Ginny Taylor, Associate Director of Operations for Children and Family Services in Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, retires this week after more than 20 years in the Trust, and 50 years in the NHS.
Ginny first began working with children in 1982 at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she also trained. While in London, she progressed her career as a health visitor until she moved to Guernsey where she continued as a school nurse.
Returning to Hampshire with her family, Ginny joined Southern Health in 2000 (Hampshire Partnership Trust at the time) working in a Children in Care role, and soon moved into management overseeing the health visiting, school nursing and Child Health Information Service (CHIS) services.
During her time in her current role as associate director of operations, Ginny has won over seven contracts including Health Visiting, School Nursing, School Aged Immunisation Service, Child Health Information Service, 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service, Swanwick Lodge Secure Children’s Home and the Family Nurse Partnership. These successes have come with hard work and support with her team and partners both inside outside the Trust.
Liz Taylor, Head of Clinical Improvement, worked with Ginny from 2008 until 2019, said: “We have had quite a journey, adapting to political agendas and juggling challenges that came thick and fast, and during that time grew the services to be resilient and adaptable. Ginny always focused on high quality care for children and families and she never allowed anything to deviate from that.
“Ginny’s laser focus, organisation, and delivery of sound processes led the Children and Families Service through a kaleidoscope of change and always with the greatest sense of humour.”
Kate Walters, Divisional Director of Nursing and AHPs, added: “I have worked with Ginny since I started in the Trust but more closely since 2021, just as we went into COVID. Ginny is an inspirational leader who has passion, knowledge and a great sense of humour. I have learnt a lot from Ginny and we will continue with her on our shoulder. I’m sure we will often think ‘what would Ginny do’. We are going to miss Ginny and her pragmatic and wise approach.”
Fittingly, Ginny will spend her retirement with her family, particularly her grandchildren.
