Dr Victoria Nesbitt is an experienced Consultant Paediatrician with a particular interest in neurodevelopment and neurodisability.
She has worked in paediatrics for over 20 years, holds a Consultant Paediatrician role at Oxford University Hospitals and is also Clinical Lead for the NHS Highly Specialised Services for Rare Mitochondrial Disorders. Dr Nesbitt is the Medical Director of Azalea Healthcare, a private healthcare company specialising in paediatrics and child health based in Brackley.
Alongside her clinical work, Dr Nesbitt is passionate about education and training. An Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer in Paediatrics at the University of Oxford, she teaches paediatric trainees and supports educators and support staff through her work with schools, colleges and sports academies.
Dr Nesbitt brings a holistic, child-centred perspective to her work, with particular understanding of how differences in development and neurological functioning can affect children both at home and school.
For her talk at The Link, Dr Nesbitt will be exploring executive functioning in children: the skills that help us plan, organise, focus, manage emotions, regulate behaviour and adapt to change. She will look at why these skills can be difficult for some children and, importantly, share practical ideas that parents and schools can use to help children develop greater confidence, independence and self-awareness.
Ahead of her visit to Beachborough, we spoke with Dr Nesbitt about her work, what inspires her and the advice she most often shares with families.
Please could you start by telling our parents a little about the work you do?
I am a Consultant Paediatrician, and my particular area of interest is neurodevelopment and neurodisability. My work involves caring for children at different stages of their development and supporting their families alongside. I currently work part-time for the NHS, based in Oxford, leading the Highly Specialised Service for Rare Mitochondrial Disorders, one of only three specialist centres in the UK. I’m also the Medical Director for Azalea Healthcare, a private healthcare company specialising in paediatrics and child health, based in Brackley. I also love teaching and alongside my clinical work I provide teaching and training in the public and the private sector.
What inspired you to do what you do?
I come from a big family and have always been around children. Children are constantly developing and learning, and small changes in how we understand or support them can have a significant impact on their confidence and wellbeing. Children communicate and experience the world so differently at different ages, and I enjoy the challenge of thinking about the whole child and the family around them.
What do you find most rewarding about the work you do?
Seeing a child grow, develop and progress in their own way is an absolute privilege. Every age and stage brings something different, and it is a joy to be able to support families through that. I love the honesty of a child – although sometimes their feedback is cutting!
Seeing a child become more confident, and often independent as a result, is incredibly rewarding. I love the variation in my role; it keeps me on my toes!
What can parents expect when they join your session at Beachborough?
I plan on delivering a relaxed and practical session with an opportunity to ask questions, share experiences and hopefully leave with some useful information that can be applied at home. I would like that those who attend to feel comfortable asking questions that they may otherwise hesitate to ask; often the things one parent is wondering about are exactly the same as what others are wondering too. Hopefully there will be lots of, “Oh that makes sense!” moments.
What do you hope parents will leave the session feeling or understanding more clearly?
I hope that parents leave understanding that executive functioning is a set of skills that develops over time. I’d like parents to try to understand the behaviour of their child before trying to change that behaviour. If we become curious about what is underpinning the behaviour we can often respond in a much more helpful way.
I will aim to provide some practical tools, and a clearer sense of when something is simply part of normal childhood versus when it is worth seeking advice.
Hopefully parents will feel reassured that they don’t have to be perfect parents – they just need to know their child, listen to them, and ask for help when they need it. Most importantly I hope parents leave feeling more confident and less worried. There is so much information available to parents now, and it can sometimes be difficult to know what to listen to or what is actually relevant to your own child.
Are there any simple takeaways or strategies you love sharing with families?
One thing I encourage parents to do is pause and reflect before assuming something is wrong. Children go through so many phases and behaviour, sleep, appetite and emotions can all change with development, illness, tiredness and changes in their environment. I try to encourage parents to observe their own child rather than comparing them too closely to other children. My simple takeaway for parents would be this: trust your instincts; you know your child better than anyone. If something feels different or you are genuinely concerned, it is absolutely appropriate to ask for advice.
If you could give one encouraging message to parents, what would it be?
You’re probably doing better than you think!
Parenting comes with an enormous amount of pressure, and there can be so many moments when you wonder whether you’re getting it right. From my experience working with children and their families, I see just how much parents care about getting the best for their children. You don’t have to get everything right all of the time (and won’t!). Your child doesn’t need a perfect parent – they need a loving, responsive parent who is there for them, who listens, and who is willing to ask for help when they need it.
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We look forward to welcoming Dr Nesbitt to The Link on Monday 9 November for what promises to be an insightful and practical discussion.
