Celebrating our community workforce and AHP Day
We are excited to publish our first Community Workforce ‘Day in the Life’ series. These staff profiles shine a light on the incredible work and impact of our community workforce, through personal reflections of working in a variety of roles here in SE London. We are also celebrating Allied Health Professionals, many of whom work in community services, as 14th October marks national AHP Day.
Our community teams provide clinical services and care in a wide spectrum of settings, such as hospitals, clinics, schools, and patients’ homes or care homes. These staff improve the health and wellbeing of thousands of people of all ages and as Health Visitor Jitka Navratilova told us, “…without expensive equipment or drugs, we change lives”.
We are very grateful for the support of all those colleagues (and their managers) who have made the time to share their stories with us. “Providing healthcare in community settings makes professional help, support and knowledge more accessible for all,” said Bethany Wild, Lead Nurse for School Nursing, Educated Other than at School Service (EOSS) Southwark. We hope these profiles help to shine a light on the importance and variety of their work, and the difference they make.
In talking to us about the impact of her role, Children’s Audiologist, Kathleen Sear, said: “I love having the opportunity to help people feel included in their communities.” For Miriam Kakembo, a Therapy Assistant Practitioner in Lewisham’s Community Stroke Team, the value of her role is in advocating for her patients.
Talking about the difference he made for one older patient following hip surgery, Vimal Kurian, Senior Physiotherapist said his patient was ‘thankful’ for his re-built confidence and independence and the co-ordination of family support for his discharge.
We also asked staff to share what they particularly love about their job too. Bethany said “I love being able to impact the lives of young people and their families for a cohort of children who are extremely vulnerable and often forgotten.” Autonomy is key for Miriam who explained, “…my experience and opinion is drawn upon and valued. I can use my own judgement to prioritise and tailor my work to meaningfully aid my patient’s recovery and wellbeing.”
Reading the profiles will also give you a broad insight into what it’s like to work in the community which Jitka summarises as “…exciting, busy and hugely varied” and, “…fulfilling and enriching.”
If you would like to find out more about working as an AHP, and the variety of pathways into the many Community Workforce professions, visit the SE London Health & Care Jobs Hub and Hub Online, with lots more information about working in health and care, live vacancies and free resources including an AHP Virtual Work Experience course, co-developed with AHP colleagues.
Free monthly live interactive Masterclasses are also available on successfully completing NHS applications and boosting interview skills for NHS jobs.