Occupational health practitioners have risen to the challenge during the pandemic. Continuing our series looking at a “day in the life” of practitioners pre and post Covid, we speak to Janet O’Neill, clinical nurse director at PAM Group.
Tell us about your role and what you do
My current role is clinical nurse director at PAM OH Solutions, which is basically head of PAM Academy. I have been in this role for coming up to two-and-a-half years and prior to this I was PAM Academy lead, reporting into the then clinical director.
PAM Academy is the training and clinical governance part of the business. I report into the medical director, Dr Bernard Yew. PAM Group has five businesses, of which PAM OH Solutions is one, however PAM Academy also provides support to the other two clinical parts of the business, ToHealth and PAM Wellbeing. This enables me to work with a multidisciplinary team, which is so rewarding.
‘A day in the life’
‘I rarely feel bored or unchallenged’ – Libby Morley-Hassanali
‘Covid-19 has dramatically set new dimensions and challenges’ – Catrona Lowey
For all those new to OH, my story demonstrates that progression is attainable. I started as a screening nurse in PAM, as an associate, and then progressed to OH advisor, then clinical lead. From there I became clinical operations manager, then regional business manager and then into PAM Academy. PAM even funded my MSc in workplace health and wellbeing through Nottingham University, which helped me gain confidence when undertaking these more managerial and commercial roles.
As clinical director, my primary focus remains on clinical governance, therefore my role is very much about developing and delivering training for various teams and supporting regional managers to develop standards for clients. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, I have had the role of keeping all the clinicians up to date with developments and developing ways of working which help everyone in their day-to-day roles.
Covid has changed the way I think of training and development, as we’ve had to train clinicians in new ways of working and new ways of delivering services. This led to a whole programme of online events, which I felt privileged to lead. For example, we’ve had writing, art, and sign language classes alongside team get-togethers and professional awareness sessions.
Keeping policies and procedures up to date to meet the accreditation needs is also part of my role, alongside compliance. Once again, teamwork is essential to maintain consistency.
How did you come into occupational health?
That is an interesting story! I was working in Swaziland as a catering manager in a cardboard manufacturing factory when the factory manager found out I was a registered nurse. He asked me to start an occupational health clinic in the factory – a very scary proposition but one I couldn’t turn down.
I was fortunate enough for them to pay for me to do the occupational health certificate whilst running the clinic. It was very different times, as the focus was very much on primary care at that time and I had a GP visit weekly, but I learnt a lot.
When I moved to the UK, I undertook various other roles before Dr Bob Guest of Caritas who employed me as a part-time screening nurse. A huge learning curve followed, which necessitated a lot of support from Dawn Knight as my clinical lead. I can’t thank her enough for not only her guidance but for instilling her enthusiasm for occupational health into me.
From there I self-funded the OH diploma though Warwick University, and all those of us who did this course under Cynthia Atwell will agree that the foundations this gave are really solid.
The MSc that PAM funded not only improved my knowledge of the relevant workplace needs in my line of work but, because of studying with people from various sectors and disciplines, it broadened my outlook of OH altogether and gave me confidence.
Marrying what our clients want with core occupational health principles can be challenging at times, but understanding the business perspective is essential in order to be able to sell and provide the benefit to employers and employees. Every OH nurse should understand the commercial aspect of OH and the importance of keeping up to date, as we need to anticipate the impact of health on work and vice versa so as to be ahead of the game. Businesses and organisations will only take us seriously if we understand their challenges and needs.
What are the most common occupational health concerns/challenges that you face in your role?
Before Covid I would have said the main challenge was getting employers to understand us but now I think the challenge is understanding what the organisation and its people need in managing workplace health and wellbeing and meeting that need, using the evidence base.
Before Covid I would have said the main challenge was getting employers to understand us but now I think the challenge is understanding what the organisation and its people need in managing workplace health and wellbeing and meeting that need, using the evidence base.
Another challenge is mental health. This was a concern prior to Covid but has increased significantly. I am fortunate to be able to work with a great team of psychotherapists in PAM Wellbeing and physiologists in ToHealth. Now, more than ever, we need to support our clients to understand that ‘good’ work is good for health. Fortunately, Covid has driven improved employee wellbeing initiatives, as the pandemic has certainly improved the profile of preventative wellbeing strategies.
One of my particular projects that has continued through the pandemic, albeit more slowly, is CQC accreditation. Although not usually an OH accreditation, it has been a huge learning curve and, overall, really good for improving practice when undertaking medicals, vaccinations and phlebotomy and anything that improves quality is good in my book. A positive by-product has been the bringing together of all our clinics with a common goal; even though they may have different types of clients.
Describe an “average” day for you
I would say that there is no average day! Pre Covid, I could have been in London, Warrington, Milton Keynes and so on, or working from home. Now there is mostly working from home with the very odd visit to a clinic.
I spend a lot of time in meetings or training or facilitating training by Zoom. Although people talk about Zoom fatigue, it has enabled us to work more dynamically. We can communicate more effectively than pre Covid and deliver better training, as well as liaise with other team members all over the country, something that would have happened very infrequently in our past life.
I also do some project management and a lot of writing of policies, forms, procedures and briefings and have even branched out into writing articles for publication. One of the biggest positives out of Covid is the amount of free online/webinar-based learning and information that is now available. Developing e-learning is another part of my role so on quiet days I will happily build programmes for our teams.
We’ve all been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic over the past year. How has it affected your role and, indeed, PAM Group? Any positives from it?
Personally, I have gone from driving over 25,000 miles a year to almost nil. But it has enabled a flexibility of working and an agility that I never would have thought possible. We have cemented as a wider company and multidisciplinary working has never been better. I also focus far more than I did on emerging evidence now, on different schools of thought.
What would you say are the best/worst elements of your role?
The best element of my role is the people – we have really, really great people in PAM who are passionate about what they do from every level. We retain the small company feel whilst being one of the bigger providers in the market. Another great element is the constant personal growth and development; every day is a school day as they say.
I’m not sure if there is a worst element! But I expect it will be the same issue lots of people have, too many things to do and too little time. I keep thinking of tasks and projects that I would love to do. OH is a constant moving entity and therefore I keep having to remind myself that we can’t change the world overnight.
What has been one of the most unusual/memorable moments in your career (either current role or a previous one)?
My first presentation to a new client – my legs shook so much they went to get a chair for me! It was so embarrassing but fortunately they are still a client eight years later. Winning an “employee of the year” awards some years back was a lovely moment, too. One of my trainees, Kerry-Dene Ihlenfeldt, was recently made managing director of ToHealth and that was a phenomenally proud moment. To see someone blossom like that made want to sing.
Any advice or tips for surviving/thriving as a successful OH practitioner?
Keep abreast of what is happening in the world of OH – we are so fortunate to have the occupational health practitioner’s Facebook group but also journals such as this one (of course!) and societies such as iOH and SOM.
Learning has never been easier or more accessible. My other tip is to never be afraid of a challenge. Everyone makes mistakes, we just need to learn and grow from them. I have found that admitting mistakes leads to better outcomes as, after all, we are all just fallible people.
Finally, if you were able to go back in time and pass on any advice to your young OH self, what would it be?
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If something feels like a negative, you can be sure it will turn into a positive down the line. For example, I had a difficult time when moving from a small OH business to being self-employed but, in hindsight, it was the best thing that could have happened and I thank Bob Guest for his support, as I must have been a nightmare.
Would you like your “day in the life” featured?
We’re always on the lookout for OH practitioners willing to share their day-to-practice and reflections on their career. If you’re interested in being profiled simply drop an email to [email protected]
