulfilling and rewarding opportunity thus far in my career, and I am so excited and motivated about the future."
Three purpose-built houses, accommodating approximately 25 children in total, provide 24-hour specialist care supported by Nurses, Children’s Support Assistants, Doctors and Therapists.
Rachel is now in a senior role helping to supervise other members of the team ensuring the needs of each individual child is met. Up to nine children are looked after by the team on a round-the-clock basis. Children attend the on-site school from 9.30am-4pm, with a two-hour break at lunch time, so that they can be fed and rest before the afternoon session. When school finishes, the children return for leisure activities and baths before bedtime.
Rachel explains: “Working closely with the children and families is something I really enjoy".
"Getting to know the children well helps to monitor how they are feeling on a daily basis, so the team can respond quickly to their needs. My job is varied, sometimes challenging, but equally enjoyable and rewarding, knowing that we are helping to make a difference to the lives of some very special children".
"Since I have been at The Children’s Trust, I have been able to take part in a wide range of training to learn new skills and help me progress my career. Additionally I work with a very friendly, supportive and dedicated team of people which adds to the enjoyment of my job.”