Job Title
Head of Quality for Primary and Community Care
Is your role clinical or non-clinical?
Clinical
When you were in school, did you want to join the NHS?
No, I thought I wanted to be an air steward! I ended up not enjoying college where I was doing Business Studies and English literature and my parents supported me to leave. I go a job as a Health Care Assistant at an acute hospital and it was there someone suggested I would make a good nurse. The rest is history
Tell us about your job
A typical day is supporting general practice and community services with all areas of quality and service improvement. Whether that be through face to face visits, reviewing reports, taking part in contract assurance meetings. My overall aim is to support and help using the specialist knowledge that I have.
How did you come to work in the NHS?
I joined university to do my adult nurse training and undertook the diploma. I later went on to get a degree in my specialty of District Nursing. I am now doing my masters in NHS Leadership.
What are some challenges?
The current pressures on NHS services are enormous however the services still have to provide high quality person centered care. The balance between support and assurance during such times are always difficult.
What do you love about your job?
The variety – no one day is the same and I am learning something new everyday. Things that I never thought could happen, absolutely do happen.
Which Clinical colleagues support you?
Directors of Nursing, Clinical quality facilitators, patient safety leads.
Which Non-clinical colleagues support you?
Administrators and data analysts.
Is there career progression in your role?
Yes absolutely.
What would you say to a young person thinking of joining the NHS?
The world is your oyster. There are so many different options available to you and jobs that you probably don’t even know exist. Yes the NHS is a tough place to work at the moment however you can make your career what you want in the NHS and there are wonderful colleagues and patients that will make every day worthwhile.