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What makes a health and safety representative with the RCN?

Vicky Brotherton 25 Feb 2025

The simple answer it is YOU.

National Personal Safety Day 2017

You are the members who are working in all sectors and all different specialities.

You are the health care support worker, assistant practitioner, and registered nurse who knows what is affecting you and your colleagues’ health and wellbeing.

You know what is preventing you and your colleagues providing first class, safe care in the appropriate settings.

You are the person who can contribute to getting healthier, happier workplaces.

You maybe already be a steward or learning rep so why not undertake the health and safety rep training to enhance your skills and knowledge?

You as a health and safety rep you would champion safe working practice and environments. You would help members to understand what they should expect and how to identify where standards fall short, leaving them at risk.

Qualities that are needed to become a health and safety representative

You do not need to be a registered nurse or an expert in health and safety to become a health and safety representative.

All you will need is energy, enthusiasm and the desire to make a difference in the workplace for colleagues and patients.

You will be given full training and support from RCN staff during the training and when undertaking your role.

I am a health and safety representative, a steward and a learning representative with the RCN.

As a health and safety representative I am involved in partnership meetings with management to review incidents, write policies and inspect workplaces to make sure that they are safe for colleagues and patients.

I work alongside Occupational Health and Human Resources to improve the care of our colleagues by our employers. This could be in discussions about stress management and support, manual handling, dermatitis, or violence and aggression, to name just a few issues.

Being a health and safety representative can improve your career.

As an active RCN rep, I’ve learnt new skills and gained confidence in areas I would never have had access to in my nursing role. 

I have made lifelong friends through our network of reps across the 4 countries of the UK.

Why not sign up to be a health and safety rep today and join the team that are helping to make a difference for our colleagues and patients?

 
Vicky Brotherton 2023 145x145

Vicky Brotherton

Current South West representative on the UK Health and Safety Representatives Committee. Former RCN South West Region Board Chair and former RCN Plymouth Branch Chair. Previous RCN Council Member for the South West Region.

RCN Lead Steward at Derriford Hospital, Chair of Staff Side JSNC.

Vicky was previously Ophthalmic Nurse Manager and Nurse Practitioner, Junior Sister Care of the Elderly, Theatre Scrub Nurse and Matron of Independent Care Home for Learning Disabilities. 

Vicky trained at Hereford County Hospital and then moved to Torbay Hospital and onwards to University Hospitals Plymouth since 1985. 

She is on facilities release to undertake Lead Steward, Health and Safety and Learning representative roles and JSNC Staff Side Chair since flexi retiring.  

Vicky has been an RCN member for over 40 years. 

 

Page last updated - 25/02/2025