Paula Reid-Smart joined Havens Hospices in 2017 as a Senior Nurse for the Fair Havens Community Team before progressing to Sister. In July 2021, she became the Head of Adult Services and CQC Registered Manager for Fair Havens.

Paula qualified as a Registered Nurse in 1997 and has worked in various roles across the NHS, including Surgical Nursing and NHS Blood and Transplant. Most of her career, however, was working in Southend’s A&E department for 17 years, where she worked as a Senior Sister/Emergency Nurse Practitioner.

Speaking about why she decided to work for Havens Hospices, Paula says, “I had reached a point in my career where I wanted to take on a new challenge and caring for people at the end of their life had always been an area I was interested in.

“I also had some personal bereavements and had seen the positive difference that hospice care made to people. I wanted to be able to give the standard of care that I knew hospice care could provide, which I felt I was not able to give in the NHS with all the pressures it was under.

“I was aware of the great reputation and care that Havens Hospices provided and wanted to be able to provide really high standards of care and make a real positive difference to people facing the worst of times.”

Paula is passionate about the care Fair Havens provides to the local community and is committed to ensuring that the highest standards of care are delivered across its Adult Care Services. As CQC Registered Manager, her priorities are ensuring that the care provided is safe, caring, effective, responsive and well-led.

She says, “I am dedicated to supporting, encouraging and developing our nurses and other care colleagues so they can always give the best of themselves.

“As our services expand, I want to ensure that all people who need our care can access it at the right time for them and that the experiences of patients and their loved ones are one of compassionate care delivered by skilled professionals and teams who are working towards a shared vision.

“I am proud to work for Havens Hospices and see it as a real privilege to lead the adult care teams here.”