Karen qualified in 1996 as Registered Learning Disability Nurse. In 1998 she joined Lifeways, a large social care provider where she has remained for the last 26 years. Her diverse role sees her provide Health and Clinical support and guidance to her Lifeways colleagues who in turn support over 5,000 people. Karen is a keen advocate of seeing the person as an individual rather than a label and supporting them to achieve their full potential. Karen was proud to become a Queens Nurse in 2017 and also receive the Queens Nursing Institutes (QNI) long service award in 2020. She also became the Co-Chair of the newly formed North East and Yorkshire Social Care Nursing Advisory Council (SCNAC) this year.