Children's safety nurse receives top county award

A safeguarding nurse who trains colleagues to identify children at risk of harm has received one of the highest awards in the county where she works.

Lynn Benefer, lead safeguarding children’s nurse at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, was presented with a Lincolnshire High Sheriff award by High Sheriff Gavin Mackay at a ceremony at Lincoln Castle this week.

Humberside Police detective sergeant John Shepherd, who nominated Ms Benefer to receive the honour, also attended the event. Together they work with social workers to ensure children in the local community are kept safe – a job Ms Benefer has done for 10 years.

Ms Benefer said: ‘A big part of my role is ensuring that staff feel supported, and are supervised and trained to a high level to identify when a child is at risk of harm, and to know what to do when harm has occurred.

'I had no idea I was being put forward for an award; I received the letter in the post and was completely surprised.

‘I’m so proud of the accolade but I have to thank the whole team as it’s a reflection of their hard work too.’