Meet the team

R.N. and MA Education

Ruth undertook her nurse training in Manchester and worked in the hospital and community settings before moving to Leicestershire in the early 1990s. She worked at Groby Road Hospital and then Leicester Hospitals, where her interest in education developed. Whilst working on the wards she undertook various courses to achieve a teaching qualification and a degree in Health Studies. Ruth's career started to focus on Practice Education and progressed into workforce development and planning. She has always been committed to Life Long Learning and this formed the theme for her MA in Education. Ruth has taken up opportunities to broaden her understanding of education and achieved travel scholarships to visit Poland and Canada, as well as being part of a team visiting India to deliver leadership training to nurses.

Ruth is delighted to join the team and using her knowledge and experience to support the entire workforce in delivering an excellent service to and for the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Ruth and her family enjoy organising events and competing with their two horses at carriage driving competitions.

MBBS BMedSci MD FRCP PGCert Med Ed Dip Clin Hyp.

Christina leads the growing research activity at LOROS, developing projects, liaising with research colleagues in universities and other hospices and enabling patients and families to participate in research. She supervises colleagues undertaking research for higher degrees and makes sure that the findings are known locally, nationally and internationally so that patient care is improved.

Christina has worked as a consultant for 20 years and been at LOROS since 2003. She has served on the National Association for Palliative Medicine Executive Committee, chairing the Education Committee and sitting on the specialty committee of the Royal College of Physicians.

Christina holds weekly outpatient clinics and supports patients attending day care. She is also on call for emergencies and to give advice to health professionals.

She delivers teaching to the doctors and to a range of health and social care professionals studying the masters degree and other programmes.

RGN, BSc (Health Sciences) MSc (Advanced Nursing Practice-palliative pathway) Diploma in Professional Studies Nursing (Community Health) & PGCertHE.

Kerry has worked in specialist palliative care in hospitals, community settings and care homes as a clinical nurse specialist. She was appointed to the Education team in November 2008. Kerry has responsibility for the masters programme and the university certificate. She is Honorary Lecturer at the University of Northampton and De Montfort University. Her interests include communication skills and she is a trained advanced communications skills facilitator. In addition, she has a particular interest in the role of care homes in palliative care.

BA (Social Policy and Administration), Dip SW, BPhil Social Work, CCETSW (Practice Teacher Award), PGCAPHE teaching and learning module.

Philippa has worked in palliative care for 19 years at the Leicestershire and Rutland Hospice. She was appointed as a palliative care social worker in 1995 and worked for over 11 years in the inpatient unit before being appointed to the Education team in Dec 2006. She has responsibility for the Foundation Degree in Palliative and Supportive Care with the University of Northampton and is an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Northampton.

Philippa is an associate fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She is a member of APCSW (Association of Palliative Care Social Workers) and NAPCE (National Association of Palliative Care Educators). Her interests include the social perspectives of end-of-life care and supporting students with the development of their academic skills. Philippa also works part time with De Montfort University's social work degree programme as a tutor for students.

RGN, post graduate diploma in palliative care, accredited advanced communication skills trainer, independent nurse prescriber.

Alison joined the team in 2009. Her background is largely in cardiology in a variety of roles, including coronary care nursing and cardiac rehabilitation. Latterly she worked as a heart failure specialist nurse in the community. This has given her insight into the impact of sudden illness, the difficulties and uncertainty that chronic diseases can cause for patients and relatives and the professional care they require.

Her main interest and passion is to improve communication skills at end of life. She is an accredited trainer and facilitator of advanced communication skills, regularly facilitating both two and three-day courses. Other interests include psychological and spiritual issues in palliative care.

Angela has worked in end-of-life education at LOROS for the past three years. She is a trained social worker and has worked with children and adults with life limiting illnesses across both hospital and community settings. Angela also currently holds a part time post as a senior manager for Leicester City Council Adult Social Care and Safeguarding Division. In her role at LOROS, Angela is committed to the delivery of structured education programmes for health and social care staff involved in end-of-life care. As a member of the Advancing Practice Development team, Angela also works alongside care providers to facilitate mentoring and reflection in practice across a variety of workplace environments.

Angela’s interests include the social aspects of end-of-life care, advance care planning and exploring the ways in which our own attitudes impact on the way in which we care for the dying and bereaved.

Enrolled Nurse (General), Registered General Nurse, ENB (931), BSc in Health & Professional Practice

Fiona has worked as a qualified nurse for 28 years. The main focus of her career has been end-of-life care, working at LOROS in clinical and non-clinical roles. Fiona has also worked in private health care as a resource in end-of-life care and also as part of the Hospice at Home service, providing end-of-life care in the community.

Fiona has a particular interest in care delivery within the care home sector and is program lead for the Six Step Program at LOROS.

Fiona is passionate about the delivery of high quality end-of-life care and the provision of exceptional support, mentorship and training of all staff to facilitate this delivery in all care settings.

BA(Hons), diploma in counselling, diploma in adult nursing, BSC (Hons) adult nursing, diploma in palliative care, PGCert – medical and healthcare education. NMC Registered Teacher Qualification. Maggie qualified in 2000.

Maggie’s background is in palliative nursing within hospices. She is passionate about engaging with members of the public to talk about the D words (death and dying) and has experience of organising and facilitating a number of awareness events.

Other keen areas of interest are dementia, using the arts as a teaching tool and communication skills.

Give Maggie the smallest of excuses and she will talk for hours about the joys of cycling.

Donna joined LOROS in 2003 as a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) on the inpatient unit.

Donna began working at the Leicester General Hospital as a HCA in 1993. In the year 2000 she gained a post as a ‘B’ Grade HCA. This involved using enhanced skills to support the registered nurses and mentoring new HCAs.

Donna developed a passion for end of life care which led her to LOROS. She achieved NVQ Level 3 in Care and Foundation Degree Science in Health and Social Care/Palliative and Supportive Care.

Donna joined the Education team as an Assistant Practitioner in Practice Development in April 2015. This role is designed to support the development of HCAs, including the delivery and assessment of the Care Certificate for newly appointed and Apprentice HCAs.