Bethany qualified as a nurse in 2005 and has experience of working in a variety of clinical settings.  She has a keen interest in compassionate and inclusive leadership, patient safety, education, human factors, and behavior change to influence good clinical practice and enhance patient safety. On retiring from the military after a 17-year career, Bethany joined Solent NHS Trust in January 2016.  Her career at Solent saw her develop into the Head of Infection Prevention role at the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.  In September 2022 she took up the position of Lead Guardian for Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU).

In November 2023 Bethany took up her current position at the National Guardians Office as National Lead for Guardian Support and Policy, leading the Guardian Support and Policy team in providing guidance and support to Freedom to Speak Up guardians across England including the development and implementation of training, guidance, and co-branded initiatives with partner organisations and stakeholders.

With core values of respect, kindness, and support, and due to the many challenges seen as a result to the pandemic, Bethany felt invigorated to change career direction and into FTSU. During these times she drew on her compassionate leadership skills to respond to staff fears and anxieties, with kindness and civility, whilst still acknowledging their concerns and worries. This was key to maintaining staff and patient safety and ultimately had a positive impact on the overall culture, helping to create and promote a caring and supportive environment, embedding a sense of cohesion and belonging.  

Prior to joining the NHS Bethany served in both the Royal Navy, were she qualified as a nurse, and subsequently as a Nursing Officer in the British Army.  A career which spanned 17 years and saw her deploy on operations to both Afghanistan, and Sierra Leone where she worked as a specialist in the Ebola Virus Disease Treatment Unit.  

Bethany is an ambitious and determined leader who has developed a set of operational and strategic, management and leadership skills.  Her drive is intrinsically linked to her inherent caring nature, and she firmly believes in creating a culture of openness and transparency to improve and develop the wider workforce to ensure positive experiences and outcomes for both staff and service users.