Clare Lambert

Alongside my nursing degree, I currently work as a Support Worker for Mencap, supporting people with learning and physical disabilities within the community. This role has helped me develop strong communication skills and a compassionate, person-centred approach to care.

My role involves supporting individuals with personal care, nutrition, daily activities, and emotional well-being while encouraging independence and respecting personal choice and dignity at all times. I have also gained experience in recognising and reporting changes in physical and emotional wellbeing, and in working closely within a team to provide safe and effective support.

As a mature student nurse, I believe my life and work experience has helped me develop empathy, resilience, and a calm approach in challenging situations. Through a variety of placements across different healthcare settings, alongside my current placement at St Leonard’s Hospice, I have developed a strong passion for providing holistic, compassionate, and person-centred care.

Worked in a fast-paced retail environment delivering high standards of customer service while supporting daily store operations. Responsibilities included assisting customers, working as part of a team, and maintaining efficient and organised store presentation.

Developed strong communication, teamwork, and time management skills, along with the ability to stay calm and focused under pressure while managing multiple tasks. These transferable skills continue to support my effectiveness in healthcare settings, particularly in teamwork, organisation, and patient-focused communication.

I worked as a call handler and dispatcher within an urgent and out-of-hours GP healthcare service, supporting patients who required urgent medical advice and signposting to the most appropriate services. This then became the NHS 111 service. The role involved managing high volumes of calls, gathering accurate information, and ensuring patients were directed to the most appropriate level of care in a safe and timely manner.

I worked closely with clinical teams to prioritise calls using structured triage systems, escalating concerns when necessary and ensuring clear, accurate communication throughout. This required remaining calm under pressure, making quick but safe decisions, and handling sensitive situations with professionalism and empathy.

During this role, I also completed additional training, including a mental health course, which strengthened my understanding of supporting patients experiencing distress and improved my confidence in communicating with individuals presenting with a range of emotional and psychological needs.

This experience developed my communication skills, clinical awareness, and ability to work effectively in fast-paced, high-pressure environments, all of which I continue to apply within my nursing studies and placements.