As part of our new Day in the Life series of colleague stories, we’re introducing you to Lesley Crosby, Director of Governance and Risk, Director of Infection Prevention and Control and Caldicott Guardian. Here Lesley tells us more about a day in her life…
Tell us a bit about yourself…
I qualified as a nurse back in 1987 and knew from year two that I wanted to work in the Emergency Department. I really enjoyed the variation in the workload and the challenges that brought as well as it being a fast-paced environment. During that time, I was one of the first nurses in the country to teach at the Royal College of Surgeons on Trauma Management. This was both rewarding and challenging but did teach me that cohesive working within the multi-disciplinary team was essential in ensuring patient safety and improving outcomes for patients.
When I left the clinical area, my interest in governance really took hold. My posts leaving the clinical area were all governance focussed, working my way up to finally become Deputy Chief Nurse and Acting Chief Nurse. After leaving the NHS, I worked in the independent sector as Chief Nurse and Director of Operations in a neuro rehab hospital for nearly two years. I then went back to the NHS as Director of Governance in a London Acute Trust before leaving to head up the COVID-19 Vaccination programmes across three counties, which at its height was vaccinating 7,000 people a day. Once the COVID-19 vaccination programme started to be established as a ‘business as usual’ model I decided it was time to find a new challenge.
How long have you been in Connect Health and what attracted you to the role?
I started in Connect Health on 2nd August 2022 and within weeks knew that Connect Health was special, in that the work that we undertake and the collegial cohesion within the organisation was something that is not seen or felt very often. I was originally on a 12-month contract but was made substantive in May 2023. I wanted to continue to work in the independent sector for a number of reasons, but mainly because the pace in the independent sector, and particularly Connect Health, is very different to that which is within the NHS.
For me, Connect works at a faster pace, thrives on the challenges that change can bring, looks to solve problems itself not waiting for someone else to do it for them, and has a thirst to put quality at the centre of all it does. Qualities that I feel can never be compromised.
The values and behaviours I see from my colleagues on a daily basis never make me question if the move to Connect was right, it just reinforces to me as to how lucky I am to work here.
What does a typical day in Connect Health entail?
Each day within Governance is different and because of the diversity of the role it often involves spinning lots of plates in the air at once. I would never describe it as boring. My days change hour by hour and what I often set out to achieve changes when colleagues need my help and advice, or issues come to light that need immediate attention. Tuesday is always the day we meet as a Senior Leadership Team, which allows us to ensure all our agendas are joined up and that we have a strategic direction for the organisation. I always try hard to keep on top of emails, as not answering emails promptly on governance issues can lead to them becoming bigger and the risk increasing. I now have responsibility for answering our feedback posted on social media, so I check that every day as well as a daily check of the risk register. There are lots of meetings, but I always try to ensure meetings are relaxed and colleagues always feel confident to speak up. Everybody’s view is important.
Has your role changed/develop since joining Connect? How have you adapted?
Since starting at Connect we have gone from separate clinical and corporate governance arms to an integrated governance approach, which includes Clinical Governance, Corporate Governance as well as Health and Safety, Patient Experience (including ED&I), and Adult and Child Safeguarding. These are all areas I have managed previously so I was excited to take accountability for them and work with respective colleagues to showcase their agendas. The link with Operations, Clinical Delivery and Integrated Governance is extremely important and having a clinical background helps in all conversations. I also felt very privileged to be asked to be the Exec sponsor for our ‘Calling All Colleagues Everywhere (CACE)’ group, as the colleague voice is very important to me.
What influence/change have you brought within your role?
I would like to think I have made Governance more forward facing and approachable. It is always hard to know what I have brought to the role as I am interested to know what colleagues think I have brought, however, if I had to name four things I would say pragmatism, approachability, expertise around governance and hopefully some fun.
To find out more about working at Connect Health, contact people@connecthealth.co.uk.
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