Having a child can change your life. For those who are inexperienced in the art of parenting, sometimes they need a bit of help to get the skills. Cynthia Dixon is there to offer a helping hand.
Cynthia, 56, from Birmingham, is Paediatric Community Matron for Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.
She said: “My work as a Paediatric Community Matron involves ensuring that the children we accept onto our caseload receive the best possible care and support by the team I manage.
“We aim to equip parents and carers with the necessary skills thereby empowering them to care for their child safely recognising when to seek medical advice.
“I am driven by the need to provide an excellent service to children, young people and their families.”
The career highlight for Cynthia was that she was instrumental in setting up the Paediatric Community Nursing Service. She is also currently responsible for Paediatric Diabetes, Children with Continuing Health care needs and children attending a Sandwell Special School.
Cynthia said: “It’s great to see how my team have grown over the years; working in the community is very complex you are never bored. There is a new challenge every day.”
Cynthia’s day normally includes discussing with her team how best to manage the caseload of children, looking to see if or how they can do things better or differently. She makes herself available to her team for advice and support. She also liaises with my staff in educational setting and taking calls from parents and carers.
Her next challenge is extending the service to run from 8am to 8pm to enable more children to be discharged early from hospital with the appropriate support.
Away from work, Cynthia dedicates time to the charity she supports, the Nurses Association of Jamaica.
She said: “I have been a member of the Birmingham Branch since 1987. There are two established branches, Birmingham and London. We aim to support worthy causes at home and abroad. The main funding raising event is a dinner dance which is held in December.”
She also spends time with her daughter, April, and enjoys travelling, especially to the Caribbean and America to catch up with families and friends.
As for a hero, Cynthia has been influenced by Maya Angelo and Martin Luther King, but she also had chance to help recognise one of her colleagues in last year’s Staff Awards.
Cynthia said: “I was delighted and over joy last year when the person whom I had nominated for the life time achievement staff award won. She truly deserved the award.”
