South Essex Care
and Health Association

More about Parish Nurses

Parish nurses are Registered Nurses working in churches or Christian organisations. We offer individuals and communities personal health advice, advocacy, support, health education and spiritual care.

We offer this support to people of all ages, beliefs and backgrounds. We are assisted in providing this service by volunteers who we recruit, train and support. All parish nursing volunteers have had a current Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS).

Who we are

We are Lorraine Lawrence and Jo Fitsall. Lorraine completed the Parish Nurse Certificate in 2014, whilst Jo completed hers in 2023.

We are Registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and hold the following nursing qualifications: Lorraine is RGN and RSCN with over 30 years experience in the NHS, including working as a paediatric community nurse. Jo is RGN and RMN, with over 30 years experience in the NHS, including working as a community mental health nurse and eating disorder nurse specialist.

We are available to offer support with your health needs. This may be to talk through your health and wellbeing. It may be to support you in seeking the most appropriate care for your needs. We are also able to offer the opportunity for you to explore the spiritual aspects of your health.

Activities

Current health activities that our parish nursing service runs include:
  • Baby and Child Clinics offering health advice, support and weighing
  • Support and wellbeing group for mums with babies under 1
  • Nurse led drop in clinics, open to all for health assessment and advice
  • Exercise groups
  • Social events
  • Health information sessions offering support and guidance
  • Home visiting
  • Stressful medical appointment support
  • Teaching sessions
  • Local Health Service Liaison
  • Hospital visiting
  • Holiday at Home
  • Pre and post hospital support
Wednesdays - Exercise classes and coffee mornings weekly and events offering lunch and socialisation some weeks.

Twice yearly Alpha courses to explore faith, life and God.

Bereavement Support Group - Every second Saturday of the month 2.15 - 3.30 pm. Call church office or just turn up.

Parish Nurses and Confidentiality

All parish nurses are Registered by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and work under its Code of Conduct.

If you would like to know more about this, please ask your parish nurse or visit nmc.org.uk/standards/code.

One aspect of this Code is maintaining confidentiality, which means anything you tell your parish nurse will be kept private, unless there is a risk of harm to you or someone else. Any written information the parish nurse holds about you will be kept securely.

Your parish nurse is employed West Leigh Baptist church, but the details they hold for you for you will not be shared with anyone else without your permission, in line with their Data Protection Policy.

Parish nurses are supported by a national charity, Parish Nursing Ministries UK (PNMUK). PNMUK delivers the Certificate in Parish Nursing and provides your parish nurse with supervision and support to ensure that the service is well run.

Please visit parishnursing.org.uk for more information.

Jo Fitsall
T: 07597 664018
jo.fitsall@wlbc.org.uk

Lorraine Lawrence
T: 07539 880357
lorraine.lawrence@wlbc.org.uk

Useful Links

  • Christians Against Poverty. A money and debt advice and supported management service. Open to all.
    www.capuk.org
  • Southend Food Bank. Vouchers can be obtained through the Parish Nurse at West Leigh or through these websites.
    southend.foodbank.org.uk
    citizensadvicesouthend.org.uk
    savs-southend.org.uk
    This can be accessed online to provide food for 3 days in crisis situations where life events or changes in benefits for example, mean there is a shortage of money available for food. The collection can be made on Saturday mornings from West Leigh Baptist Church between 9 and 11 am.

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