Linda Fitzpatrick, Legacy Mentor

After retiring in 2022, Linda returned to Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT) just 3 days later as a legacy mentor, utilising her extensive experience as a ward manager to support people who have recently entered the role.

Before retirement, Linda had worked at CWPT for 28 years, and now she is using her experience to support the next generation of nurses stepping into ward management or management positions. She says ‘it was like one career ending and another career starting. I can’t imagine a day when I am just watching telly.’

Having stepped into a ward position manager role herself many years ago, Linda understands the challenges that new ward managers face, often managing people for the first time and needing to navigate lots of systems and policies. She says, ‘When I started I spoke to managers about their anxieties, and they were around managing people, dealing with complaints, conducting supervision and appraisals, so we have put together a training programme for managers.’

Born in Manchester, Linda moved to Wales to train as a dual mental health and learning disability nurse and began her career at Llanfrechfa Grange Hospital and St Cadoc’s Hospital. Linda moved to Coventry in the 1980s, joining CWPT in 1996 where she has remained ever since.

Linda is grateful that her career has been open to change and feels she has been given lots of opportunities in the NHS to develop and pivot in new directions. She says that as the first legacy mentor in the system, she had some anxieties that often come with a new role but now she says ‘I love the job. After I got over the fears, I love it and I love spending time with the ward managers and supporting them.’

For nurses considering moving into a ward manager role at CWPT, Linda says ‘Go for it. They would have so much support, and working for this Trust is really quite good. You get lots of support from me, from the training department, and the Trust for your wellbeing.’

Linda also recognises that flexible working has opened up even more opportunities for nurses who would like to retire and return. Linda works two days a week and says that there are so many opportunities for nurses who would like to do the same, from being a legacy mentor to training or working in clinical roles.

When asked why Linda is still at CWPT she says ‘I know lots of people, and I feel comfortable. There is a real learning culture. If we make mistakes, what can we learn from it, and if we are really good at something we pass that on. It’s a nice place to work.’

‘The NHS is the only service I know where you can come in as a band 2, work and learn along the way, and be supported to do it, and you could end up being Chief Executive.’