UHDB celebrates Kath Hulkorey's Cavell Star Award for exceptional leadership and compassion
Kath Hulkorey, Deputy Lead Nurse for Professional and Practice Development at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB), has been awarded the prestigious Cavell Star Award in recognition of her unwavering compassion, outstanding leadership, and dedication to nursing practice.
In a heartwarming surprise ceremony, Garry Marsh, Executive Chief Nurse, and Stephen Posey, Chief Executive, joined colleagues to honour Kath's remarkable contributions. The event was planned by Barbara Day, former Head of Learning and Education on her final day at UHDB before retiring, who was Kath's line manager, along with Karen Hill, Lead Nurse for Professional Standards.
The Cavell Star Awards celebrate nurses, midwives, nursing associates, and healthcare assistants who exhibit exceptional care for patients, their families, and colleagues. Organised by Cavell, a registered charity supporting nursing and midwifery colleagues across the UK, this award marks the third time a UHDB colleague has received this honour.
The ceremony saw an assembly of colleagues, all eager to celebrate Kath's well-deserved recognition. Kath was nominated for the award by Jessica Fearn, a Senior Clinical Educator, who praised her as “the most supportive, inclusive, and compassionate leader that you could wish for,” highlighting her role as both a mentor and a coach.
In her role, Kath introduced initiatives that ensure our colleagues are well-prepared for the ever-evolving challenges in healthcare, as well as implementing a series of engaging workshops on leadership, coaching, and mentoring. Reflecting on her award, Kath said it made her "very proud" to have received the recognition and all the well-wishes from her colleagues as a result.
Continuing, she said: "To be put forward for the award is one thing, but to hear from colleagues about the contribution I've made to their professional journeys means so much to me. It's so lovely to be acknowledged in this way. I've been working at this organisation and the NHS for a long time, so I know this doesn't happen every day!"
Kath’s journey with UHDB began in 1992 when she joined Derbyshire Royal Infirmary as an Adult Nurse. Her passion for patient care and collaborative healthcare quickly became evident, leading her to become a Clinical Educator in Medicine. In 2011, Kath qualified as a Registered Nurse Teacher, blending her clinical expertise with her dedication to teaching and development. This is where her commitment to lifelong learning began and led her to initiate various programmes aimed at personal and professional growth for other clinical colleagues.
Kath has been instrumental in the induction and ongoing professional development of staff across various specialties. Her holistic approach to nursing emphasises the importance of compassion, emotional intelligence, and resilience as being just as crucial as clinical skills when delivering exceptional patient care.
Speaking further about this approach to nursing and leadership, Kath said that to deliver the best possible care for our patients, being authentic and compassionate is vital.
She continued: "When I first began nursing, showing emotional vulnerability was not something thought of as a positive - but while we of course have to maintain a professional standard, showing a patient and their family that we're 'there with them' goes a long way and shows just how personally and professionally invested you are in the care that you deliver, and that you're putting yourself in their shoes.
"In doing so, you earn a level of trust, and demonstrate the integrity that our communities have the right to expect from those who are providing their care."
Kath's initiatives have fostered leadership qualities in her team and beyond, and promoted a culture of continuous improvement - significantly elevating nursing practice within the Trust. As well as this, she has inspired countless colleagues to strive for excellence in their professional journeys - exemplifying the profound difference that devoted leadership and a passion for education can make in healthcare.
Reflecting on what constitutes effective learning and development, Kath said that there is a "misconception that all the learning you can do has to be in rows or sat behind the desk, which, in our line of work especially, simply isn't the case.
"For me, it's really important to connect that learning to the patient. You have to ask yourself, "if this was you - how would you like to be treated?" and model your learning around that and lead with your emotional intelligence as well as your clinical skills."
"You can learn just as much by your mistakes than your successes - you just have to be open to learning something new, every single day. Nobody knows everything, and everybody's experience is unique."
Stephen Posey commended Kath's achievement in earning this recognition, stating:
"Kath's exceptional leadership sets a high standard - elevating our teams and individuals to deliver their very best, while ensuring that we foster an environment of compassion and inclusivity so that our colleagues can bring their 'whole selves' to work.
"This is the third time in three successive years that a UHDB member of staff has been awarded the Cavell Star Award - an accomplishment that I am immensely proud of.
"From all of us here at UHDB, I want to say a big thank you to Kath for all of her hard work and determination over the course of more than 30 years in Derby, all for the benefit of our communities and the wider NHS."