Here’s our Rachel Shine, who today starts day one in her #TeamCHFT journey as newly-promoted Matron for Cardiology and Respiratory at CRH.

Rachel settled in West Yorkshire with her family in 2014 and joined CHFT as a recovery nurse in main theatres in 2015. After a short break, when her third daughter Matilda was born, Rachel was determined to juggle motherhood with a career, and returned in a part-time theatre practitioner role in Day Surgery.

Rachel picks up the story: “I wanted to progress and felt I could make a bigger impact to patient care if I was supporting a team of clinical professionals. The best opportunity I had was applying for my PG Certificate in Health Professional Education, so I returned to studies 13 years after graduating. With three babies it was a juggling act, but I have a lot of support at home.

“The course is funded by HEE so I could still work part time. I left to work in education which allowed me to transfer my skills to a wide variety of specialties which opened up opportunities for me.

“In 2021 I returned to CHFT to be the first Practice Educator in Outpatients in England, where I was able to apply fundamental education strategies into practice.

“I have recently been appointed to Matron for Cardiology and Respiratory, allowing me to combine my experience and skills, my qualifications and be a part of growing the future in clinical practice, which is amazing!

“I’m excited to start learning loads in my new job and plan on completing my masters one day.

“I really couldn’t have been in this position if it wasn’t for those supporting managers and matrons along the way. I’ve been inspired by a lot of people, and have been fortunate to inspire others and watch them grown into the roles they’ve aspired to go into, it’s a pleasure.

“I wanted to show people you can be a parent and have a career.”