Jo-Anne qualified as a registered nurse in the 1980s. As a ward sister in Northampton, then later a Macmillan nurse, she introduced ‘Primary Nursing’, which at the time was an innovative concept of ‘My Nurse: My Patient’ recognising the importance of getting to know the people we nursed: person centred care.

Jo-Anne moved to working with older people in the late 1990s, where she developed a real interest for working with people living with dementia and long-term conditions within care homes. As a trustee and trainer for WRAP (Warwickshire Reminiscence Action Project) Jo-Anne visited care homes training staff, supporting them to make positive changes to both attitude and environment. As a dementia champion she is working within the local town and prison to help establish Dementia Friendly Communities

Jo-Anne started working for the Royal British Legion in 2003 as a registered manager. She led the home through their first inspection in 36 years and introduced a culture of person centeredness, innovation, change and excellence.

The home is an accredited Butterfly Home and has been rated Outstanding on the last 2 CQC inspections. In 2015, the home was featured in a Channel 4 documentary, Dementiaville; later being awarded Care Home of the Year.

Jo-Anne is passionate about the importance and value of nurses in the care sector, supporting and developing the workforce, using research and QI to enhance the daily lives of people using the service, the care and support of veterans and working towards sustainability.