New director to lead mental health nursing in Lincolnshire

A new Director of Nursing and Quality for Lincolnshire’s mental health and social care NHS trust has taken up her post.

Anne-Maria Olphert began her role which will lead mental health nursing and allied health professionals at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) on January 4.

A qualified nurse with more than 30 years’ NHS experience, Anne-Maria has worked in several senior healthcare roles including children’s intensive care manager and director of children’s community health services.

She was worked extensively across the UK, qualifying in Canterbury, and training in Cardiff and at the Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Anne-Maria was most recently working as Chief Nurse for the Erewash Clinical Commissioning Group in Derbyshire.

She said: “I am passionate about mental health having managed adult mental health services in Leicestershire – I love Lincolnshire and visit regularly as my family live here.

“The NHS, nationally and locally, is going through many changes. We are faced with financial constraints, the need to recruit the right staff with the right skills – in addition to continuing to provide the excellent services we deliver for our patients.”

Anne-Maria was awarded a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship last year and spent time in New Zealand studying End of Life Care and compassion in practice.

She has published widely in several journals and is currently on the editorial board of the British Journal of Nursing.

She added: “I’m looking forward to getting out and about, meeting and getting to know staff and patients and making sure I’m in a position to listen to their concerns as well as their celebrations.

“I also want to understand the challenges staff are facing and develop relationships with our key stakeholders such as commissioners, local authorities and providers.”

LPFT Chief Executive Dr John Brewin said: “We are delighted to welcome Anne-Maria to the trust.

“Her proven track record in nursing leadership will be an excellent asset to the trust as we continue our drive to help people live well in their communities.”