Joanne Harcombe, Education Lead, UK National Screening Committee

Jo is currently the National Education Lead to the UK NSC screening programmes (England). This role covers the non-cancer screening programmes for England and ensures delivery of a cross-programme, multidisciplinary education strategy that supports NHS staff, commissioners and education institutes. Jo chairs several groups across the UK NSC and is a representative for the UK NSC across several organisations and stakeholder groups. Details of the education strategy and available resources and support can be found on the education pages of the UK NSC web site www.screening.nhs/cpd

Prior to commencing this role Jo worked as a clinical midwife and senior lecturer in midwifery and women’s health and led several education projects related to clinical governance/risk management. Jo started working for the UK NSC in 2001 as a Regional Screening Co-ordinator for the North East region and took on the education remit in 2002 part-time and full-time in 2004.

Jo’s Masters Degree is in Educational Leadership and her dissertation explored the use of ‘distributed leadership’ in the NHS as a means of securing sustainable professional education for screening.