'You carry people's stories with you. But you don't carry them alone.'

"I remember sitting with a young mum, just the two of us, in a small room where she finally felt safe enough to talk. She had fled everything she knew to protect her children. She was exhausted, frightened, but determined to start again.

"As she spoke, the extent of what she had been through became clear. The abuse hadn’t stopped even after she gave birth. She told me how, while still recovering physically, she had been overpowered and raped by her husband. That moment has stayed with me throughout my career. It was a stark reminder that domestic abuse is not just about physical violence. It is about control, fear and the complete removal of someone’s right to feel safe in their own body.

"I’m Joyce Masimba, and I’ve been a nurse for over 40 years. I began my training in Zimbabwe in 1975 and later retrained as a registered nurse in 1986. But it was my journey into health visiting, and then into domestic abuse work, that truly shaped my career.

"Growing up, I saw how abuse was often hidden or accepted within communities. It wasn’t something people talked about openly. Women, in particular, were expected to endure. That stayed with me, and when I trained as a health visitor in the UK, I chose to focus on domestic abuse. It brought together my professional role and something I had long felt strongly about.

"In my work, I supported women and families at some of the most difficult times in their lives. The young mum I mentioned had done everything she could to escape. We helped her access a refuge, secure housing and rebuild a sense of normality for her and her children. For a time, it felt like she was safe.

"But domestic abuse doesn’t always end when someone leaves. Her husband eventually found her and regained her trust. He persuaded her to take the children on a trip abroad. While they were away, he took them and disappeared. She never saw them again.

"That experience has never left me. It speaks to the complexity of abuse and the level of manipulation and control that can continue long after someone has escaped.

"Work like this can take an emotional toll. You carry people’s stories with you. But we don’t do it alone. Support through supervision, colleagues and safeguarding teams is essential. It allows us to keep doing this work without becoming overwhelmed.

"At KCHFT, I’ve been able to grow and specialise in this area. Through training, mentorship and partnership working with agencies such as the police and refuge services, I’ve developed the knowledge and confidence to support those affected by domestic abuse. When I had the opportunity to specialise, I chose to become a domestic abuse lead without hesitation.

"I’m also passionate about supporting others, especially internationally trained nurses. As a workplace representative, I advocate for colleagues to make sure their voices are heard. For me, it’s about ensuring that no one is left behind, whether that’s the people we care for or the colleagues we work alongside.

"This year’s International Nurses Day theme, focused on empowerment and the impact nurses have on safer lives, really resonates with me. For me, empowerment is about giving people a voice when they feel silenced and standing alongside them when they feel alone. It is also about being supported to grow, learn and lead.

"That is what has kept me in this work for more than 40 years, and why it still matters so much to me today."