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Lesley Butcher RCN, BA, MA, PGCE

Ms Lesley Butcher

(she/her)

RCN, BA, MA, PGCE

Teams and roles for Lesley Butcher

Overview

I qualified as a Registered Nurse (Adult and Mental Health) in 1994 (Deakin University, Australia). During my career I have experienced a variety of roles and settings. These have included senior management positions, assessing and caring for older people and people living with dementia in hospitals, care homes and community settings. I am qualified to advanced practice level and am a non-medical prescriber. 

I have worked as a lecturer for Cardiff University since 2015, attaining promotion to Senior Lecturer in 2022. During this time I have gained experience in working alongside, and involving people with dementia in teaching, civic mission, curriculum development and different outputs including VLOG's and podcasts. 

In 2019 I was successful in a funding bid for a civic mission dementia project from HEFCW. I was Principal Investigator (PI) in qualitative focus group research, exploring Human Rights for people living with dementia in care homes. I led on all aspects including design, writing protocols, ethics application, group facilitation, thematic analysis, and dissemination.

In 2022 I was a Co-applicant in NIHR funded research into restrictive practices utilised with people with dementia who have been admitted to hospital and was funded for 20% FTE for 20 months. 

I am founder of a social care campaign titled ‘A Person Like Me’ which supports social care workers and interested public in upholding human rights for people with dementia https://apersonlikeme.org.uk/

I have extensive teaching experience in dementia, and carried out essential mapping of dementia-related curriculum in the undergraduate nursing programme to ensure it reflects National guidance for Higher Education Institutions. I have been an invited international speaker on subjects related to dementia, emotional care, and experiential teaching methods. 

I am passionate about promoting dignity, and understanding the lived experience of the person requiring care. I have a Masters' degree in Psychotherapy and have a psychodynamic focus to my clinical work. I seek to convey the importance of empathy during my lectures and via experiential teaching methods.

 

Publication

2024

2020

2019

2018

2007

2005

2004

2003

Articles

Conferences

Research

2025 [pending]: I am currently co-applicant/co-lead in a grant proposal in response to a UKRI research council call from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funding proposal. This project is led by Dr Tania Sharmin, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in the Welsh School of Architecture.

This interdisciplinary project is titled: CRISP: Climate Resilience through Inclusive Strategic Partnerships: Preparing the UK’s built environment for rising temperatures and an ageing population  

2022: I was co-applicant in NIHR funded research into restrictive practices utilised with people with dementia who have been admitted to hospital and was funded for 20% FTE for 20 months. This research was led by Dr Katie Featherstone.

2019: I was Principle Investigator (PI) leading on some qualitative focus group research, which sought the perceptions of key stakeholders in ascertaining the barriers and facilitators to upholding human rights for people living with dementia in care homes. There were 7 focus groups of between 7-9 mixed participants including people living with dementia, care home workers (care assistants, managers, nurses and activities coordinators), family members of people with dementia, and student nurses. Ethical approval was obtained for the study. It has been thematically analysed and is currently in peer review in: Dementia: International journal of social care and practice. 

2003-2005: I have designed and led on research into 'Locus of Control' and the relationship to Behavioural Therapy (Biofeedback) for people with functional bowel disorders during my time working at St Marks Hospital, London.

Teaching

I teach on the Undergraduate Nursing Programme as well as the  Postgraduate Teaching and Masters' Programmes. My main teaching interest is in Dementia care and I teach varying elements of this across all programmes. I have also presented at various National and International conferences, and have delivered a series of lectures by invitation to Xuzhou Medical University/School of International Education in May 2024.

Undergraduate Programme teaching and Return to Practice:

Although I specialise in care of the person living with dementia I am a diverse teacher with a wide skill-set. I teach the dementia-related curriculum across the three years, the Mental Capacity Act, cognitive assessment, safeguarding, person-centred care, spirituality, psychological considerations in caring for patients and various clinical skills. I am the lead for Global Health (year 2) spring module.

Postgraduate and Masters Programme teaching:

I teach on the Advanced Clinical Practice (MSc) programme. I lead the 'Advanced Practice in the management of Minor Illness HCT352' module at level 7 and teach extensively on this. As a non-medical prescriber I teach and have an Academic Assessor role for students on Independent/Supplementary Prescribing. I am also an Academic Assessor and marker on  the Foundation in Advanced Clinical Assessment for Healthcare Professionals module. Additionally I am aligned to and teach and assess on the Clinical Patient Assessment (CPA) module and Patient Safety module for postgraduate students at level 6. 

Conference Presentations:

[Pending March 2025] Butcher, L 2025. ‘Using a unique experiential learning method to teach principles of dignity to undergraduate nurses and inter-professional peers; introducing the ‘DACIE’. RCN Educational Forum, National Conference & Exhibition. Glasgow 31st March 2025

 

Butcher, L 2023. ‘The importance of emotional intelligence in nursing: using a vlog series to support, motivate and educate students and qualified nurses’. RCN Educational Forum National Conference & Exhibition. Birmingham: 26th April 2023

 

Sheard, D and Butcher, L. 2022. ‘Simplicity and sophistication - the value of emotional intelligence in dementia care’.  17th UK Dementia Congress. Birmingham: 8th November 2022

 

Butcher, L 2022. ‘Understanding the barriers and facilitators to upholding human rights for people living with dementia in care homes’. Concurrent session. RCN International Conference, Cardiff. 6th September 2022

 

Butcher, L 2021. ‘A Person Like Me’: Developing a bespoke, evidence-based online dementia learning resources, accessible to healthcare students and social care workers. Poster Presentation. CESI Conference, Cardiff University.

