Paula Elliott

I completed my Registered Adult Nurse training in 1989 and, following a period of working on Children’s wards, Emergency Department and Renal/Cardiac wards at St James’ Hospital Leeds, successfully completed my Registered Children’s Nursing course at Great Ormond Street, London. During this time, I also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Child Development at the Institute of Education, University of London. I then completed BSc Honours Psychology Degree at the University of Leeds working as a Children’s Nurse throughout and achieving a 2:1 classification.

I qualified as a SCPHN in 1995 and worked as a Health Visitor and Practice Educator for 25 years gaining a wealth of experience in teaching, public health, child health and wellbeing and safeguarding. I completed my master’s degree in ‘Health Professional Education’ 2013-2016 whilst working and teaching SCPHN students and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I published an article in 2016 based on my Qualitative research for my MSc, examining the impact of a Practice Educator Led Peer support group for SCPHN students.

I have been employed at the University of Huddersfield since 2019 and am Course Leader and Senior Lecturer teaching the Foundation Degree Trainee Nursing Associate (TNA) Apprentices. I lead two modules and teach TNAs across the course curriculum including professional development, research methodology, child health, public health, clinical skills and mental health. My responsibilities are for teaching and supporting TNA learners to successful completion of their apprenticeship and registration with the NMC as well as liaising with our practice partners to ensure the seamless running of the course. The University of Huddersfield Apprenticeship provision has recently (2023) been awarded 'Outstanding' following inspection, only the second University to have achieved this grading.

I am the author of an article recently submitted for peer review and publication and researcher and co-author of another exploring learner experience of Compassionate Circles.