Pepsi Takawira

Pepsi Takawira has experience in mental health and learning disability nursing in secure environments, and also Fitness to Practice for pre-and post-registration nursing.

[email protected]

Background

Pepsi Takawira qualified as a learning disability (1996) and mental health (2006) Nurse. After qualifying, she worked in medium security learning disability and mental health services with people who have enduring mental illness and challenging behaviours. Through this experience, Pepsi enhanced her understanding of working with individuals with complex needs and offending behaviours.

In 2005, Pepsi started working at ARU, teaching modules within the learning disabilities and mental health field on the pre-registration nursing programmes. She currently facilitates mental field groups as course leader, as well as collaborating in other projects in the faculty. Alongside teaching and leading modules, she has been an Education Champion for a large integrated Trust for over 10 years. As an Education Champion, Pepsi is responsible for working in partnership with the Trust to ensure Assessors, Supervisors and students are supported within their practice placement. She leads a team of lecturers to ensure partnership working with the practice environment, assessor updates, support sessions and student forums. Pepsi has also had significant experience as a NMC visitor for pre-registration nursing programmes, involved in approving and monitoring NMC approved programmes.

As the Course Leader for Mental Health Pre-Registration Nursing at the Cambridge campus, Pepsi is responsible for ensuring all students are supported in theory and practice. The student experience is paramount to her, and to maintain this she regularly networks and meets with colleagues within the Trusts and University to ensure feedback is considered and changes are made as necessary.

Research interests

• Staff attitude to management of violence and aggression
• Fitness to practice
• Working with carers

Teaching

• BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing  - Personal and Module Tutor
• BSc (Hons) Pre- and post-registration Nursing
• Practice Education Champion

Qualifications

• MSC in Research and Evidence based Practice: Anglia Ruskin University
• Postgraduate Certificate Medical Education (PGCME) :Homerton College
• BA (Hons)  Health Studies (Thorn)  Homerton: college Cambridge
• Dip HE Learning disability nursing : Homerton College Cambridge
• BSC (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health): New Bucks University
• Dip HE Nursing (Learning Disabilities

Memberships, editorial boards

• Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC):  Approved reviewer
• Registrant Panel Member NMC Fitness to Practice
• Care Quality Commission: Specialist  Clinical Advisor

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

Recent presentations and conferences

Takawira, P. (2010) Managing pathways from secure conditions to the community Understanding Mentally disordered sex offenders CEOP London. United Kingdom

Takawira, P. (2006) Sexual health and relationship skills with men who have intellectual disabilities The 5^th International conference for the care and treatment of offenders with Learning Disabilities: University of Central Lancashire; United Kingdom

Takawira, P. (2006) Experience and perceptions of aggression and its management from staff working within adult learning disability services. 2nd Cambridgeshire Annual Nursing Conference: HSHS Cambridge United Kingdom