Five Decades of Dedication: NHS Trust honours retiring healthcare hero

Tributes came flooding in recently for a local NHS worker who retired after a staggering 52 years of service to her local community.

Janet Foster, clinical lead of NHS West Cheshire Talking Therapies, was honoured at a special retirement event at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP).

Having joined the NHS in 1972 as a cadet nurse, this marks the end of a remarkable career in health care. Reflecting on her early days, Janet recalls starting her journey straight out of school, where she discovered her passion for mental health.

She explained: 

“I was proud to train as a mental health nurse, especially at a time when there was so much stigma. It was a privilege to help patients and support their rehabilitation, something I’ve always found incredibly rewarding.”

Janet’s passion for psychological care was sparked during her time working in inpatient care. It would eventually lead her to a leadership role within the Trust’s West Cheshire NHS Talking Therapies service at its inception in 2007. Talking Therapies offer a range of effective treatments to support people struggling with feelings of depression, excessive worry, social anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Janet said: 

“Leading the service has been one of the proudest moments of my career. It has been amazing to see the service grow and to help develop others along the way. I’ve always felt it’s important to give back the same support and opportunities that I was lucky enough to receive.”

Tim Welch, CWP chief executive, praised Janet’s contribution: “Janet’s 52 years of service are truly inspirational. Her dedication to patient care and her remarkable ability to inspire others has transformed lives. Her legacy of compassion for patients and her colleagues will be felt for years to come. She will be missed, and we wish her all the very best in her well-earned retirement.”

Throughout her 52-year career, Janet remained driven by a commitment to patient care.

Janet reflected :

“Some of the bravest people I’ve ever met have been my patients. To have earned their trust and been part of their journey has been an honour. Providing the best care possible has always been my motivation.”

Janet’s colleagues speak of her as a mentor, having inspired countless others to pursue their passions in the field. She has been especially passionate about the service’s apprenticeship scheme, giving people to opportunity to join the service and develop a career.

She noted:

“If I could give one piece of advice to someone considering a career in talking therapies, it would be: don’t hesitate. The opportunity to make a difference is huge, and the support from the team is incredible,”

As she steps into retirement, Janet looks to the what the future holds.

“It’s going to be a big adjustment after 52 years of coming here every day,” she laughed, “but I’m excited to try retirement on for size. I have lots of hobbies, but most importantly I’m really looking forward to spending more time with my grandson.”

Janet’s dedication, compassion, and leadership have left a lasting imprint. Her retirement marks the end of an era, but her legacy will live on in the lives of the many patients and colleagues she has met along the way.

If you’ve been inspired by Janet’s story and are interested in an NHS career at CWP please visit: 

www.careers.cwp.nhs.uk

Pictured - Tim Welch, Chief Executive of Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust  and Janet Foster, Clinical Lead West Cheshire Talking Therapies.