MHSC helps with Career Progression
Released on 18/06/2007
Theresa Price works for the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust as an Office Manager in the Urology Department. Wanting career progression, Theresa started the MHSC certificate through the Business Development Consultancy in Birmingham, in 2004. She has always had a keen interest in learning and saw the certificate as a pathway for her management development. As soon as she completed the certificate programme she began the diploma and now has her sights set on undertaking a masters.
Theresa believes that the courses have really assisted with her career progression. They have helped her undertake change management projects and have enabled her to talk on the same level as her manager. She started her career as a medical secretary and never dreamt that she would get so far.
“It has been hard work but really good. I always have clear aims and I know what I want to achieve. It’s all about getting additional knowledge. When I started the certificate programme I was just managing the secretaries but now I manage the operational side, handle problems and manage the day to day running of the department. As my knowledge has increased my role has evolved.”
In order to complete her MHSC certificate Theresa had to undertake a project. She is delighted that the patient-led support group that she set up has now been running for 18 months and has gone from strength to strength. It has 60 members who are current patients with long term conditions. The group members look at service improvement and how they can manage their conditions and improve the quality of their lives. It meets bi-monthly on two separate sites with speakers such as consultants, physiotherapists and dieticians who are invited to come and talk to the members. There is also a buddy system whereby a patient can seek information from another patient who has had certain treatment in order to find out more about the treatment and its effects.
Theresa feels that the Diploma programme has really helped her in her work. Currently she is using the work done for her finance assignment to write a business case to gain funding for a sixth consultant’s post in the department.
“I wanted to see the bigger picture of management and the diploma has opened my eyes to the strategic world of the NHS.”
