A NURSE from Ross-on-Wye has been celebrated for her mentorship skills to the next generation of health care professionals.

Courtney Harris, 23, won an Outstanding Mentor Award at the University of Worcester’s 10th annual Health and Social Care Mentor Awards.

Courtney, who works at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, won the honour for supporting university students as they train in the workplace.

She said: “I am extremely honoured to have received this award. I am sure that everyone else who was nominated was as capable – if not more so – of winning it, so I am over the moon to have been chosen.

“As a fairly new fresh faced nurse, qualifying two years ago, I’m eager to learn and face new challenges. This is an exciting career where no two days are the same.”

The University of Worcester Health and Social Care Mentor Awards celebrate the contribution of professionals who support university students training in the workplace.

Elizabeth Davies-Ward, Head of the School of Allied Health and Community at Worcester, said: “Everyone we have honoured with these awards has their own job to think about, their own unique set of challenges and responsibilities, and yet they have taken the time and care not only to provide placements and mentoring opportunities for the next generation, but to provide truly excellent placements backed up with compassion and support.

"When you consider the array of challenges facing staff in the health and care sector, we have every reason to be especially grateful for their efforts.”

Robert Dudley, Acting Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Worcester, added: “The placements and support provided by our mentors are crucial in helping our students to feel comfortable and confident in the work place.

"In this, the 10th anniversary year of our mentoring awards, it is important to pause and consider just how significant the contribution of our award winners is. It will not be long before our students are themselves taking their place in the workforce and playing their part in shaping the health services of the future, and the individuals and organisations we are celebrating this evening have played an enormous part in ensuring the next generation is ready to hit the ground running when they take up the mantle.”