Before the Swansea Student Leadership Academy (SLA) 2024, I would have never believed that by the end of the year, I would be attending a council meeting at the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) or be speaking in a Schwartz Round at the first hybrid conference for The Collaboration for Compassion in Healthcare Education (C4CHEd). My name is Tesni Davies, a student paramedic at Swansea University and SLA has opened doors to opportunities I would have never imagined. During the three SLA conference days, I felt inspired by the workshops, talks and my introduction to compassionate leadership. Compassionate leadership is vital in allowing us to feel empowered, supported and included by our colleagues (Bailey & West, 2022). One element to achieving effective, compassionate leadership is partaking in Schwartz Rounds, a safe space for healthcare professionals of all levels to share their experiences.
During the SLA conference, my introduction to compassionate leadership came from Dr Sarah Tobin, founder of C4CHEd. Listening to Dr Sarah Tobin’s talk titled ‘Compassion and Compassionate Leadership’, I felt motivated by the aims of the members and the importance of compassion within the workplace. Listening to this talk and how compassion for staff can lead to improved patient outcomes sparked a curiosity within me, I felt intrigued to learn more (Ahmed et al., 2024).
Following the conference, I was introduced to an Advanced Paramedic Practitioner who would be my leadership mentor. I had multiple meetings during this time to discuss compassionate and authentic leadership. At the time I was on an ambulance placement, I could link what I and others had done during different scenarios and how it shaped me into becoming my own authentic leader. I could put what I had been researching and discussing into practice and think about my actions, and with the support of my paramedic practice educator (PEd), we could apply the learning effectively and utilise the importance of compassion and debriefing.
Other students and I presenting our poster on Emotional Intelligence at SLA, March 2024
I was lucky enough to attend a council meeting at the HCPC during my leadership journey, following coming runner-up in the Social Media for Healthcare Professionals: 2024 student competition with Robert Stevens (Student Paramedic, SLA 2024). We created an interactive online session for healthcare professionals on the use of social media. From attending the council meeting, we networked with various members at the HCPC, gaining a greater insight into their role as a regulatory body. This presentation has since been delivered to first-year student paramedics at Swansea University to raise awareness of our responsibilities with social media.
Robert Stevens & I (far right in the front row) accompanied by council members and other competitors at the HCPC, London, December 2024
Find out more about the HCPC student competition 2024 – https://www.hcpc-uk.org/students/learning-materials-for-students/competition/social-media-for-healthcare-professionals/
Following a discussion with Beryl Mansel, expressing my interest in compassionate leadership, and attending the upcoming C4CHEd conference, Beryl offered to put me in touch with Dr Sarah Tobin. Within the first meeting, I learned more about C4CHEd and the importance of Schwartz Rounds. Schwartz Rounds were a new concept to me; however, I soon realised it was similar to my goals of debriefing with my PEd on placement. I was asked if I would be interested in speaking at the first hybrid Schwartz Round at Plymouth University during the C4CHEd conference. I was nervous as the Schwartz Round would mean sharing a vulnerability and personal experience, but I was excited by the opportunity. I agreed to participate and was met with a vast amount of support. I chose an experience that met the title ‘Compassion – the power of good and the impact of absence’ and resonated with me. I contacted my PEd, as the power of her compassion following a shift had stuck with me. Again, her compassion shone through with support and encouragement.
When the time came to travel to the University of Plymouth for the conference, I was overwhelmed by the thought of talking in front of everyone in the room and on the international livestream call. With the support of friends and family, I was encouraged and reminded that it was possible to do this and overcome these nerves and challenges. Throughout the conference day, I sat listening to the inspirational talks and how the impact of compassion is being implemented both locally and internationally. Listening to Professor Michael West, I felt inspired to hear that he had been working with Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) to have all NHS Wales leaders trained in compassionate leadership by 2030. However, at the back of my mind, I was still thinking about what would come during the Schwartz Round.
It finally came my turn to talk, I was called to the front with the other speaker and facilitators of the Schwartz Round. Full of nerves, I was introduced by the facilitators, and then I began to talk about my reflection. Looking into the audience, I could see many friendly faces listening to what I had to say. Once I was finished, I took a sigh of relief and relaxed; despite all of the nerves, I had been able to do it. The facilitators opened the floor to comments and questions, I was overwhelmed in a positive sense by all the support from those around the world. However, the support from fellow SwanSLA students on the livestream filled me with the most incredible sense of comfort. On the way home from the C4CHEd conference, I felt beyond proud for being able to do something that had initially filled me with such terror.
(Left to Right) Pamela Rae, Tesni Davies & Sarah Tobin at the C4CHEd conference, University of Plymouth, December 2024.
Find out more about C4CHEd – https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/compassion-in-healthcare-education
Find out more about Schwartz Rounds – https://www.theschwartzcenter.org/about/who-we-are/
By being involved with SLA, C4CHEd and attending the council meeting at the HCPC, I have grown as a leader along with my confidence. I have been reassured that being vulnerable and sharing emotions and thoughts during reflective debriefs is not a weakness; alternatively, I recognise this as a strength. My colleagues’ and peers’ support and encouragement have emphasised the power of compassion and community. Compassionate leadership is about being human and is for everyone. The main takeaway from my leadership journey is to encourage others to say yes to opportunities. They may be terrifying, but the reward is so much greater!
References
Ahmed, Z., Ellahham, S., Soomro, M., Shams, S., & Latif, K. (2024). Exploring the impact of compassion and leadership on patient safety and quality in healthcare systems: a narrative review.
BMJ open quality, 13(2), e002651. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2023-002651 Bailey, S., & West, M. (2022). What is compassionate leadership? The King’s Fund. https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/what-is-compassionate-leadership
Swansea University Student Leadership Academy 