Dr Liz Westcott

Dr Liz Westcott is a registered nurse and currently holds the positions of NMC Test of Competence Centre assessor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery Oxford Brookes University, Coach, Director Sigma Theta Tau, Phi Mu Chapter Ltd, and Trustee of the Anne Harold Trust. Liz is currently Sigma Theta Tau Europe Regional Coordinator and is a past President of Sigma Theta Tau, Phi Mu Chapter England.

In clinical practice Liz had a career in neuroscience nursing 1981-1998 holding the roles of sister in neurology and then Senior Nurse in neurosurgery in Oxford. During this time Liz also became the first Lecturer Practitioner for neurology and neurosurgery in the United Kingdom. Liz introduced a teaching programme for Neurosurgery in 1990 which is still the basis for teaching staff and students in the unit 30 years later. The research Liz undertook and published investigating safe competency and staffing levels in Neurosurgery in 1993 was used by a number of neuroscience units in the UK to inform their future safe staffing levels.

Liz moved to Oxford Brookes University as a Senior Lecturer in 1998, became a Principal Lecturer in 2000, Department Head in 2005 and gained her Doctorate in 2015. As Department Head during 2005-18 Liz  line managed the staff teams in Nursing, Midwifery, Occupational Therapy, Paramedic Science, Physiotherapy,  Social Work, Advanced Practice, Critical Care, and also the NHS pre-registration and CPD contracts. Liz was Head of Nursing at Oxford Brookes University until 2018 when she changed role to create time to care for a relative with a deteriorating condition.

As Head of Nursing for 18 years Liz led many developments in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences including the introduction of the nursing masters, diplomas, foundation degrees and nursing associate programmes. She introduced the first joint child / mental health nursing degrees in England and innovative adult /mental health and child /mental health masters programmes. Liz led the internationally successful 125 years of Nursing Education in Oxford and Swindon celebrations. She was part of the management team to introduce the Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery in 2017 and the Oxford Institute of Nursing & Allied Health Research (OxINAHR) in 2015.

Liz has worked on a number of national and international healthcare working groups to develop nursing and nursing education policy. Liz also Chaired the Faculty Swindon Campus Project Planning Group which successfully managed the move from the Ferndale Campus to the Joel Joffe Campus in Swindon in Summer 2016.

In 2019 Liz became the first Sigma Theta Tau, England branch, Phi Mu Chapter President to be elected outside Bournemouth University and in 2021 was elected the first Sigma Europe Region Coordinator from England. She also became one of the first individual members of the Florence Nightingale Foundation in 2021.