A school nurse from Dagenham has been recognised by the North East London Foundation Trust for her exemplary work in safeguarding young people.

Titilayo Idowu won in the Working in the Partnership category at the Make a Difference Awards at NELFT last month.

A Dagenham resident and mother of three, Titi supports children and young people not in a mainstream education setting who might be at risk of exploitation.

The 48-year-old nurse works in partnership with other agencies, including in social care and education, to ensure that children’s health needs are met both at school and in the community. She has repeatedly shown commitment not only in providing the best care as a nurse but also safeguarding vulnerable young people.

Receiving her award, Titi, said:

“For me being a school nurse is not just about injecting people and dressing their wounds, but also paying close attention to what’s happening in their environment.

As a school nurse, it is my duty to safeguard and protect young people, some of whom have had traumatic experiences in their lives.”

Jacqui Van Rossum, NELFT acting chief executive, said:

“We’re incredibly proud of Titi for her courage and determination. This kind of dedication by staff here at NELFT allows us to deliver valuable services to the people that need it most.”

The Make a Difference Awards celebrate colleagues going the extra mile to show kindness and compassion to patients and co-workers alike and make improvements across NELFT services.  

The annual awards ceremony returned to NELFT headquarters for the first time since the pandemic and was attended by hundreds of staff both in person and online.