Publish date: 21 October 2022

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We’d like to introduce you to Georgina Ashwood who is about to start a new role within DHU’s 111 service.

Sickness and absence is an ongoing problem nationally, across all areas of health provision so this new role will look at how we can help colleagues with long or short term conditions get back to work sooner and even prevent ill health.

Georgina said: “I’ll be working with Non-Clinical Performance Managers and Operational Leads to look at rates of absence, reasons for absence and how it links back to our absence procedures. We want to see if there are any patterns, for example are we seeing increases in musculoskeletal problems amongst those who work exclusively in offices, are screens causing eye problems, is mental health becoming an issue and if so, in any particular area or condition.

“For me it’s about looking at why colleagues are off sick, whether it could have been prevented, how to support them in getting them back to work and what we can do as an organisation to prevent it happening again. My role in all of this will be to support managers in identifying and making those changes before assessing the impact.”

Georgina has been with DHU since April 2017 when she joined as a Health Advisor, becoming a Coach less than a year later and a Senior Health Advisor before a promotion to the role of Non-Clinical Performance Manager (NCPM). The role of Absence Manager was developed and it was Georgina’s previous life as a Criminal Lawyer that attracted her to the role.

“I know my employment law so I’m looking forward to picking that up again,” explained Georgina. “It was a family business but, due to a bereavement, the role and circumstances changed. It was no longer based around my family and there was much less time spent with those I was trying to help. I wanted a change and was attracted to DHU and 111.

“With this new role, I get to pick up on both sides again, helping people in employment. As it’s an initial ten-month secondment I can make it my own, but I see it as a positive role that will help people return to work after a period out of the work environment. It’s important not to exclusively link this role to sickness. Absence can be for any reason, for example an injury, mental health, maternity leave or bereavement. Coming back to the workplace can itself cause anxiety so part of my role will be to come up with a plan to make that return easier for the individual and work with the manager to help adapt.

“But it’s also about helping to affect positive change within DHU in terms of health and wellbeing, support and preventing ill health. Whether it’s championing mental health initiatives, working with occupational health or introducing desk-based exercises to reduce repetitive strain or improve posture, these are the kinds of things I will be looking at and working with managers to achieve.

“I’m fortunate to have been able to develop since joining DHU and found the support is there to develop your career if you want. My NCPM role is wide-ranging with plenty of variety, but this role will give me the chance to focus and become an expert in a specific non-clinical area. The overall aim is to reduce absence rates and facilitate a timely return by looking at root causes, identifying trends and how we can prevent illness and injury. For me it’s returning to the concept of what I did for 30 years, having more control over what I do and helping people in their own roles and I can’t wait to get started.”

Thanks to Georgina for telling us about her role and keep your eyes peeled for DHU’s next #WhatDoYouDo.

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