Middlesex academics awarded prestigious Adult Social Care accolade

A Middlesex University academic has been awarded a prestigious national role for her achievements and leadership in nursing education and Adult Social Care across North Central London.

Pam Hodge received the Chief Nursing Officer for Adult Social Care ‘Gold Award’ for Outstanding Service to Social Care. It was recently presented by Professor Deborah Sturdy OBE, the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care.

At Middlesex, Pam, a Senior Lecturer in Practice Nursing, has been instrumental in increasing the number of student placements in Adult Social Care and advancing the quality of placements. She has also worked closely with the North Central London Integrated Care Board (ICB) to improve support for nurses working in Adult Social Care.

In addition, Pam sits on the Social Care Nursing Advisory Council for London where she has played a “pivotal role in engaging the student workforce at Middlesex” to join the council and, as a result, many have gone on to jobs in Adult Social Care.

Pam began her career in Plymouth, Devon, where she grew up, working at the Glenbourne Unit, an acute mental health hospital,  as a student, before working at Maudsley Hospital in South London and then with the community mental health teams of the North London NHS Foundation Trust, formerly known as the Camden and Islington Mental Health Trust.

In her nomination Pam was praised for her “enduring commitment to improving outcomes for residents, supporting families, and nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals”.  Her “contribution to practice learning, clinical excellence, leadership, and quality of care” was also highlighted, as well as a "lasting and meaningful legacy" she has created within both education and social care.

On receiving the award, Pam said: “I was delighted and shocked to receive this award from the Chief Nursing Officer for Social Care. This award means so much to me- it is wonderful and humbling to be recognised by others in the adult social care sector for doing work which I really enjoy. It would not have been possible without the local, regional and national collaborations and partnerships developed over the past 10 years, starting with the Strengthening Team-based Education in Practice (STEP) research project at Middlesex.

“Many years ago, a weekend job in a care home completely changed my career trajectory, influencing my decision to become a nurse. It is wonderful and exciting to now be in position to work alongside social care colleagues again, especially at a time when there is increasing recognition of the sector and the amazing work being undertaken.”

“This is a significant and well-deserved achievement, recognising Pam’s outstanding contribution to social care and her impactful work as a Senior Lecturer within the Practice Based Learning Unit in Nursing and Midwifery. The award is particularly timely, as the NHS continues to undergo major reform with a growing emphasis on delivering care closer to home.”

Cariona Flaherty, Interim Head of Nursing and Midwifery

In her ongoing PhD, Pam is researching the experiences of residents with students working on placement in care homes. Pam is also carrying out research with another Middlesex academic Lisa Marzano, a Professor of Psychology, exploring suicidality and self-harm in adult social care settings.

Find out more about Nursing Midwifery and Social Work at Middlesex University.