At Springfield Healthcare, our care is driven by our exceptional team, which is why we are thrilled to welcome Nikki Young to the Springfield team. Stepping into the role of Complex Care Case Manager for the Northeast, Nikki is already making an impact within our community.
In the latest of our Meet the Team series, Nikki shares unique insights into what her day-to-day role entails and what she is most looking forward to as she settles into her new role at Springfield.
What is your role, and what are your day-to-day tasks and responsibilities?
I am the Complex Care Case Manager for the North-East of England. My role focuses on ensuring our customers receive safe, high-quality care tailored to their individual needs.
On a day-to-day basis, this includes overseeing training and staff competencies, completing care plans and risk assessments, liaising closely with multi-disciplinary teams, and assessing new customers to ensure we can support them safely and effectively. I also carry out audits and reviews of customer information to ensure compliance with CQC requirements.
Above all, I’m here to support wherever I’m needed. For me, it’s about being approachable, available and doing everything I can to support both customers and colleagues.
What first attracted you to a career in care?
After a long career as a steam train driver, my grandad sadly became unwell with COPD and Emphysema. When I visited him in hospital, I was deeply moved by the compassion and care he received from the nurses. Seeing the positive impact they had on both him and our family inspired me to pursue a career where I could support others in the same way.
How has your career progressed within the sector to get you where you are today?
After relocating to the North-East with my four young children, I began working as a support worker and carer. That role gave me my first real insight into the care sector, and I quickly realised I had found something I was truly passionate about. During this time, I studied at university while working full time and raising my four sons, which was challenging but incredibly rewarding.
Once qualified, I worked as a Critical Care Staff Nurse at Europe’s leading transplant centre, The Freeman Hospital. The experience and knowledge I gained there were invaluable, but my passion had always been in community care, and supporting people with complex health conditions to live fulfilling lives in their own homes.
I later returned to community complex care before rejoining the NHS just prior to the covid pandemic, where I worked on the Respiratory Support Unit. It was an intense and emotional period, but also one of the proudest times in my career. It reinforced how vital compassionate care is, particularly during life’s most difficult moments.
After three years, I returned to community care as a CQC Registered Nurse Manager for a domiciliary care provider, which allowed me to combine my clinical experience with leadership and person-centred care. Three years later, I saw an advert for Springfield Healthcare and immediately felt it was the perfect fit for me. I can honestly say I haven’t looked back since. Joining Springfield Healthcare felt like the right opportunity at the right time, and I’m proud to be part of a team that shares the same commitment to making a genuine difference in people’s lives.
How has the care sector changed since you first started your career?
Over the past 24 years, I’ve seen significant changes within the care sector. Today, there is a much stronger focus on person-centred care, with customers truly at the heart of everything we do. We work hard to ensure every individual has a voice and, most importantly, that their voice is listened to and respected.
What are you most looking forward to about working at Springfield?
Even in the short time I’ve been with Springfield Healthcare, I’ve already seen what a fantastic organisation it is. The company’s values, structure, and commitment to putting customers at the centre of decision-making are genuinely inspiring. It’s refreshing to work alongside such positive and passionate people who truly care about making a difference.
For me, if I can make a positive impact on even one person’s life, then I know I’m doing something meaningful.
What unique skills and experiences do you bring to the Springfield team?
Although I’ve worked as a Critical Care Nurse, Respiratory Nurse, Complex Care Manager and CQC Registered Nurse Manager, at the end of the day I’m simply a person who wants to help others. I’m approachable, down to earth and always willing to support wherever needed. The experience I bring is important, but equally important is being someone people feel comfortable turning to for guidance, reassurance or simply a listening ear.
What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a similar role within the care sector?
If you are compassionate, positive, driven and genuinely want to make a difference in the people’s lives, I would highly recommend a career in care. It can be both heart wrenching and incredibly rewarding, but being able to support someone, improve their quality of life, and put a smile on their face is one of the greatest rewards you can experience.
With 24 years of invaluable experience spanning NHS nursing and community care, Nikki brings a wealth of expertise and a person-centred approach to Springfield Healthcare. We are thrilled to have her leading our complex care services in the northeast, welcome to the team Nikki!
Our comprehensive care packages range from flexible homecare and live-in support to expert complex care and care in our beautiful care homes, ensuring we can meet your requirements at any stage. You can feel confident knowing our expert team is fully prepared and dedicated to providing high-quality, tailored support for every unique care need. Get in touch today to discuss how Springfield can support you in your care journey.
