SoWhoCaresAnyWay E22 Given wings to create ripple effects

Are you ready to make ripples, be creative, and develop an environment where everyone thrives?

In this episode, I am joined by Cheryl Young, an Advanced Clinical Practitioner and Professional Nurse Advocate working in Whitstable Medical Practice, a community-based Urgent Treatment Centre on the Kent coast. With over two decades of nursing experience, Cheryl brings a rich blend of clinical expertise and human-centred leadership and a fierce passion for making workplace wellbeing more than just a tick box.

From bluebell walks to balcony huddles, gratitude journals to recruitment innovation, Cheryl shares how a culture of care has quietly reshaped her team’s practice. Through her distributed and supportive leadership, she has developed a creative, inclusive, and emotionally intelligent team that are not only equipped to look after each other, but, in an environment where everyone can ask, challenge, and receive the support they need, they provide safe, effective, and sustainable care to the people they serve.

This conversation threads beautifully through previous episodes, expanding on themes raised by Rebecca Myers who unpacked the emotional toll of health and care work, and Grace Cook from the Foundation of Nursing Studies, who explored the power and potential of clinical supervision an Heidi Edmunds compassionate distributed leadership . It also echoes the insights of James Metcalfe  from the North York Moors Trust , who spoke about the importance of outdoor spaces and wellbeing walks, ideas Cheryl has boldly brought into her practice for staff as well as her local community.

Together, we explore how creativity, inclusion, and emotional intelligence aren't “extras”, they’re essential tools for safer, stronger healthcare. And how small, purposeful actions can ripple outward into lasting change.

We discuss how giving people the support they need, space to speak and time to reflect, develops an environment of continuous professional learning, improvement, and wellbeing, all of which positively impact the communities they care for.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to embed wellbeing into a busy clinical setting, and how culture becomes “just how we do things around here” this one’s for you.