Leadcare Agency Nurse Honoured with Spirit of Health Award
Leadcare Agency Nurse, Seamus Crossan, won the Spirit of Health Award at the Sunday Life Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards 2023.
After his mother passed from cancer in 2013, Seamus entered a marathon in her honour to raise money for the Foyle Hospice, which set the Derry man on a journey that would see the Mental Health Nurse start a running club that now boasts over 100 members, raising thousands of pounds for good causes along the way.
Shift work meant it was difficult for Seamus to make local club runs, but he didn’t let that get in his way. Along with a small group of other keen runners, Seamus set up STAR Running Club, explaining:
“We sat down and brainstormed and came up with STAR, because everybody’s a star. It’s also an acronym for Speed, Training and Running, so that’s how we got the name.”
For Seamus, running is about promoting and encouraging people to have positive mental health, whilst raising money for good causes along the way.
“In 2021, people with a learning disability found over the pandemic that they didn’t have access to transport, so we raised £27,500 for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle for Belmont Cottages.”
“Then in September last year, I did 30 half-marathons in 30 days with my right-hand man, Stephen Quigley. Together we raised £13,000 for Foyle Search and Rescue and the Bogside Brandywell Health Forum.”
Seamus was ‘shocked and overwhelmed’ to be presented with the Spirit of Health Award in recognition of his commitment to health and contribution to his local community, but his achievements are even more impressive as he balances running and fundraising with his role as a Mental Health Nurse Manager, leading a team of more than 30 staff who provide care to adults with complex learning disabilities.
Since qualifying as a Mental Health Nurse in 2009, Seamus has had a varied career, starting in the Dementia Unit at Four Seasons at Rush Hall before joining Apex Housing as a Mental Health Nurse at Ballyoan House.
He moved to Guernsey to a role as a Senior Band 6 but returned home to a post as Clinical Lead with Four Seasons before spending six years as a Nurse Manager at Belmont Cottages, and finally, joining Leadcare Recruitment.
His journey to a career in Nursing wasn’t a straightforward one. Seamus explained:
“I wanted to become a Nurse to make a difference in people’s lives. I intended to go to university to study Nursing when I finished my A Levels, but I was given some pretty poor careers advice and told Nursing is female-orientated and I wouldn’t fit in, so I should go into business or computing. I now know this isn’t true at all, but being naïve I listened to the advice at the time.”
“I didn’t enjoy it, so at the tender age of 30 I applied to do a degree in Nursing at Magee. Sadly, I was turned down because I didn’t have the relevant qualifications or experience.”
“I went to North West Regional College to complete the access course in Health and Welfare. While studying I worked as a Care Assistant to gain experience working in a care environment. It all worked out well and being a mature student, I feel I had life experience to use and reflect on.”
“I initially joined Leadcare to see what opportunities were available to me and to experience different settings, I missed hands-on patient care.”
“Now, I have the flexibility to chose when I want to work, which helps work fit around other commitments like family life and STAR Running Club. That’s one of the main advantages, as well as having a choice in the different settings and environments I get to work in.”
Congratulations to Seamus for a well-deserved award win from the team at Leadcare!
About Leadcare Recruitment
Leadcare Recruitment is proud to be an Approved Supplier to all HSC Trusts in Northern Ireland, having been successfully awarded a position ‘on-contract’. This means we can provide our Nurses with stable and flexible shifts for a wide range of locations, wards, and specialisms.
Joining Leadcare means joining a supportive community that values your expertise and dedication.
In addition to industry leading pay rates (up to £42.00 per hour, PAYE – rate correct as of 6th June 2023) and a range of reward schemes, we offer a nurturing work environment where you can thrive both personally and professionally.
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Get in touch with our team for a confidential chat on 028 7187 6515, or via email at info@leadcarerecruitment.com.
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