December 27, 2013

NHS Graduate Fiona’s Time at PSS

Hello everyone. I work in HR for the NHS and have just finished my 8 week secondment to PSS and what a fantastic learning experience it’s been. I’d like to let you know about the work I was doing on development and career planning and what this means for you, as well as share my thoughts on my time with PSS.

I had the opportunity to go to any organisation but jumped at the chance to come to PSS because I wanted to know more about health and social care and see how support and care can be delivered differently than in the NHS.

My role was to develop proposals for how PSS can grow and nurture its people and what happens next for people identified as Rising Stars.

Firstly I looked outside PSS to see what other organisations were doing around development and career planning. I got useful real first hand accounts from them about what worked well and things we could learn from them.

Then I talked with people across PSS to hear about the great things already happening with development and career planning across the different services. I also heard about the different challenges you had and got your thoughts on some of the ideas we were beginning to shape around growing and nurturing the people of PSS.

Some of the key messages you told me were that there needs to be clarification about what it means to be a Rising Star and more support on identifying development opportunities to help you be the best you can be in your role or help you be prepared for future roles.

You told me that introducing career pathways and a career framework would also help with role and career development, and from a service point of view that they would help attract, develop and keep great people at PSS.

I pulled together all the research, feedback and recommendations for a final presentation and report for the Leadership Team and People and Culture Team and over the coming months Jackie Bailey, Organisation Development Manager will be taking the project forward so watch this space!

So how did I find life at PSS? From my first day I was made to feel like I belonged. But not only that, everyone I spoke to was so passionate about their jobs and about providing an excellent service to those they support.

I enjoyed learning about the range of services within PSS and really valued being able to go along to the Family Impact Nurturing session and the Enable Drama Group, it was a privilege and a rewarding experience to see first hand the great work done at PSS and the impact this has for the people you support.

My thinking has been broadened about how care and support can be delivered in a more people centred way. It’s been a rich learning experience that will make me better in my role within the NHS.

Lastly I’ve met some fantastic people along the way and it was certainly difficult to say goodbye. My next job is at Mersey Care NHS Trust so maybe I’ll cross paths with some of you again.

Best wishes,

Fiona

Fiona will be presenting the findings of her report to the NHS Leadership academy