What is a Professional Lead?

What a journey - having joined the RCN in January this year, being able to work with the forums I support has been a pleasure. But let’s start with an introduction. My name is Callum, and I am the new UK Professional Lead for Long Term Conditions.

What is a professional lead you may ask? Well, my role is to help advise and support forums with their objectives. In my case this includes the Diabetes, and Cancer Forums. I help the RCN Forum Committees with bids for funding, publications approval, event applications, representation of the RCN externally and any other relevant activities. I also meet regularly with the Forum Chairs to discuss forum committee objectives and profiles, and promote contact with wider forum groups. It has been fantastic to connect with RCN members across these Forums, all who have a shared aim of increasing awareness and knowledge of their nursing specialisms amongst our peers in membership.

My background is as an advanced nurse practitioner and I’m still working in diabetes care. I am proud to be able to support the Diabetes Forum and help them to put our specialism on the map, as well as offering the same support to other long-term conditions forums.

Outside of forum support, I represent the RCN to influence nursing practice and harness the voice of nursing externally by developing and utilising effective professional relationships. These could be between the RCN and relevant national external networks and stakeholders, such as statutory agencies, professional bodies, providers, commissioners, independent and third sector organisations and public/patient groups.

RCN Forums are the gateway to help shape RCN policies and supporting the development of key pieces of work that influence nursing practice within their speciality. As an example, the Diabetes Forum has a strong committee membership from a range of primary and secondary care backgrounds. Additionally, the forum is working on strengthening the links within the membership to ensure that any objectives or projects are considerate of the many different sub-specialisms across the countries.

There are many exciting projects being worked on in the meantime and I am very much looking forward to seeing how our initiatives contribute to the national voice of nursing – another key strategic aim of the RCN. Our Forum Committees work hard to ensure that members are abreast of any new developments and up to date in current practice. I

Therefore, make sure you keep checking out your forum webpages and get involved. The forums are always keen to hear your views and thoughts. Additionally, the lived experienced of our members is crucial to helping us ensure our projects matter to you – that is why we have teamed up with SenseMaker - where you can tell your story, and help transform nursing.

That is all from me for now. As I begin my journey here at the RCN, and with the forums, I am pleased to say I have already felt valued and enthused to continue promoting the voice of nursing. I hope you have gained an understanding of the work I do and please get in touch if you have any ideas or suggestions for forum work.