Executive director of HR and OD, 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust
Leadership management development is a genuine passion, one that is close to my heart. I recognise how important it is to have a good manager, and how important leadership is, particularly in the NHS at the moment. Not a day goes by without the changes in the service hitting the headlines, and HR and OD are pivotal to initiating and supporting these change agendas.
We have invested heavily in creating an open and safe culture at the trust, and have employed 16 qualified mentors to provide extra support to newly appointed managers and those leading the changes. We’ve also done a lot of work with “ask, not tell” initiatives and increased communication channels, with regular meetings with trade unions and “take it to the top” sessions, inviting all staff to address any issues directly to the chief executive and the board. The trust of the future will increasingly rely on patients and service-users being more involved in decision-making around their care, and staff will have much more say on their service provision.
I spent time in a strategic role at Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority, which helped me understand the link between national drivers and how they translate into local action. It’s absolutely crucial HR is seen as an executive function and we should sit shoulder-to-shoulder with the chief executive and the rest of the trust board, especially in an industry where people are pivotal to success.
We have seen a reduction of 1 per cent on sickness absence, over a 12-month period, thanks to a number of health and well-being initiatives, including a flu campaign and monthly health screening events. We are being more proactive with our care, with wider educational tools and much greater support functions for those off sick, to encourage their transition back to work.
I love seeing changes that result in better working arrangements or environments for our staff: research demonstrates that it also has a direct impact on the quality and safety of the care patients receive. It was NHS Change Day on 3 March and I made a pledge that I would strive to make 5 Boroughs a healthy and enjoyable place to work. I want every staff member to skip into work: I’m not suggesting I will achieve that, but I will try extremely hard to make it happen.
Potted CV
Assistant director of HR and OD, 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Associate director of organisational and workforce development, The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Various L&D and OD roles in NHS trusts in Cheshire and surrounding areas