Tonya Bibby, a proud Vincentian and Clinical Nurse Manager at James Terry Court in South Croydon, England, has made remarkable strides in the field of nursing, earning her the prestigious Social Care Nurse Award. This accolade celebrates her profound impact on the emotional, physical, psychological, and social health of the residents she cares for, demonstrating a seamless integration of nursing expertise with social care.
Since assuming the role in 2023, Tonya has transformed the nursing services at James Terry Court through her collaborative approach with staff and residents. Her leadership has been instrumental in improving the overall quality of care. Denise O’Brien, her manager, praised her dedication, stating, “Tonya has made a significant impact at James Terry Court. She’s always willing to go the extra mile, and her support for both staff and residents is exceptional.”
Her openness and approachable demeanor have fostered a positive environment where everyone understands the individual needs of the residents. A glowing review from the son of a resident on carehome.co.uk highlighted, “The nursing staff always kept us updated on mum’s condition when we visited or on the telephone, especially when she was receiving end-of-life care.”
Tonya’s influence extends across all service areas, including residential and dementia care. Under her leadership, disciplinary issues within the nursing area have decreased by over 50%. In addition, she launched the ‘Nurses ABC’ program, mentoring two nurse associate apprentices to ensure consistency and high standards among new nurses. “Tonya cleverly adopts various leadership techniques to meet people’s different learning styles,” remarked Jordi Sirera, the National Clinical Governance Lead.
Tonya’s dedication has not gone unnoticed by her colleagues, with one staff member stating during the recent Employee of the Month awards, “She always goes the extra mile to support staff and residents. We’re really lucky to have her.” Another colleague added, “Tonya has made such a difference to the Home; she is a real asset to our team.”
A former student of Girls’ High School (GHS) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tonya moved to the UK at the age of 15 and later graduated from Greenwich University with a first-class Bachelor of Science in Adult Nursing. Her journey in nursing follows in the footsteps of her mother, Annette Bibby, a former nurse at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) and now a Neonatal Transfer Nurse in London.
Tonya credits her success to her strong support system, including her two children, Taeyon and Ava, her husband Jaimie, who resides in Canada, and her parents, Annette and St. Clair Bibby. Reflecting on her journey, Tonya shared, “I am incredibly grateful for the support of my family, and I take pride in the opportunity to contribute to the care of others in the way I was raised to.”