As it’s Learning at Work Week, we have a ‘What Do You Do At DHU’ special by introducing you to Sharon, our Learning and Development Specialist.
Learning and Development is much more than education, seminars and courses, it’s about ensuring our people have what they need to do their jobs, represent DHU’s values and make sure the working environment is the best it can be.
We spoke with Sharon about her role, including taking on a new leadership programme designed to embed our CARE values across all areas of DHU, and what she’s looking to bring to the organisation.
“I’ve only been here for five weeks,” Sharon told us, “joining on 17th April but my background over the past 15 years has been purely Learning and Development focussed. I suppose I came into L&D by chance as I was initially an Occupational Health Psychologist but, after leaving the role on Maternity Leave, the position had morphed into Learning and Development.
“This was at Walsall Council who provided lots of training for me to get the right accreditation and I was able to bring elements of my previous role into that new one. I began taking on some contract jobs as well, advising companies in a Learning and Development capacity before I came across this opportunity at DHU Healthcare. It was the coaching element that interested me the most and it struck me as a very people-focused organisation, not unlike Walsall Council.
“In terms of the role, there are a lot of projects that I’m looking forward to working on. There’s the Coaching Inspire programme and I’m also working on developing Induction Programme that brings together essential information for new starters in the context of our CARE values and a number of Wellbeing initiatives. I’m talking about Mental Health First Aid, Suicide First Aid, introducing a Resilience Programme, training Menopause Champions and help and advice with domestic violence.
“Anything people focused is on my list of things to consider and I’m very pleased to see that DHU is supportive when it comes to the health and wellbeing of its people. For me it’s essential to look after our colleagues, provide a safe place where they want to work and feel supported. I’ve had lots of suggestions from colleagues and leadership which is really encouraging for me as it definitely feels like a two-way conversation which is the best way to introduce the programmes I’d like to see.
“The Inspire programme will be a big long term project as it involves all of our leaders and managers and has been brought in to ensure the culture of DHU is properly aligned to our values. It brings together people from different divisions, whether it’s 111, clinical, corporate or otherwise, from different sites across our geographies which is a wonderful way to bring people together who otherwise would never meet.
“The programme is being run by Fields of Learning right now but in the long term, I’ll be taking it on alongside three of our DHU colleagues who, in addition to undertaking a coaching qualification, will be doing a Train the Trainer programme and we’ll be sharing our learning together to carry on delivering it as part of a rolling programme. It’s a wonderful commitment to developing and integrating genuine Care Values across a large, geographically vast organisation and I’m proud to be at the heart of its long-term plans.
“As I said, I’ve only been here a few weeks but I’m thoroughly enjoying it and intrigued by what this role can become. The conversations I’ve had have been dynamic with my views and ideas respected and encouraged which is so good for my own confidence in developing these plans. With hundreds of people due to go through Inspire, this is one of the most joined up projects I’ve been involved in and I’m excited to see where it can take us.”