Charlotte Ellender was named ‘’student midwife of the year’’ at this year’s Royal College of Midwives (RCM) awards evening. Held on Tuesday 5 May, this national event recognises the fantastic achievements of those who look after women and their new-borns across the country. With categories representing areas like exceptional leadership, partnership working, contributions to research and outstanding bereavement care, it offers a comprehensive overview of the profession’s best and brightest.
Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 ceremony was presented over an online video steam, which in turn allowed the whole community to share in the celebrations and cheer on the nominees. Among the fantastic individuals who were honoured over the course of the night was Charlotte, a third year student from Sheffield Hallam University (SHU), who will shortly be joining DBTH as a fully-qualified midwife.
Charlotte was handpicked by a panel of expert judges, who were impressed by her overwhelming passion and enthusiasm for her career. Throughout her studies, Charlotte has shown unwavering dedication to the field, acting as a course representative to the wider department, sitting on the committee for, and eventually becoming the president of, the university’s midwifery society and organising various events within the campus. In terms of her placement, she trained at Bassetlaw hospital where she learned the ropes, became familiar with the working environment, and gained valuable experience in various high pressure scenarios.
Speaking about why she has chosen to return to the Trust once she has graduated, Charlotte said: ‘’Working for DBTH is such honour. It has a really welcoming atmosphere that makes it feel like a second home to me. My friends in the midwifery unit have since become family and taken me under their wing to teach me everything they know. I can’t wait to start full time within the hospital, being a part of a team that strives for the best possible care for both women and their families.’’
Colleagues at the Trust are also delighted with her success and agreed that she is as a worthy recipient of the accolade. On that subject, Richard Parker, Chief Executive, said: ‘’Everyone is so proud of Charlotte and couldn’t be happier about her joining us on a permanent basis. She obviously made a brilliant impression here at Bassetlaw, just like she did with the RCM judges, and I am sure she will continue to be a great asset to the team.’’
Charlotte is due to start at DBTH in the near future. The full list of winners for the 2020 RCM awards can be found here.