Today’s staff shoutout is for Sharon Watkins, Head of Spiritual Care, who was nominated by Martine Evans, who said:

“Sharon is very passionate about quality care for our patients and staff. She often supports staff and patients in any spiritual matters they raise. She is very gentle and compassionate in her approach. I see her commitment in the work she does when she educates other staff members in spiritual matters. She is inclusive and involves everyone no matter their background or culture and people really appreciate this. She is very loving, and this shows in the way she is with people helping them to feel accepted, heard and calm.”

Sharon was asked about her role and what is important to her, she said:

“I am proud to be Head of Spiritual Care at BSMHFT. I am a Pagan Priestess, trained at Glastonbury Goddess Temple and a Druid of the Anglesey Druid Order.

I am so honoured to have been successful in achieving my current role, where I am able to contribute to providing a modern Spiritual Care service to all at BSMHFT. Regardless of having a faith belief or not, I believe everyone is spiritual and wishes peace and joy in their heart and life, I am blessed to work in a team that can help others find that, often at challenging times in their life.

It is really important to me to be a role model, to help others know they can achieve. I try to encourage them to have faith and belief in themselves and their dreams, however big or small. I love those little saying we see around nowadays, my current favourites are ‘If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough’ and ‘It is always alright in the end and if it’s not alright it’s not the end’.

I believe the power in having an equal, diverse, and inclusive workforce helps others believe their dreams and goals can be achieved, seeing successful people with similar protected characteristics is evidence it is possible. It shows as a Trust we see you; we respect you; we understand and can support you, and we would like you to join us.”