 

De, D and Butcher, L 2021. Promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion through a simulated multi-professional case-conference approach in healthcare. Pecha Kucha. CESI Conference, Cardiff University

 

Butcher, L 2021. Human Rights for people living with dementia in care homes: Oral presentation (and organisation/facilitation) at online Conference ‘Human Rights in Care Homes’ Webinar

 

Butcher, L 2019. ‘A Person Like Me’ – Promotion of empathy in care homes for people living with dementia. Oral Presentation: HEFCW sponsored civic mission Stakeholder Conference, Future Inn, Cardiff

 

Butcher, L 2019 ‘Human Rights for people living with dementia in care homes’. Oral Presentation: Royal Society of Biology South Wales panel event - Dementia: Science and Society, Sir Martin Evans Building, Cardiff University, Cardiff

 

Biography

I have been working as a Lecturer in Nursing at Cardiff University since 2015, and attained academic promotion to Senior Lecturer in 2022. I completed my Bachelor of Nursing degree in 1994 at Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. I obtained my Masters' degree in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at the Tavistock Centre in London in 2007. I have worked in both Adult and Mental Health Nursing fields throughout my career. I have lived and worked in the United Kingdom since 1999. During this time I have had a wide range of experience in hospitals and Community setting including (in reverse chroniological order with most recent first):

  • Nursing Home Manager (Homes specialising in Dementia care)
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist (Short stay, Nurse-led ward within a Community Hospital- physical/emotional/cogitive assessment and prescribing for mostly older people with medical conditions requiring short term interventions)
  • Community Matron (Case-managing, rapid response, assessment and prescribing for patients in the Community living with a range of long term conditions)
  • Community Chronic Disease Nurse Practitioner (Case-managing, rapid response, assessment and prescribing for patients in the Community who were living with chronic respiratory disease)
  • Respiratory Nurse Specialist (Within a GP practice, assessing and prescribing for patients with Asthma, COPD and other respiratory complaints)
  • Biofeedback Nurse Specialist (Nurse-led clinic for patients with functional bowel disorders)
  • Research Nurse (Coordinating local and Multi-centre studies with Gastrointestinal medicine)
  • Staff Nurse (Colorectal ward)
  • Staff Nurse (Prison ward)
  • Staff Nurse (General medical/surgical wards)
  • Qualified as a Registered Nurse at Deakin University in 1994.

 

Professional memberships

  • Royal College of Nursing
  • Nursing and Midwifery Council

Academic positions

2022- present Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing, Cardiff University

2015- 2022 Lecturer in Adult Nursing, Cardiff University

Speaking engagements

Butcher, L 2025. ‘Using a unique experiential learning method to teach principles of dignity to undergraduate nurses and inter-professional peers; introducing the ‘DACIE’. RCN Educational Forum, National Conference & Exhibition. Glasgow 31st March 2025 [Abstract accepted and pending presentation 31st March 2025]

 

Butcher, L 2024. 'Using experiential learning methods to teach principles of dignity to multi-professional
healthcare students'  School of International Education at Xuzhou Medical University, China. 15th March 2024 (online)

 

Butcher, L 2024. 'Teaching fundamentals of care to nursing students; engaging them in experiential
practical learning' School of International Education at Xuzhou Medical University, China. 22nd March 2024 (online)

 

Butcher, L 2024. 'Supporting undergraduate nursing students to achieve their potential through partnership working'. School of International Education, Xuzhou Medical University, China. 29th March 2024 (online)

 

Butcher, L 2023. ‘The importance of emotional intelligence in nursing: using a vlog series to support, motivate and educate students and qualified nurses’. RCN Educational Forum National Conference & Exhibition. Birmingham: 26th April 2023

 

Sheard, D and Butcher, L. 2022. ‘Simplicity and sophistication - the value of emotional intelligence in dementia care’.  17th UK Dementia Congress. Birmingham: 8th November 2022

 

Butcher, L 2022. ‘Understanding the barriers and facilitators to upholding human rights for people living with dementia in care homes’. Concurrent session. RCN International Conference, Cardiff. 6th September 2022

 

Butcher, L 2021. ‘A Person Like Me’: Developing a bespoke, evidence-based online dementia learning resources, accessible to healthcare students and social care workers. Poster Presentation. CESI Conference, Cardiff University.

 

De, D and Butcher, L 2021. Promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion through a simulated multi-professional case-conference approach in healthcare. Pecha Kucha. CESI Conference, Cardiff University

 

Butcher, L 2021. Human Rights for people living with dementia in care homes: Oral presentation (and organisation/facilitation) at online Conference ‘Human Rights in Care Homes’ Webinar

 

Butcher, L 2019. ‘A Person Like Me’ – Promotion of empathy in care homes for people living with dementia. Oral Presentation: HEFCW sponsored civic mission Stakeholder Conference, Future Inn, Cardiff

 

Butcher, L 2019 ‘Human Rights for people living with dementia in care homes’. Oral Presentation: Royal Society of Biology South Wales panel event - Dementia: Science and Society, Sir Martin Evans Building, Cardiff University, Cardiff

 

Committees and reviewing

  • Former editorial board member for 'Signpost'; a journal specialising in Older People's Mental Health

Contact Details

Email ButcherL3@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone +44 29225 11674
Campuses Ty Dewi Sant, Floor 3, Room 3.14, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN

Research themes

Specialisms

  • Dementia
  • emotional intelligence
  • Aged care nursing
  • Advanced Clinical Practice
  • Gastroenterology

External profiles