When I joined the NHS, I had no concept of the scale and variety of work and services that the NHS is involved in, and it is this that has kept me engaged and wanting to go to work in the morning. I can honestly say, not a day has gone by in the past 7 years where I have been bored or not learnt something new.
I started my procurement career as a trainee at Welsh Government 12 years ago where I was seconded to different Local Councils and Northern Ireland Government. It was during this time I gained experience and knowledge of procedures fully regulated by the Public Contract Regulations and where I obtained my Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) qualification. I was involved in procuring services relating to social care, home-to-school transport services, postal and newspaper services for government departments, as well as a project working with stakeholders to aid Small and Medium Enterprises to bid for work.
Following the trainee scheme at Welsh Government, I went travelling to Australia and New Zealand for two months before accepting a new role at Wales and West Utilities (WWU). Here I was involved in procurements relating to facilities management, waste management for WWU sites across Wales, as well as managing purchase orders and the stationery catalogue. Within 9 months of this role, I wanted to be stretched further and that is certainly what I got when I applied for a job within the procurement team at SCW. Seven years on, I have not looked back.
I started as a band 6, Senior Clinical Procurement Advisor, on a 12-month development plan to progress to a band 7 (having originally applied for a band 7 post). Within 6 months I obtained the substantive band 7 post, having led on a couple of complex high-value procurements. After a couple of years in this post, I progressed to the band 8a role as Senior Clinical Procurement Manager, which I undertook for nearly 3 years and then during the COVID-19 pandemic, I progressed to the band 8b role as Lead Senior Clinical Procurement Manager.
During my time here I have been exposed to a huge variety of work, both supporting and leading various procurement projects:
- dental services
- GP services for complex patients
- health needs assessments
- substance misuse services for prisons
- healthcare services for prisons
- eating disorder units
- recommissioning of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) working in collaboration with the police and Offices of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
The SARCs work is something I have become extremely passionate about, and this work has been recognised not only by our customers but has also translated into winning a couple of national procurement awards.
Not only is it the work I am involved in that I am passionate about, but it is the team that I am a part of. I have worked for many organisations along the way, both in the public and private sector and can hand-on-heart say, this is the most cohesive, supportive, proactive team I ever worked in.