SPOTLIGHT: Nursing alumna Lizzie Franklin‑Jones MBE on how she is shaping the next generation of nurse leaders
From her first placement at Herts to receiving an MBE for her services to children’s nursing and mental health, Lizzie Franklin‑Jones’ career has been driven by one guiding principle: leadership is about lifting others. Now a senior NHS leader, she is focused on nurturing confidence, compassion and ambition in the next generation of nurse leaders.
When Lizzie Franklin‑Jones looks back on her journey into nursing, it’s not titles or accolades that stand out first – it’s the people who believed in her, the moments of care that stayed with her, and the quiet encouragement that helped her keep going on the hardest days. A University of Hertfordshire nursing alumna who began her career on placement, Lizzie has since built a nationally recognised leadership career in children’s healthcare, earning an MBE in 2021 and becoming Divisional Director of Nursing for Children and Young People at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust. Yet for Lizzie, success is measured less by personal achievement and more by the nurses she supports, mentors and inspires to step forward and lead.
Her belief in leadership was shaped early. As a Herts student, Lizzie recalls how consistent support from her course tutor went beyond clinical supervision, helping her navigate the emotional demands of training and maintain her wellbeing during challenging placements. That reassurance, she says, often made the difference between feeling overwhelmed and finding the confidence to step back onto the ward and keep learning.
Those early experiences instilled habits that have stayed with her throughout her career: reflecting on moments of care and connection, recognising when she made a real difference, and remembering to find joy in the work. “That grounding in purpose mattered,” she says. “It reminded me why I chose to become a children’s nurse in the first place.”
At the heart of Lizzie’s work is a deep commitment to children’s nursing as a force for advocacy and equity. “Children’s nursing is, at its core, about protecting babies, children, young people and their families,” she explains. “A children’s nurse isn’t just a clinician – they are an advocate, a communicator and a constant presence for those who often have the smallest voice in the healthcare system.”
Championing that voice is central to Lizzie’s leadership. She is outspoken about the need for children and young people to be prioritised within the NHS. “Repositioning the importance of children and young people is no longer optional, it’s essential,” she says. “Children’s nurses, from students to senior leaders, are the magic‑makers who ensure that every moment of childhood is valued and cherished.”
Mentorship has been a defining thread throughout Lizzie’s journey, both as someone who benefited from it and now as a senior leader determined to embed it into organisational culture. At East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, she leads initiatives that combine clinical excellence with leadership coaching, supporting nurses from their student years through to senior leadership roles.
“We’re not just teaching clinical skills,” Lizzie explains. “We’re preparing nurses to think independently, build resilience, develop critical thinking and decision making, and look after themselves – because that’s what enables them to lead and make a lasting difference.”
Structured programmes under her guidance include mentoring schemes, leadership workshops and supportive supervision that recognise nurses as individuals on unique personal and professional journeys. By creating safe spaces to learn, test ideas and grow, these initiatives help nurses gain confidence before stepping into formal leadership roles.
Lizzie also leads by example. She believes that integrity, compassion and humanity are as influential as any formal training. “When students see nurses leading with kindness and purpose, it sets the standard for their own practice,” she says. Many of those she has mentored have already gone on to senior roles across the NHS.
Having returned to Herts as a visiting lecturer, Lizzie has already helped teach the next cohort of undergraduate children’s nursing students, closing the loop on a journey that began on placement. She is quick to spot those who stand out: students who focus on the fundamentals of care, amplify the voices of children and families, communicate with empathy and tailor their approach to each individual.
For Lizzie, children’s nursing is defined by the simplest acts of compassion – playing cards, blowing bubbles, singing, dancing or sharing a moment of laughter. “Those moments matter,” she reflects. “They’re powerful, and they’re essential when caring for children and their families.”
Ultimately, Lizzie sees mentorship as a long‑term investment in the future of healthcare. “Every nurse we support today strengthens the leadership of tomorrow,” she says. “That’s how we transform patient care, patient safety and outcomes for children – and that’s what truly matters.”