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I’d worked part-time in a pharmacy for six years while I was at college and university, so I’d spoken to lots of patients with varying experiences of the NHS and gained a lot of insight into its community side. This made me want to use my financial knowledge and experience to really make a difference.

When you see the NHS portrayed on television or discussed in the press it’s often in a negative way. Often people don’t realise how lucky we are to have a free service that’s accessible to all. When you work here you see the passion and commitment of the staff and the impact you’re having on peoples’ lives on a daily basis, and that’s what motivates you to work harder.

The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is one of the biggest and busiest NHS trusts in the country, so I’ve been able gain an incredibly broad range of experience here. It’s difficult to pick just one project that I’ve been involved in because there have been so many! However, a particularly rewarding one was identifying errors in pay deductions from our outsourced payroll provider, working closely with HR. This meant money could be claimed back, saving the Trust a considerable amount of money which could be ploughed back into patient care.

The fact that no day can ever be described as “typical” just adds to the challenge and the fun. One day I could be in the office dealing with queries, preparing costings and producing reports – the next I can be out all day meeting service managers out on the wards. Being able to combine finance and patient care in one role – and seeing the end results – is why I see the NHS as the place I can make the most difference.

My family, colleagues and friends have all seen how quickly I’ve developed and how much I’ve changed because of this programme and breadth of experience I’ve gained. If you have the confidence to challenge accepted thinking and the vision to see potential, this is your chance to make an impact on a service which we all rely on at some point in our lives.

I joined the NHS graduate scheme because I was attracted by the diversity of staff groups, professions that I would be working with and the vast range of organisations under the NHS which help support our healthcare system, which is one of the best in the world.

I am currently working as the HR Officer for Diagnostics pan-trust. It is one of the biggest Trusts in country with approximately 7500 staff across 4 main hospital sites. I’m responsible for all general HR enquiries from employees and supporting managers to ensure that policies are understood and complied with.

In terms of notable achievements, I’ve already successfully organised and managed a recruitment open day for Healthcare Support Workers which over 100 people attended. I also conducted a pilot project to encourage the recruitment team to use email invitation to interview for administrative staff which is going well so far. And I’ve grown in knowledge and confidence, which is clear when I’m holding meetings with managers. I also chaired my first formal meeting to discuss redeployment options for an employee who has been on long term sick which I felt was a big achievement.

Academically, I achieved 90% for my first CIPD assignment which I feel is a big accomplishment after having not written an academic piece of work for 4 years.

At the end of the scheme, I’d like to become a knowledgeable HR professional with the confidence to take my HR career towards becoming an Assistant HR director or a specialist in either HR strategy or workforce development.

I know it sounds a real cliché, but I joined the NHS because I liked the idea of helping people and saving lives. Although all the placements I’ve done have been totally different, what they all have in common is the genuine commitment of everyone I’ve worked with and the way the environment is constantly changing.

Nottinghamshire is a very interesting place to work because of the mix of patients. Some areas have high levels of deprivation and that makes planning healthcare services so they are equal and accessible to everyone much more challenging.

At NHS Nottinghamshire County, I project managed a new system for Pseudonymisation across three PCTs. Pseudonymisation means using anonymous data for secondary uses [such as finance or analysis] by using pseudonyms to protect the patient’s identity. This was a huge project given the amount of data involved.

As a Project Manager, there’s always something unexpected cropping up, which means there’s no such thing as a typical day! However, I’ll normally get in around 8 to 8.30am, check my emails and grab a coffee before the office gets too busy. Then the rest of my day could involve anything from meeting GPs and clinicians or planning an implementation to carrying out project work or updating documentation. I’ll always try to finish by 5.30pm so I can catch up on my university work – maybe doing some research or writing an assignment.

On top of studying for my MSc in Health Informatics, I’ve taken part in a wide range of management training courses. So as well as broadening my knowledge of the wider issues relating to health informatics, I’ve been able to develop my leadership skills. The on-the-job training has been great for my professional development too, because of all the different people I’ve encountered.

My greatest achievement so far? Finishing a project for my flexi placement organisation to the brief and on time. And getting great feedback from them!

I’d love to continue my career in the NHS and my ambition is to be a Director of Informatics or CIO for an NHS Trust. If you’re thinking of a management career in Healthcare you should definitely apply and seize the opportunities offered to you on your placements. You only get out as much as you put in, so if you really challenge yourself, it can be a great experience.