Co-Director of Education and Learning

Job/Role Summary

• To provide leadership and facilitate effective education and learning that informs high standards of person centred care in all the health and social care services.
• Co-ordinating nurse education and learning activities for all registered nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses (pre and post reg.) and support workers to support the achievement of high quality nursing care.

Specific qualifications and experience required

• NMC Registration
• Degree Level qualification
• 4 years experience as a senior manager in a complex organisation
• People management,
• Performance management
• Meeting targets
• Working with diverse stakeholders

Career Milestones

I started my nursing as an Enrolled Nurse, a ward sister supported me to engage in my Mental Health Nurse training. While working in adult Mental Health, I was extremely interested in children and adolescents and changed my career direction to develop my skills to work with young people. I returned to Mental Health community services for adults for a couple of years. I then worked in community child and adolescent mental health, where I completed my degree and masters study inclusive of gaining my registration as a family therapist. I was instrumental for the development of the tier one to three services within the SHSSB services. I moved to work with the RCN for 7yrs which provided me with the political skills and regional platform to expand my skill set. Acting for almost 3 years as head of education, Being seconded to the DHSSPS as the nursing officer for Mental health learning disability and older people. I lead the Child and Adolescent mental health review within Bamford. I now hold the position of Co Director of Education.

What attracted you to this job?

• An opportunity to influence developments in nursing by ensuring effective education and learning opportunities.
• To enhance and develop my skills and knowledge in a more diverse setting.

Enjoyable aspects of the job/role

• The diversity of activities I am involved in.
• The opportunity to develop systems and process to Facilitate the development of nursing and midwifery.
• The challenge of facilitating nurses to articulate their learning needs
• Working with the full spectrum of the nursing and midwifery within a provider environment.

Important success factors

• My planning and setting realistic time frames with work activities.
• My knowledge of human dynamics, systematic thinking inclusive of a person centred approach.
• Openness to high challenge and high support strategies.
• There have been several key people who have inspired me on my development journey to whom I am most grateful.

Advice for those considering the type of job/role?

• Meet with others to discuss your current profile. Seek ideas about how to shape your profile to prepare for such a development.
• Stay through to yourself your values and passion for nursing.
• Assess your needs to inform a development plan that provides you with opportunities to engage and develop your knowledge and skill set such as mentoring, secondment or project manager activities.
• Go for the challenge of secondments and widening your professional scope of practice.
• Seek support for interview preparation and do practice with an experienced other before you attend for interview and don’t give up if the first interview didn’t go well, go back for feedback and try again.

Key skills that can be gained within this job/role?

• Enhancement of my political leadership skills.
• Enhancement of my communication skills.
• Enhancement of my skill at distilling the significance of detail with others seeking learning and development opportunities.

Career Profiles