Becky Jeavons has been working in Homeless Health for 11 years – helping homeless people with a variety of healthcare needs as well as social, emotional and psychological support.
Becky discovered her passion for caring while working in a care home part-time when she was at school. She trained as a nurse at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton and took her first role in orthopaedics and trauma at Taunton and then Weston General Hospital.
She worked as a bank nurse when she had young children and got experience in a variety of roles including tissue viability, endoscopy and day theatre.
Becky applied for a role in the Community Homeless Health Service with North Somerset Community Partnership (now Sirona care & health) 11 years ago and became Clinical Lead five years later.
She leads a small team across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire supporting the homeless population by running drop-in clinics, going into hospitals and emergency accommodation and doing outreach on the streets.
She said: “We are bridging the gap to help people get back into primary healthcare and supporting them with healthcare needs. We work collaboratively with a lot of other agencies.
“The role is quite varied. At the drop-ins, we support with health issues such as wound care, bloods, chest infections, cellulitis and signposting to other services. It’s a real mixed bag.
“We might have to help with emergency situations like overdoses where we provide emergency care until the ambulance gets there, as well as conversations around mental health and depression.
“A lot of the people we see have lots of complexities – with social, emotional and psychological issues going on as well as their physical health, so they often need a lot of support.
“We take a holistic approach and are very patient-centred. We realise what works for one person, might not for another, so we have to think outside the box and find what works for each person. We are very autonomous and do a bit of everything.
“It’s such a privilege when you build up trust and a rapport with someone and you help improve their health or situation. It makes you feel proud of the support you’ve been able to give. Our team celebrates all our successes – however big or small.”
Becky became a Queen’s Nurse 10 years ago and has benefited from training, workshops, inclusion health networks and funding for a project which involved giving out first aid kits and information leaflets to homeless people.
She said: “As a Queen’s Nurse you have access to such a wealth of knowledge and lots of networks. I’m also part of the inclusion health network which includes like-minded professionals. You ask questions and share information about the work you’re doing and learn from others.”
