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NHS Jobs LIVE is a live streamed event that broadcast to thousands across the UK wanting to find out more about the different job roles within the NHS.
This live broadcast featured Dr Anita Green, Associate Director Of Nurse Education and Lucy Locks, Director Of Occupational Therapy, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Allied Health Professional Leadership Fellow, Health Education England who discussed how to enter a career in Mental Health within the NHS.
The live chat is always open next to the video player so feel free to leave a question or comment and we’ll get it forwarded to the panel.
Broadcast length 20 minutes
About Mental Health
This broadcast outlined the variety of practitioners who provide mental health support including support workers, nurses and counsellors, and pathways available.
I started my mental health nurse training in 1981 having completed my Registered General Nurse training and working on medical wards. After qualifying as a Registered Mental Nurse I worked in acute mental health in patient and community services. I was sponsored to do a full time degree for two years in 1991 which then took me into full time university teaching; mainly, up until 2008, as a Lecturer (Clinical) linked to a drug and alcohol service. I completed a master’s level qualification in 1997.
From 1995 to 2004 I was involved with drug and alcohol training and education programmes for nurses, nurse teachers and doctors based in St. Petersburg, Russia. It was a privilege to work with colleagues in Russia and I gained a huge amount personally and professionally. From 2001-2004 this work became my doctoral thesis.
I joined Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust as a Dual Diagnosis Nurse Consultant in 2008. My responsibilities included working with people who presented to the service with drug and/or alcohol and mental health issues. In 2014 I moved to the Education and Training Department as a Nurse Consultant in Education and Training. I became an Associate Director of Care Professions Education and lead on care professions education which included nursing, psychology and allied health professionals. I held a clinical readership with the University of Brighton at the time. In 2015 I became Associate Director of Nurse Education. I was appointed as a visiting professor at the University of Surrey in 2018. I am passionate about nursing and being a nurse and have had a wide-ranging and interesting career – which is what nursing offers. It is the best career in the world!
After leaving school I completed an undergraduate degree in theatre studies before training as a Drama Therapist. I worked in learning disability services for a number of years and was inspired by the amazing Occupational Therapy staff that enabled young people with disabilities to live independently in the community. This led me to undertake an MSc in Occupational Therapy at the University of Brighton. When I qualified I worked in a number of clinical positions both as an Occupational Therapist and Drama Therapist in both community and inpatient mental health services.
I have had a fantastic 20 year career working in the NHS – I think Occupational Therapy is the greatest career that no one has heard of! I have been offered a range of opportunities to grow and develop my skills as a clinical leader. I worked as an operational service manager before taking up the post of Head of Occupational Therapy at West Sussex Health and Social Care Trust. After a Trust merger I took up the post of Deputy Director of Occupational Therapy in adult mental health services at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Since then I have studied for an MBA and was seconded for a short period as Assistant Chief Operating Officer. In 2018 I took up the post of Director of Occupational Therapy in a job share. I am also undertaking a part time secondment with Health Education England as an Allied Health Professional Leadership Fellow to support the development of allied health professional networks across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
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