Home > Research and Expertise > Health, Care Professions and Nursing

Health, Care Professions and Nursing

Meet the team

A warm welcome from the Health, Care Professions and Nursing Higher Education team at University Centre South Devon.

Sam Bassett

Main areas of teaching

  • Nursing
  • Mental Health
  • Long Term Conditions
  • Patient Centred Care
  • Effective Communication

Bio

I am a Registered Nursing Associate and BSc (Hons) graduate who currently teaches within the Clinical Education team. I have over 10 years experience in healthcare and nursing. My areas of interest and expertise include: clinical skills, philosophy of healthcare, mental health and effective communication.

Zoe Bradley Dip HE, RN, BSc (Hons), RM

Main areas of teaching

  • Teach on the FdSc Nursing Associate Programme and FdSc Assistant Practitioner Programme
  • Clinical practice skills
  • Long term conditions
  • Therapeutic interventions
  • Mental Health
  • Public Health
  • Health and Inequalities
  • The Human Lifespan
  • Course Manager for the Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of End of Life Care

Bio

I commenced my journey as a Registered Nurse in the British Army in 1998, where I gained experience in Burns, Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, Trauma Orthopaedics, General Surgery, Women’s Health, Theatre Recovery and High Dependency. In 2002 following 9/11, I saw active service in Afghanistan, providing medical support to the troops during combat, and working alongside the American Military to provide primary care to the local Afghan people. On leaving the British Army, I completed an 18 month conversion degree in Midwifery, gaining dual registration on the NMC register and working as both a Registered Nurse and Midwife. After 8 years of dual registration, I decided to focus more on my nursing career embarking on a career in Palliative and End of Life Care, firstly working at Rowcroft Hospice before moving into a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) role within the Hospital Palliative Care Team at Torbay Hospital. Being passionate about nursing and having a strong desire to share my nursing knowledge and teach the future generation of Nursing and Healthcare Professionals, guided me towards lecturing within the Nursing and Health Professions Team at UCSD.

Research and scholarly activity

In order to maintain registration with the NMC and remain professionally up to date, I continue to keep my hand in clinically as a specialist nurse.

Natalie Collins Dip HE, BSc (Hons), MSRPH

Main areas of teaching

  • Programme Coordinator Health Apprenticeships

Bio

Through my education and healthcare career, I have gained experience in acute care, community and residential settings in London and the Southwest. My areas of experience include women’s health, maternity care, optical health, and adult social care. I am passionate about public health and health education. I joined South Devon College in 2018 to support, inspire and train the future health and care workforce.

Research and scholarly activity

I am a member of the Royal Society for Public Health, through which I undertake regular continued professional development activities and maintain currency of knowledge. I maintain close links with primary, secondary, and tertiary care providers to ensure that our apprenticeship programmes meet industry needs.

Andrew Hall

Main areas of teaching

  • Nursing
  • Microbiology
  • Digital Health
  • Research Methods
  • Critical Care

Bio

I am a Lecturer in Clinical Education and have extensive experience in clinical practice as a Research Nurse and higher education research, publishing in peer-reviewed journals. My current research interests involve the potential applications of artificial intelligence, augmented reality and emerging technologies blended with Socratic delivery to create a more immersive learning experience and enhance clinical teaching.

Research and scholarly activity

I am a member of the Royal Society for Public Health, through which I undertake regular continued professional development activities and maintain currency of knowledge. I maintain close links with primary, secondary, and tertiary care providers to ensure that our apprenticeship programmes meet industry needs.

Paul Hindle BSc (Hons), MChiro, MA (Open), PGCE, DC, MRCC, SFHEA

Main areas of teaching

  • Anatomy and Physiology for Assistant Practitioners
  • BSc (Hons) Enhanced Integrated Care HE Lead

Bio

Started work as a personal trainer in 2003 after completing a BSc in Natural Sciences at the University of Bath. After moving more towards the exercise rehabilitation pathway I decided to retrain as a Chiropractor in 2008. After graduating in 2012 I practised in Norfolk for 3 years before moving back to Devon in 2015 to work clinically in Paignton alongside starting my teaching journey in 2016 at UCSD.

Research and scholarly activity

As a practising Chiropractor since 2012 I undertake a minimum of 30 hours of continuing professional development each year. I have extensively researched the use of exercise in managing hypermobility syndromes and provided exercise tutorial videos on YouTube. Education wise I have completed a Masters in Education with the Open University, including my PGCE qualification from UCSD.

Lucy Parkin BA (Hons), DTLLS

Main areas of teaching

  • Currently working on the introduction of specialist pathways across the Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship programme to support the sector in upskilling the future workforce.

Bio

Lucy is the Head of Health and Care Professions and Nursing team at South Devon College and University Centre South Devon and oversees health and social care industry related curriculum within South Devon High School, Further Education, Higher Education, Apprenticeships and other professional training. Lucy is an alumni of the University of Plymouth and University Centre South Devon where she achieved a Degree Apprentice in Leadership and Management and Level 5 Diploma Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector respectively. Lucy also holds a level 4 qualification in advice and guidance and a number of additional health related qualifications. Lucy has worked as an educator for 16 years and lectured on a number of programmes, enjoying leading her team to provide new and innovative curriculums across the health and social care sectors with a clear focus on enhancing the workforce to benefit Patients, Carers and other Service Users.

