We are delighted to announce the appointment of Karen Harwood as Associate Director of Nursing (ADN) for Safe Staffing, Practice Education and Professional Standards at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT).
Karen brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to compassionate care, having dedicated more than three decades to the nursing profession.
Her nursing journey began in 1990 at Bishop Auckland School of Nursing, inspired by her early experiences as a healthcare assistant.
Karen’s clinical career started in Intensive Care in South Lincolnshire, and in 2000 she returned to the North East to work at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QE), where she progressed to the role of Matron for critical care.
Since then, she has held various senior nursing positions across several NHS Trusts, including QE and South Tees, with clinical experience spanning surgical, trauma and orthopaedics, ICU, and HDU settings.
Her leadership background also includes involvement in a national Patient Experience project, and she holds a Master’s degree in Transformational Leadership, further strengthening her capability to lead and influence at a strategic level.
Karen joined CDDFT in 2020, moving into a corporate role in Safe Staffing in 2021. Most recently, in 2024, she was appointed Lead Nurse for Safe Staffing and Practice Education, a role which prepared her well for this next step in her career.
In her current position as Associate Director of Nursing, Karen oversees the delivery of safe, high-quality care by ensuring the Trust has the appropriate staffing levels, resources and budgets in place.
While her role now involves less direct patient contact, Karen remains deeply motivated by the core values of nursing.
She continues to champion empathy, understanding, and the importance of seeing care through the eyes of patients and their families.
Karen said she is proud to contribute to CDDFT’s ongoing mission to deliver safe, compassionate and joined-up care to the communities we serve.
We offer our heartfelt congratulations to Karen and wish her continued success in this important role.
