Louise Molson

Associate Director of Nursing (Professional Development) – Cross-site – Leadership Award

Louise was nominated by her colleagues for the DAISY Leadership Award:

“Louise embodies the very best of the nursing profession. She is an exceptional nurse leader who inspires those skills and values in others. She positively impacts everyone she works with and has supported and nurtured her team well beyond what is expected, making a significant difference to both nurses and patients within our Trust.

“She is also a key figure in wider staff recognition efforts and plays a leading role in many important staff development programmes. Some of the ways in which she demonstrates her impact as a leader include:

Preceptorship Programme: She has played a vital role in supporting and preparing newly qualified nurses, helping to develop the next generation of the nursing workforce. This also includes her involvement in the SLiP (Supporting Learners in Practice) programme, which champions professionalism and development within nursing.
PoWER Project: She has led the PoWER initiative to support career development and progression across the Agenda for Change banding structure. This project is transforming how workforce planning is approached, recognising the value of apprenticeships and nursing associates, and challenging outdated concepts of skill mix to ensure high standards of care.
Clinical Support Worker Development: She has led the development of a competency framework to support clinical support workers progressing from Band 2 to Band 3, creating pathways for professional growth and recognising their contributions within the Trust.
ACE Programme (Achieving Care Excellence): She has overseen this initiative to promote and celebrate the professionalism of support workers, encouraging their participation in Quality Improvement (QI) efforts to benefit both staff and patients.
Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) Role: She has championed the PNA role, advocating for the resources and capacity required to deliver a Trust-wide service promoting nurse wellbeing. She also continues to work as a PNA herself, role modelling outstanding professionalism and leadership.
Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) Leadership: She secured a lead post for ACPs and successfully introduced leadership support for this highly skilled, often autonomous group ensuring they have the recognition and guidance they deserve.

“She continually champions professional development, nurse wellbeing, and the importance of pastoral support. Her commitment to creating opportunities for staff at all levels is unwavering. Over many years, she has demonstrated total dedication to developing and nurturing others. She is a shining example of nursing excellence, NHS values, and outstanding leadership. She has made and continues to make a significant and lasting impact. She is an incredibly worthy recipient of this award.”