Philomene
Uwamaliya

Philomene is a registered mental health nurse since 2006. She also has worked on the different programs aimed to redesign care pathways with a greater focus on prevention, early intervention, and reduction of health inequalities. For example, people with complex health problems, and asylum seekers, and refugees. She began teaching in 2011 at Liverpool John Moores University in the School of Nursing and Allied Health. She also has experience working in public health with specific programs aimed at increasing life expectancy. Her teaching and research interests include pre-registration adult, and mental health nursing, post-registration, and post-graduate programs specifically, public health, health inequalities, and cultural competency in health care. Others include early intervention in psychosis, post-traumatic growth, resilience and well-being, women’s health and young people, the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers, recovery, equality and diversity, anti-oppressive practice, stigma, and discrimination. As a refugee herself, Philomene recognises the challenges professionals face whilst caring for asylum seekers and refugees. Therefore in October 2016, Philomene applied and won the prestigious Mary Seacole Leadership Award to develop the Online Resource Hub for professionals caring for asylum seekers and refugees. The online resource hub aims to: • Provide up-to-date, easily accessible information on the legal asylum-seeking process and the role of professionals. • Increase students and professionals’ knowledge of specific health issues relevant to asylum seekers and refugees. • Develop a better understanding among students and professionals of the importance of cultural diversity and providing culturally responsive care. • Create opportunities for inter-professional and inter-agency collaboration and learning between healthcare professionals and non-healthcare organisations such as education, employment, and housing. • Provide information to promote health and well-being and good practice. She is also highly committed to ensuring that support services and commissioners provide the appropriate care to asylum seekers. She is setting up a Humanitarian Champions which comprise students nurses child, adult, and mental health, paramedic, social workers, and law students to promote a Rights-based approach in health and social care.