I worked in the NHS for over fifteen years holding a social prescribing Public Health Development Worker role amongst others. I am very excited to be part of a great movement and growing evidence base that supports the efficacy of Social Prescribing. I really enjoy being the lead facilitator for the Social Prescribing Network for Yorkshire and Humber.
I am very passionate about sharing learning gained during my two years of the Vanguard programme and wave one Prime Ministers Challenge Fund programme. I have led on key projects and initiatives, acting as a pivotal point of contact for social prescribing services in the region and linking commissioners, providers, and creative thinkers successfully together.
Drawing on several years experience in the not-for-profit sector, NHS project and programme management, and GP federations; I have collaborated with key stakeholders to facilitate positive change. KERA Consultancy Ltd was founded in 2018 by myself and a small team of colleagues whose skills and attributes were selected for their commitment to securing positive changes in complex environments, focusing on project and programme management.
I am a Development Advisor on the Primary Care Transformation General Practice Improvement Programme at NHS England. The focus of this role is to use quality improvement methodologies to help practice teams manage their workload, adopt and spread innovations that free-up clinical time for care, and develop the skills and confidence to lead local improvement.
In addition to Social Prescribing, I have also led Care Navigation training programmes including the Care Navigation ‘active sign posting’ consultancy and training programme, at Conexus Healthcare. This received national recognition including the MCP Vanguard in Wakefield which was commended in the GP Forward View 2016. It also won the ‘Developing the Practice Team’ at the General Practice Awards 2017.
Other award-winning training programmes I have helped to deliver include the General Practice Award 2018 ‘Training Provider of the Year’, the HSJ Value Award – Improving the Value of Primary Care Services and HSJ Award – Primary Care Service Redesign.
It is this approach – one which focusses on the value of teams and partnership working and places the individual at the centre of care – that is the key to successful social prescribing.