Admin Professionals Day

 

Christine Bailey - Business Support Officer and Personal Assistant

• What does a typical day look like in your role?

"I work closely with all teams at the Institute of Mental Health. As the PA to the Director and Head of Research and Operations my role is varied but very rewarding. I am a good timekeeper, communicate well and very organised."

• What do you enjoy most about being an administrator?

 "The variety in my role, the fact I am helping others and can help to solve any problems that arise."

• What made you choose administration as a career choice?

"I did not choose admin, my family moved house and my course options at my new school did not have availability or do the courses I wanted. So I had to take courses where they had space It kind of chose me."

• Have you faced an administrative challenge where you had to apply your skills to overcome it?

"Not really. Being an administrator straight from college I have got 39 years' experience, so I have used that to overcome any challenges."

• Can you share examples of how you improved a service's efficiency and the impact it had?

"By supporting and assisting you are making the service run efficiently without you knowing it."

• What would you say to someone who is thinking of joining the profession?

"If you have good organisational skills, flexibility, and communication abilities, you contribute significantly by enabling your team to function smoothly without having to deal with the details."

 

Fiona Seagrave- Administrator

• What does a typical day look like in your role?

"I support a team of 12 with tasks related to the Staff Survey and Team Engagement Development. I ensure timely delivery of Long Service Awards, Rewards, and Retirement Rewards. Additionally, I assist with Staff Engagement Roadshows, organise The Big Conversations, and deliver the Trust induction presentation slot when needed, which is one of my favourite things to do."

• What do you enjoy most about being an administrator?

"I enjoy organising team activities and creating Long Service Awards certificates. Embracing my neurodiversity (dyslexia) while working for the Trust has boosted my confidence, thanks to support from my line manager, team, and occupational health. After an access to work review, I now have a positive "I can do this" mindset."

• What made you choose administration as a career choice?

"I had worked for NatWest for 16 years and wanted to come into the NHS to be a healthcare assistant, but I went for the administration role and have never looked back."

• What would you say to someone who is thinking of joining the profession?

"You are not just an admin; you are a big part of making the Trust function, and without administration colleagues, the Trust wouldn't operate smoothly."

 

Sarah Cherry - Admin Lead

• What does a typical day look like in your role?

"I'm responsible for a wide range of quality support and administrative functions including data management and tracking of all Educational Health Care Plans (EHCPs) including preparing agendas/papers, taking minutes and updating project action plans and reports. I support the creation and management of digital resources. I manage a small team of EHCP admin colleagues."

• What do you enjoy most about being an administrator?

"Knowing that my efforts make a difference to not only my team but also to the children/young people and families we support."

• What made you choose administration as a career choice?

"It was a natural progression for me after completing a BTEC National Diploma in Business and Finance at College."

• What would you say to someone who is thinking of joining the profession?

"Go for it! It's a great way to learn a variety of transferrable skills that you can use in elements of your life. Be proud of being an admin professional, I know my service would be lost without the admin functions we provide and it's rewarding to know we make a difference."

 

Abdulkadir Parkar - War Administrator

• What does a typical day look like in your role?

"My current role as a ward administrator involves patient care and online ordering for products."

• What do you enjoy most about being an administrator?

"Every day is a new day with unpredictable requests from various patients during their care."

• What made you choose administration as a career choice?

"Work-life balance."

• What would you say to someone who is thinking of joining the profession?

"Administration is a silent heroes profession, with a strong backbone of the department."

 

Lee Stokes - Communications Assistant

• What does a typical day look like in your role?

"The first thing I do every morning is check my emails. From this I am able to get a priority list of tasks for the day. The workload is very varied, I could be signposting people that contact the communications inbox, working on patient leaflets, or doing administrative work like putting orders on procurement - no two days are the same."

• What do you enjoy most about being an administrator?

"I enjoy the variation. And being an administrator in the NHS is so rewarding. Although not providing front-line services directly, I know I can make a difference to patients' lives through my work still, such as the patient leaflets I create."

• What made you choose administration as a career choice?

"I did a small admin course whilst unemployed which the Job Centre sent me on. I enjoyed it from that moment, and I pieced that with the fact I enjoyed working on computers, to go into admin. So, a bit of everything really."

• What would you say to someone who is thinking of joining the profession?

"I would urge anyone to look at administration as a career - we are so important in making teams function. I have never had to make tea and coffee, contrary to what you may hear. If you can get on an apprenticeship, I would highly recommend it. You learn so much at your own pace, without needing to be in a classroom environment. I have met other admin colleagues along the way, some of which will remain life-long friends."