Cardiff School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies

Research Interests

• Qualitative methodology
• Service User Involvement in Research
• The experiences of service users
• Chronic illness in childhood (particularly type 1 diabetes)

Career Overview

Lesley is employed as a Reader in paediatric diabetes nursing with the School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, Cardiff University. Since 1999, she has held a dual research/clinical post, 50% dedicated to her academic role and 50% in clinical practice with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. In her research role, she has been key to the development of a sustained and progressive programme of work, with research interests encompassing childhood diabetes, theories of grief, loss, adaptation and change, service users’ involvement in research and children/young people’s and parents’ experiences of health care. In addition, she is a recognised expert in the involvement of service users in the research process. She is currently Principal Investigator or co-applicant on three multi-centred randomised controlled trials. Her clinical role as a Senior Paediatric Diabetes Specialist Nurse includes the care, support and education of 230 children with diabetes and their families in hospital and community settings and the provision of diabetes education to students and professionals within healthcare and related disciplines.  In 2007, she was awarded the All Wales Outstanding Achievement Award for Nursing and Midwifery.

Teaching Profile

My contribution to learning and teaching arises from both my academic and clinical roles, and crosses Schools and academic levels, from pre-registration to doctoral students, and includes teaching qualified medical and nursing staff in various settings. I teach children and young people with diabetes and their families about the management of their condition and provide diabetes education to teachers, health visitors and school nurses, and professionals in other disciplines, e.g. social workers, youth leaders. In my academic role, I teach about diabetes, qualitative research methodology, service user involvement in research and research in the real world! I supervise PhD and MSc students, provide mentorship to aspiring and early stage researchers and novice writers, and I am co-lead on the diabetes module of the BSc in Community Nursing in Oman.