Public health nurse (health visitor) Traci Jarvis was delighted to receive a national Cavell Star nursing award this week for her work in some of Leicester city’s most deprived areas.

Traci was nominated for the award by service group manager Louise Evans (pictured far left). Louise explains: “As an experienced health visitor, Traci has been supporting families in Leicester for many years, and over the last three years has taken on an additional role in the Early Help programme, working in partnership with our local authority colleagues to improve holistic assessment for those parents who need extra support. Her commitment and passion have also led her to drive forward the ‘Signs of Safety’ approach to safeguarding practice, creating improved outcomes for some of our most vulnerable children and young people.”

Traci received the award from our head of nursing for families, young people and children’s services, Laura Belshaw (pictured on the right) in a surprise presentation. Laura said: “In some parts of Leicester, around 40 per cent of children are growing up in poverty, and the support that our public health nurses, like Traci, offer to families is vital. Traci has done a brilliant job working closely with social care colleagues across the system to help give vulnerable children the best start in life. It was an honour to present her with the award, and we’re really proud of her.”

Traci said: “I’m really touched and overwhelmed to have been nominated. I’m part of such a great team, and being recognised in this way is a wonderful early Christmas present!”

Cavell Star Awards is a national awards programme that celebrates the dedication of nurses, midwives, nursing associates and healthcare assistants, and recognises the care they provide to patients and families as well as to colleagues.