Posted on: 9 May 2023
Healthcare Support Workers, also known as “the backbone of CNWL” - Kim Cox, nursing director for Jameson said - came together for this year’s Support Workers Conference.
A total of 146 Healthcare Support Workers attended and there was a buzz in the atmosphere!
There’s been moments at conferences where a speaker will ask a question, even ask people to shout out an answer, only to have no reply, that was not the case today. All members of staff were engaged with every workshop and talk.
Maria Obrien, Chief Nurse, was calling out teams present in the audience, each team called tried to out cheer the other with the CAMHS Team winning for the loudest jubilation, although teams from Brent and Hillingdon were a close second.
Healthcare Support Workers were invited to shout out why they loved to come to work, read some of the responses below:
· The patients
· To give
· Bring back independence
· Advocate for patients
· Connecting to their story
· Makes us nicer people
· Every day is different.
Maria said, “A sincere thank you to you all because you are the people that spend the most time with our patients. Not every day is a good day, there are difficult days but you should be proud of your impact because listening to all of you and why you love to come to work as a Healthcare Support worker, I know, and your patients know, you achieve all of the above and then some. If I could leave you with a message today it is, be proud of your service because this could be you or your child using this service.”
Maria continued to say:
“Please know you are doing an amazing job, we do value every one of you and corporately I will do more to help support your role and raise your profile across the Trust.”
Events like these are not only a good learning experience for those who attend but useful for managers and directors, like Maria, to hear directly from front line staff.
At the end of the day Kim Cox ran a group feedback session.
Kim closed the conference with a speech:
“You all work extremely hard and I know first-hand because before I became a nurse I was a Healthcare Support Worker. You are the backbone of our Trust and I know that for fact, as I see more Healthcare Support Workers than nurses on rosters. Today you have given me ideas to start thinking about, like doing another conference, creating networking groups for Healthcare Support Staff, better communication that suits you and helping you achieve your goal. I'm so proud a quarter of all apprenticeships in London for the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship come from CNWL.”
A special recognition was given to Catherine Bailey, who helps Healthcare Support Workers through their level 2 maths and English exams so they can be accepted on to the degree apprenticeship programme.
The event was organised by the CNWL Education Team, who were very pleased to find out everyone enjoyed the day!
