Mel Hayward

SAPHNA Academic Advisor and SAPHNA Committee Member

I am an accomplished Associate Professor of Education in the Institute for Health and Social Care at Buckinghamshire New University, holding various valued positions. As well as supporting SAPHNA as an Academic Advisor, I proudly serve as the Consultant Editor for the British Journal of Child Health, Chair of the National Forum of School Health Educators (NFSHE), Deputy England Representative for Children and Young People’s Nurse Academics UK (CYPNAUK), and Educational Advisor for the Children and Young People Student Nurse Network (CYPStNN). Additionally, I contribute as a Subject Matter Expert for Safeguarding Children for Skills for Health

My professional journey spans various roles in Children’s Nursing, Specialist Community Public Health Nursing, Safeguarding Children and Higher Education, accumulating 22 years of experience in the NHS before transitioning into academia full-time in 2016. Within Buckinghamshire New University, I currently lead a strategic portfolio of Quality Assurance and Enhancement across all Health and Social Care programmes while actively engaging in teaching, assessing, and supporting students as the Specialist Community Public Health Nurse and School Nursing Programme Field Lead, Children’s Nursing, and Safeguarding academic.

My areas of professional expertise include child public health, leadership and management, and safeguarding. As a Nurse Educator, I am deeply passionate about high-quality healthcare education, emphasising excellence, equity, and efficiency, with a commitment to student well-being, satisfaction, and success. My research interests primarily lie in professional healthcare education and the use of social media in higher education. Actively involved in research projects, I am currently part of the Fit for Children and Young People (Fit4CYP) project and explore the use of self-selected social media by pre-registration nursing students.

I hold esteemed memberships such as being a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Notable accolades include receiving the Most Inspiring Tutor Award in 2019, 2020, and 2021, the Student Union Award for Academic Partner of the Year in 2020, the Vice Chancellor’s Award in 2020, and the BNU Hero Award in 2021. I am particularly proud to have served as a Technical Advisor for the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Public Health Nursing and Midwifery, contributing leadership and expertise on a national and international scale.

I am enthusiastic about contributing to SAPHNA’s mission. I am aligned with SAPHNA’s commitment to expanding networks, staying abreast of national policies, and making a tangible difference to the health and well-being of children and young people. My multifaceted background, coupled with my active roles in national committees and involvement in research, enterprise, and authorship in education, leadership, management, public health, and Safeguarding Children provides a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies involved in shaping policies and practices impacting the community and a deep connection to the broader landscape of children and young people’s health.