Dad and daughter become mental health nurses together after qualifying weeks apart

A dad and daughter who recently became mental health nurses at the same hospital say they feel “so lucky” to start their careers alongside each other.

Steven Jewell and his daughter Stevie-Leigh graduated within just weeks of each other and now work on the same ward at The Harbour mental health hospital in Blackpool.

The pair, aged 42 and 22, say they both took an interest in the mental health sector after experiencing the devastation of poor mental health first-hand.

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Steven first started working at the hospital as a healthcare support worker before later undertaking a Trainee Nursing Associate course. Finally, he qualified after completing the Registered Nursing Degree Apprenticeship.

“Myself and Stevie-Leigh are both really passionate about helping others, it must be a trait that runs in the family,” the dad said.

“We have both at times experienced poor mental health and I think that is ultimately what drives us to want to help others.

“People often ask us who inspired who but I think it was a joint effort after speaking about our career aspirations together we both realised we wanted the same thing.

“The majority of my working life has been spent in manual jobs and working in retail as a greengrocer. I have always had an interest in mental health but wasn’t sure what opportunities would be available for someone like me who didn’t have any previous qualifications in nursing or mental health.

“It can be daunting starting a new career path later in life, but I have been supported and encouraged by my peers and managers to follow my dreams and it has led me here and I couldn’t be happier.

“It has been wonderful to do this