Celebrating International Nurses Day

The People Behind the Care

Every year on 12th May, healthcare organisations across the world come together to recognise Royal College of Nursing International Nurses Day, a moment to celebrate the dedication, compassion, resilience and expertise that nurses bring to people’s lives every single day.

At HomeCareDirect, nurses are at the heart of everything we do.

From supporting individuals with complex clinical needs in their own homes to advocating for families, developing specialist training, championing independence, and helping people achieve goals that once felt out of reach, our nurses do far more than deliver care. They change lives.

This International Nurses Day, we wanted to shine a light on just some of the incredible nurses who make up our clinical team, and share their stories in their own words.

Over 30 Years of Championing Independence

For Sue, nursing has always been about empowering people to live fulfilling lives.

With more than 30 years of experience across health and social care, Sue has led learning disability nursing services, managed residential homes, and overseen neurological rehabilitation services before bringing her expertise to HCD.

Today, Sue supports individuals with learning disabilities, autism, brain injuries and other complex needs to remain safely in their own homes.

As Sue explains:

“I am passionate about promoting choice and independence and ensuring individuals receive the right support at the right time.”

Alongside her clinical work, Sue is now helping shape the future of care by developing and delivering specialist training in learning disability and autism across the organisation.

Helping Children Get Home Where They Belong

For Sophie, nursing has been a journey filled with both extraordinary joy and heartbreaking realities.

After qualifying as a children’s nurse at just 21 years old, Sophie spent over a decade working across paediatric wards, supporting children and families through some of life’s most difficult moments.

She reflects:

“I’ve laughed and cried alongside patients, families and colleagues through endless 13-hour shifts. I’ve spent countless Christmases, New Years, birthdays and Eids in hospital.”

But after witnessing first-hand the devastating impact of prolonged hospital admissions on children and families, Sophie knew she wanted to become part of the solution.

Her reason for joining HCD was simple, but powerful:

“Getting children home. Reuniting families.”

Sophie's passion for helping people with complex needs transition safely from hospital to home represents exactly what person-centred care should look like.

Keeping the ‘Compassion Tank’ Full

For Penny, nursing was born from personal experience.

After spending months in the hospital with her young daughter over two decades ago, Penny witnessed both exceptional care and moments that showed her how much healthcare still needed people willing to challenge the status quo.

That experience changed her life.

She recalls:

“I decided I would go and ‘kick some butts’, and be a part of something that offered warmth and understanding at a time in life when everything was very uncertain.”

Throughout her 17-year nursing career, Penny has measured herself against what she calls her “compassion tank.”

“If I ever felt that I’m out of compassion, I would leave nursing and hand over to new flames that can carry the torch for the vulnerable.”

Today, nearly seven years into her journey with HCD and as a Queen’s Nurse, Penny says her compassion tank is still full.

And everyone around her feels the benefit of that.

Advocating for Choice, Voice and Autonomy

Annabel brings more than 20 years of nursing experience to HCD, spanning forensic services, special schools, acute hospitals, neurology, autism services, and community-based care.

As a registered Learning Disability Nurse and Regional Clinical Nurse Lead, Annabel supports individuals with highly complex needs, mentors teams, and ensures the highest clinical standards.

For Annabel, one principle has always remained central:

“Empowering individuals with Learning Disabilities and Autism to have autonomy over their life is paramount.”

She continues:

“I’m passionate about advocating for the individuals I support and their families in a person-centred way to promote choice and independence.”

It’s this advocacy that helps transform care from something delivered to people into something built with them.

Leading with Experience, Growing with Purpose

For Gemma, nursing was never a career she fell into; it was something she had always known she wanted to do.

Qualifying as an adult nurse more than 20 years ago, Gemma’s journey has taken her through an extraordinary range of clinical environments, from orthopaedic wards and nursing homes to prison healthcare, leadership roles, and complex community nursing.

Each chapter brought new challenges, new learning, and new opportunities to grow.

Reflecting on her journey, Gemma says:

“I always knew I wanted to be a nurse, even from a young age. I’ve loved my nursing career, where it has taken me, and the people I’ve met along the way.”

Over the years, Gemma has worked as a lone practitioner, managed clinical teams, supported services through regulatory improvement, and developed the confidence to make critical decisions in demanding environments.

But it was joining HomeCareDirect that brought a new level of fulfilment.

Joining HCD in 2024 as Regional Clinical Nurse Lead, Gemma quickly became an integral part of supporting individuals with highly complex needs across East Anglia and beyond, helping people living with conditions including Motor Neurone Disease, severe learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and other complex health needs remain safely in their own homes.

As HCD continued to grow, so did Gemma’s journey.

In 2026, she stepped into the newly created role of Nurse Manager, supporting nurses across England and Wales while helping shape the future of HCD’s clinical services.

For Gemma, what makes the role so special is seeing the real difference nursing makes every single day.

“I’ve been welcomed into the lives of clients and their families, built strong relationships, and supported people to stay at home, access the world around them, and live life how they wish to.”

She continues:

“Our nurses within HomeCareDirect are what make it possible for so many clients to remain living at home, enjoying life, exploring the world around them, and maintaining their independence.”

Gemma’s pride in both her own journey and the nurses around her is unmistakable, and her leadership continues to help strengthen the clinical excellence, compassion, and ambition that sits at the heart of HCD.

More Than a Profession

Nursing is expertise.
Nursing is resilience.
Nursing is leadership.
Nursing is advocacy.
Nursing is compassion in action.

At HCD, we are privileged to work alongside nurses who not only deliver exceptional clinical care but also bring humanity, courage, and purpose into every home, every family, and every life they touch.

This International Nurses Day, we say thank you, not just for what our nurses do, but for who they are.

Thanks to Sue, Sophie, Penny, Annabel and Gemma for sharing their stories and to every HCD nurse and everyone else in this wonderful profession.

Happy International Nurses Day. 💙