Local school nurse named best in the country

Jo Mitchell receives the School Nurse of the Year award from CPHVA partner Paul Wood of Ten Alps Creative

Jo Mitchell has been named as the School Nurse of the Year in a national award given by the Community Practitioner and Health Visiting Association (CPHVA).

The annual awards recognise groups, organisations and individuals for their contribution to community nursing and practice, and highlight the valuable contribution that the CPHVA community nursing practitioners make to public health.

Jo Mitchell has worked for the Rochdale School Health Team for 15 years, holding various nursing positions but her current role is as a School Health Practitioner working with young people aged 16 to 19 in colleges around the Rochdale borough. Jo is also an active member of the union Unite and is champion of school nursing at a local, regional and national level.

Jo won the award for her commitment to the profession and how she has been instrumental in raising the profile of school nursing. On winning the award, Jo said: “I am absolutely delighted to have won the award and it’s a real privilege to know that your work is valued and recognised.

“School nursing plays an essential role in supporting the complex health needs of children and young people in the community. The role requires a practitioner to be both reactive and proactive in their approach to addressing a wide variety of health issues and requires advocacy to ensure these are met”

The school nursing service in the Rochdale borough is provided by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.