Learning and Development Manager (Clinical Education)  – South West Ambulance Service Foundation Trust

Background:  Lydia began working for the London Ambulance Service in 2012 as a student paramedic whilst undertaking training at St Georges University of London. She spent 10 years in London “learning her trade” and embracing the fast pace of life the ambulance service had to offer. Starting as a frontline Paramedic Lydia then became a mentor, senior mentor, led on a service wide preceptorship project before becoming a clinical team manager.  After leaving London in 2022 Lydia pursued a career in Education with SWASFT, starting as a Learning & Development Manager.

Obstetric experience:  She has been a fully qualified paramedic since 2014 and has been present at approximately 50 out of hospital births, delivering approximately 20 of them herself, often alone. As she worked both on the cars and on the ambulances she experienced the immediate emergency and follows the patient all the way into the delivery suit. She is what is known as a “baby magnet” amongst her colleagues, and has delivered breech babies, resuscitated new-born’s, looked after a woman with cord prolapse and placenta abruption but is yet to see shoulder dystocia! She has had maternal collapses from large PPHs more times then she cares to remember, and has also been first on scene to a third trimester mother in traumatic cardiac arrest. It is fair to say she has seen her fair share of out of hospital obstetric emergencies.

Job Role: Lydia currently works as a Learning and Development Manager specialising in clinical education and preceptorship.  Responsibilities include leading a team of 60 Education Leads across the Trust footprint to deliver clinical education to all front-line staff members.  She also looks after onboarding processes, courses and preceptorship, and where possible undertakes ambulance shifts to keep her skills up-to date!

Lydia also works closely with various stakeholders across the Trust to provide training and development for her team, as well as the larger staff group. Maternity training of course being her favourite!

Future aspirations: Lydia hopes to develop within the Ambulance Service managerial roles but primarily with a goal to evoke positive change. Lydia strives for improvement through collaboration, and believes it is key to patient safety and better outcomes. By engaging with stakeholders, embracing innovation and caring for her staff she hopes to have a positive benefit to colleagues wellbeing, the patient journey and ultimately the wider NHS.

Lydia is also a member of Baby Lifeline’s Multi-Professional Advisory Panel.