Research and scholarly activity

Published book chapter – Neale, A. and Connolly, S. (2022). ‘Child development and neurodiversity: Every classroom, every child and every family are unique’, in E. Tarry (ed.) Challenges in Early Years and Primary Education: Employing Critical Thinking Skills During Turbulent Times. Abingdon: Routledge.

Ella Reynolds BNurs (Hons), MRes, Registered Nurse – Child

Main areas of teaching

  • Acute and Critical Care
  • Intensive care
  • Paediatrics
  • Contextualised nursing theory
  • Nursing Research

Bio

After qualifying as a Children’s nurse in 2012, I specialised in Paediatric Intensive Care, looking after critically ill children in areas such as neurology, cardiology, transplant, oncology and trauma. I then trained as Family Liaison Junior Sister, supporting children and families through palliative, end-of-life and safeguarding processes. I have also worked in community and outpatient settings and completed a Masters in Clinical Health Research, undertaking qualitative research exploring sibling experiences of children’s critical care. I currently work clinically as Paediatric Lead Nurse (South Devon & Cornwall) – Newcross National Critical Care Team. I love education and teaching both clinically and in higher education settings and currently work part-time clinically which compliments my teaching role. I have particular interests in advanced communication skills and conflict resolution and delivering trauma-informed practice. I am passionate about mental wellbeing and resilience among healthcare professionals and have disseminated research on these topics.

Research and scholarly activity

Trethewey SP, Reynolds EKM. Exposure to green spaces and all-cause mortality: limitations in measurement and definitions of exposure. Lancet Planetary Health. 2021 Aug;5(8):e501. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2542-5196(21)00180-7
Trethewey SP, Reynolds EKM, Trethewey CS. Behavioural determinants of health: individual versus societal responsibility. British Journal of General Practice. 2021; 71(708):301-302. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp21X716237
Trethewey SP, Reynolds EKM. Burnout: is resilience training the solution? Clinical Teacher. 2019 Nov 5. https://doi.org/10.1111/tct.13105
Trethewey SP, Morlet J, Trethewey CS, Reynolds EKM. Defining ‘complementary and alternative medicine’. The British Student Doctor Journal. 2019;3(1):42–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.18573/bsdj.74
Reynolds EKM, Trethewey SP. Attitudes of Paediatric Critical Care staff towards the concept of ‘resilience’: the ‘Glass half full’ project. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. 2019 Mar;20(3):309-310. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PCC.0000000000001855
Trethewey SP, Morlet J, Reynolds EKM, Trethewey CS, Norman RI. Medical Student Involvement in and Attitudes towards Audit and Research: The MEDical Student Experience of Audit and ResearCH (MED-SEARCH) Survey. World Journal of Medical Education and Research. 2018;17(1):13-22.

Tharshini Swann BSc (Hons), MSc

Main areas of teaching

  • Audiology

Bio

Tharshini began her scientific career with a BSc in Physics in 2004, she then went on to complete the Audiology MSc and the Clinical Scientists Training qualification. She spent most of her clinical career in the NHS and has experience in all areas of clinical Audiology with a special interest in balance assessment, implant technology and electrophysiological testing. She began working as a lecturer for UCSD in 2021.

Sarah Jane Venn-Dunn FdSc, BSc (Hons)

Main areas of teaching

  • Developing Research & Practice
  • Preparatory Skills
  • Palliative Care
  • Communication
  • Person-Centred Care

Bio

I enrolled as a full time FdSc Healthcare Practice learner in 2011, nominated as course representative and stayed on to complete my BSc, became an ambassador for the college and began my teaching journey after graduating again in 2014. I became HE Lead in 2015 for the AP programme and taught across FE and HE from Levels 1 – 5. After a sabbatical in 2017 until 2021, working in the local Healthcare Trust, I am now the Programme Coordinator for the Assistant Practitioner, BSc, Health Studies and Podiatry/Orthotics programmes alongside Higher Education Coordinator across the ever expanding Health Provision. I am passionate about the quality of health and care provision across the sector.

Joanne Wheaton RGN, Dip HE, BSc Hons, PG Cert HCL (open)

Main areas of teaching

I am Programme Co-ordinator for the Nursing Associate course, as well as being module lead for Clinical Practice for the Nursing Associate, this being clinical skills theory and practical. I also lecture on subjects across the qualification.

Bio

I am a Registered General Nurse with over 30 years’ experience in acute medicine and care of the older adult as well as having worked as a Ward Manager. I joined UCSD in December 2021 as I have always had a passion for education and teaching, so I decided this is an area I wanted to pursue my career. My role here has allowed me to share my knowledge and experience which I hope will inspire our nurses of the future.

Research and scholarly activity

I am a member of the Royal College of Nursing and undertake regular CPD opportunities with them.