Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 25 April 2024 at 13:38
Last week, we extended a warm welcome to our latest Board member Lindsey Stafford Scott who has joined us as the new Director of People and Culture.
Lindsey, who is originally from Lancashire, was most recently Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development at the Essex Fire and Rescue Service, and brings a wealth of public sector and emergency service experience with her.
After officially joining the EEAST team on 31st March, Lindsey says her first few days were a ‘whirlwind’ – but one she’s enjoying every minute of.
Need to Know spoke to Lindsey earlier this week to hear first-hand how things are going, and where she sees us heading in the future…
“It has been a bit of a whirlwind so far, particularly with the CQC visit, but I have been made to feel hugely welcome by everyone I’ve met. I am massively impressed by the professionalism that I have seen and the absolute passion and dedication that our people have for the services we deliver.
“I was fortunate in my first few days to spend a morning in the EOC at Chelmsford, shadowing Call Handler Ellie and Becky in dispatch. This allowed me to see first-hand the challenges these colleagues face and the calm and professional way they deal with them. I hope to visit our other EOCs within the next couple of weeks. I have also spent a day on a ride-out with colleagues Darren and Caroline on an ambulance in Chelmsford which gave me a real insight into patient facing roles and the wonderful care we provide in such challenging circumstances. I will be aiming to ride out with other teams across the region, with our patient transport services teams, and to meet other support colleagues too, so I can get as much first-hand experience of your roles as possible.
"I was also invited to Kempston station to meet with Senior Locality Manager Clive Goodson last Tuesday (5th April) and started to learn a bit more about the service, in particular the operational challenges facing us all. I recognise that capacity issues are impacting widely but I can also see that our leaders have a clear plan to address that gap, and ensure that appropriate resources are in place so that colleagues are well supported and patient safety is maintained. I look forward to being part of the leadership team that takes that plan forward.
“I met with our Unison representatives on my first day, and I am looking forward to developing an effective partnership together to ensure we build a positive culture and working environment for everyone - regardless of their role or location within the Trust. Staff wellbeing and employee engagement will be my key focus over the coming weeks as I start to get more established.
“I would love to hear from you about your experiences and anything you think I need to know about the Trust. Please drop me an email [lindsey.stafford-scott@eastamb.nhs.uk] or if you would like me to visit your place of work and meet face-to-face, please let me know and I will look to accommodate as many visits as possible.
“I look forward to meeting you soon.”
Published 14th April, 2016