Jodie Kirby

Lead Nurse (RMN) for Mental Health at Walsall Healthcare Trust and The Royal Wolverhampton Trust (Panel Group 2)

Jodie Kirby is a Lead Nurse (RMN) for Mental Health at Walsall Healthcare Trust and The Royal Wolverhampton Trust.

In 2013, Jodie won the prestigious Nursing Times Student Nurse of the Year Award in the Mental Health category. She secured the accolade in recognition of her commitment to learning and development and the use of her skills to make a real difference to the lives of mental health service users. The award celebrates the skills required to nurse patients who are often hard to reach. The judges looked for someone exceptional who showed compassion and empathy, as well as academic achievement, who could act as a role model for student nursing. Also in 2013, Jodie was awarded Student nurse of the year at Birmingham City University as well as the Angela Gallagher Memorial Award for Upholding standards of Practice. Five years later in 2018, Jodie was awarded the rising star of the year award for Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Trust.

With a practical and academic perspective towards mental health care while keeping the patient at the centre, Jodie is focussed on achieving parity of esteem and a parallel approach (between physical health teams and mental health teams).

Jodie has a vision of being a change agent for the future where patients in a mental health crisis can have access to the same level of care and service no matter where they go. Jodie believes that if the health care sector is to provide care which is respectful and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs and values, it is essential to create an organisational culture which is authentic and embraces transparency, approachability, honesty, care, compassion and competence.