The tutoring skills of an NHS Forth Valley Behavioural Psychotherapist,  who is on secondment  to the University of Stirling as a part-time teaching fellow, has earned him the title of Educator of the Year in the prestigious 2017 Student Nursing Times Awards.

Ivor Smith was described as an exceptional educator who has high regard for students and their life experiences. The judges said the breadth of educational approaches and clinical authenticity was exceptional.

Mr Smith teaches in the University’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport for three days a week and works one day a week as a behavioural psychotherapist with NHS Forth Valley’s Psychological Therapy Team. Linda McAuslan, NHS Forth Valley’s Lead Nurse for Psychological Therapies, said: “Ivor has worked so hard and deserves this amazing award. His commitment to driving forward trauma-informed practice within NHS Forth Valley and the University of Stirling has to be commended. His passion for developing and supporting mental health student nurses is also admirable and we are all very proud of his worthy achievement.”

Professor Jayne Donaldson, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport at the University of Stirling, added: “These awards are all about honouring outstanding nursing students and those who are committed to developing new nursing talent.

“Ivor is a perfect example of the passion and commitment needed to be a great teacher. He was selected by the judging panel for his commitment to the mental health profession and his clinical experience is invaluable to our students. We’re very proud that Ivor is inspiring the next generation of nurses at Stirling. He deserves all of the recognition he has received.”

This year’s Student Nursing Times Awards resulted in 174 finalists on the short list and 18 winners. The awards are seen as celebrating the very best in nurse education and an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of students who are shaping the future of nursing.

Nursing Times and Student Nursing Times Editor, Jenni Middleton, added: “The Student Nursing Times Awards are always very special. Every year I am impressed by the standard of the students who enter – they demonstrate all the hard work, intelligence, enthusiasm, passion and skill we want to see in our future workforce. It is incredible to look at what they achieve in addition to their studies. Of course, they could not do that without the support of their mentors on placement and university staff, which is why we are so pleased to be able to honour those individuals and institutions in these awards too.”

Pictured: Ivor Smith, centre, is pictured receiving his award.