NHS Direct, People at work

 

Elaine Collins, Regional Director of Nursing

Elaine

Elaine Collins joined NHS Direct in June 2007 and currently works as a Regional Director of Nursing for NHS Direct in the West Midlands.

What does your role involve role?

I am responsible for advising on all aspects of professional nursing and clinical practice and standards within the Region, including delivery and achievement of all clinical performance targets.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The diversity of the role, having come from an acute nursing background the work of NHS Direct and Own Health was very different. There are many opportunities to become engaged in new service developments which means I am still involved in developing services for patients and focusing on the quality of the services provided. It also has provided opportunities to network both locally within the West Midlands and on a national basis with senior nurses.

What can NHS Direct offer me?

NHS Direct offers the same terms and conditions of employment as all other NHS organisations. In addition we have various staff employment schemes which form part of our Improving Working Lives strategy. Working with the Own Health team is a pleasure, they are a motivated group of clinical staff who strive for excellence in what they do.

What’s unique about the working environment?

Working from a call centre is a very different environment, however, the region offers modern facilities and we have on an on site restaurant which is subsidised for staff 

Will I receive all the training I need?

The service offers a structured training programme and we are currently working with a local university to accredit the programme as part of a work based learning degree. The Own Health service also has a number of on-going training days throughout the year which cover a variety of topics related to service.

Prior to this she worked at the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust as Deputy Director of Nursing. While working in an acute trust, Elaine gained experience in managing areas to include trauma & orthopaedics and emergency care. In her role as Deputy Director of Nursing she led strategic projects around nurse recruitment, Essence of Care, Nurse Led Discharge, Non Medical Prescribing and was the lead for post registration education and training.

Elaine has a Masters Degree in Business Administration and has completed the Johnson & Johnson / Kings Fund national nurse leadership programme. She has presented nationally and internationally on various topics to include nursing leadership and in 2005 was awarded the Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing award for best paper at a national conference.

In 2006 Elaine was nominated by the Royal College of Nursing as the UK representative for an International award by the International Council of Nursing based on her work with the Maltese Department of Health and the development of an Orthopaedic Nursing Association in Malta. Elaine is currently the National Forum Chair of the RCN Society of Orthopaedic & Trauma Nursing and Honorary Chair of the Association of Maltese Orthopaedic Nurses

 

Pauline Campbell-Gordon, Associate Care ManagerPauline

A winning environment
When Pauline came across the advert for a position as an Associate Care Manager with NHS Direct West Midlands in 2008, she knew it was the role for her. The opportunity to combine her skills and experience in working with the elderly and general nursing was a potent combination and her decision to accept the role has been vindicated.

“My line manager is very helpful and approachable”
Pauline cites the approachability and the support of both her line manager and other staff members as one the main reasons for job satisfaction. And this is the opinion of someone who has over 20 years’ experience in Health and Social Care, having qualified as an enrolled nurse in 1981.

Being able to carry out her job as associate care manager in an environment that is not only beneficial to her wellbeing but to that of her patients has been a big help to Pauline, who made the transition back to nursing practice after a 10-year absence.

Two very important reasons why Pauline Campbell-Gordon is enjoying her work with NHS Direct Own Health so much… 


“The facilities at NHS Direct are clean, nice and modern”

 

Jan Dunford, Associate Care ManagerJan

With 13 years’ experience in mental health and 16 in an acute hospital setting, Jan was entering an environment very different to the one she was used to.

First class training
She was immediately taken aback by the quality of the training at NHS Direct, being immediately enrolled onto a comprehensive five-week programme, which covered all clinical areas, HR and technology. Jan also continues to benefit from ongoing training and is encouraged to attend courses as part of her CPD, which she remarks “is taken very seriously here”.

Perfect combination
The training and CPD, in conjunction with her specialist clinical, multi-agency skills and her strong communication and team skills have enabled Jan to thrive at NHS Direct.

Janice Dunford is the first physiotherapist to join the Own Health team in Dudley as an Associate Care Manager. She has over 20 years’ post-qualification experience and joined NHS Direct Own Health in November 2008.

 

“The training at NHS Direct is exceptional”