Our Cotswold Unit

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Joanna qualified as a State Enrolled Nurse in 1982. She then did a post registration course at Greenwich Hospital and qualified as a Registered General Nurse working on the Gynaecology unit. She then pursued Registered Mental Nurse Training at the Maudsley Hospital and Institute of Psychiatry and qualified in 1991. Joanna stayed at the hospital for 5 years rising to the post of Junior Charge Nurse on an open Forensic ward. In 1996 she returned to her native North Wales to work as a Community Psychiatric Nurse with Old Age Adults. Joanna has worked with the elderly in both the private sector and the NHS. In 2003 she took a position at Gloucester Royal Hospital on an acute medical ward, where she progressed to Junior Sister. Joanna then managed a 20 bed Nursing Home in North Wales for people living with Dementia. In 2009 she returned to Gloucestershire to take up the position of the Manager of the Cotswold Unit.

She has completed Dementia link worker training which inspired her to complete the Dementia Leadership Programme. She recently completed the "Train the Trainer" training and this enables her to deliver Health Education England Tier 1 Dementia training to all Horsfall House staff.

Joanna leads a team of motivated, caring and well-trained staff who deliver the best possible care to our residents. She really enjoys her job and finds new challenges every day and feels privileged to be a part of our resident’s lives.

Her mother Hazel is a resident on the unit and has lived there for 2 and half years. Joanna said "sometimes it can be difficult having two different roles to play being a daughter and a relative and managing the unit but the reality is the Cotswold unit is the best place mum could be all the staff are so loving and caring mum is very happy and as relative that means a lot."

When not at work Joanna enjoys reading, quizzes and relaxing in front of the TV as well taking advantage of the amenities and events on offer in Cheltenham.