Senior Lecturer wins Royal College of Nursing Award

Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing, Ebenezer Banahene, has won the North West award for Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion from the Royal College of Nursing. 

Ebenezer was nominated by staff, in the School of Nursing and Allied Health, for his work with NHS England/NHS Improvement and two refugee organisations to support refugees into employment within the NHS.  

The award was given to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda and the experience of ethnically diverse users and staff.  

Using his own personal experience of obtaining Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration, Ebenezer and the team developed a route at LJMU for the recruitment of overseas-trained displaced nurses to work in the NHS and deliver lifechanging opportunities. 

Raphaela Kane, Pro-Vice Chancellor Faculty of Health, and Lorraine Shaw, Head of School of Nursing and Allied Health, presented the award to Ebenezer Banahene in recognition for his commitment to Diversity and Inclusion. 

Lorraine Shaw said: “Eben was involved in this project from the very beginning and was able to use his own experiences as an overseas applicant to relate to current learners and their situations. During the meetings it was clear that the team had a shared purpose and were not only supporting the students and NHS workforce, but also embodying the core values of LJMU when it comes to our community; being inclusive, student-focused and courageous with their work.” 

So far over 150 refugee nursing students have completed the project with LJMU and are being offered employment by 50 NHS trusts across the UK with the aim to achieve Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration.