Father and daughter, who have both struggled with mental health issues, start their first day at work together as newly qualified nurses

An ex-greengrocer and his daughter, who both suffered from poor mental health, are now helping others by qualifying as NHS mental health nurses at the same hospital.

Father and daughter Steven and Stevie-Leigh Jewell graduated within weeks of each other and now both work at Blackpool’s The Harbour, a mental health hospital run by Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.

Proud Steven, 42, said it was ‘great’ to work together and support each other – as they had both experienced mental health problems, which inspired them to help others.

While his 22-year-old daughter, also from Blackpool, Lancs, said she was ‘so happy to share the experience with my dad’.

Steven explained, “You’re never too old. Myself and Stevie-Leigh are both very passionate about helping others, it must be a trait that runs in the family!

‘We’ve both experienced poor mental health and I think that’s ultimately why we want to help others.

‘People often ask us who inspired who, but I think it was a collective effort. After talking about our career aspirations together, we both realized we wanted the same thing.

‘It was wonderful to do this together and support each other, albeit through very different graduation paths.’

At The Harbour, Steven works with older adults and Stevie-Leigh with older adults suffering from dementia.

The couple took different paths to their dream job: Steven started working as a healthcare support worker with no previous experience of working in mental health, having mainly worked jobs such as greengrocer.

After gaining valuable experience, he trained as a trainee nurse and eventually completed his nursing training.

While he admitted that starting a new career path later in life can be “daunting,” he said he was supported and encouraged by his colleagues, managers and his daughter “to follow my dreams.”

The hospital where the two work is an NHS hospital in a northern seaside town in Lancashire

He added that he now ‘couldn’t be happier’, stressing: ‘I started my own journey four years ago when I joined LSCft (Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust) with no previous experience of working in mental health.

‘I have spent most of my working life in manual labor and retail as a greengrocer.

‘I have always had an interest in mental health, but wasn’t sure what opportunities would be available to someone like me, who had no previous qualifications in nursing or mental health.

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

Meanwhile, Edgehill University graduate Stevie-Leigh said: “I love my job and I feel so lucky to be able to share this experience with my father.

‘We started studying at the same time, so it feels special to have graduated within a few weeks of each other because we both saw how hard we worked.

‘I am excited about my future working life and the impact I have on people. I love knowing that I am making a difference and helping people live better and reach their full potential, and I know my dad feels the same way.”

Steven, who received high praise during his studies, added: ‘It was great to do this together and support each other.’

Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire, not far from Steven and Stevie-Leigh Jewell’s hometown of Blackpool, is where Stevie studied nursing

Chris Oliver, CEO of LSCft, said: “It is amazing to see Stephen and Stevie-Leigh both completing their studies at the same time and continuing their careers as mental health nurses with us.

“Steven has been named our ‘Student of the Year’ for 2023 and I know he has been an integral part of many recent projects and invaluable in supporting other colleagues currently studying.

‘It is inspiring to see their shared passion, care and compassion clearly run in their family.

“We are extremely lucky to have them working with our older adult service users and I personally can’t wait to see what else Steven and Stevie-Leigh will achieve with us.”