Senior Information Analyst Review

As an information analyst I gather daily , weekly and monthly pathology data within the trust , analyse the data and present it to decision makers so they are able to make informed decisions on how to run the different pathology sub disciplines. I also share this information with external national public health organizations i.e. Public Health England.

During my current Project Management Apprenticeship , I am learning about leadership skills, communication skills and more importantly how to manage a project from start to finish. I have learned that defining the time scale, cost and workforce resources of a project is necessary before the start of any project as this is will enable the project to be successful.

The Programme is quite intensive in terms of new vocabulary in management. The guide book is relevant to the knowledge to be learned but not always specific and the content is a not based on a scientific approach. This can make it impossible to always come to a one fit all approach in management but as I understand now it now project management is all about a flexible approach.

The Programme is well organised during the 2 years. The first year is about learning the knowledge and theory of project management and the second year is about applying that knowledge on a specific project. The monthly meetings with the course lecturer and course mentor are also very beneficial to the learner.

I receive all the support needed form my employer as my manager assists in the meeting I have with the course mentor and I also receive feedbacks from my line manager. I have been allocated 7.5 hours of my working hours to learning this course and I have receive assurance from my line manger to request more time if necessary.

The training provider allocates a monthly meeting between myself and the course mentor where I can express my views about how the course is going. I also receive advice on the assignments and how to prepare for the exam and also how to lay the foundation of my project management plan document.

This qualification helps me build my confidence in managing myself and other people in our team as I am learning about the three fundamentals of leadership including listening, communicating and visioning. The qualification also helps me understand the financial aspects of a project as costs and expenses are important parameters in a project.

As a team we have a weekly football game which involves staff from different hierarchies and departments as well, which enhances the collaboration of the staff as this enable us to know each other outside of work. I find this beneficial for communication as this removes the hierarchy factor which can sometimes hinder good communication.

Yes

As a national and public organisation , there is a job security factor when working for the NHS. The work environment and the staff health and wellbeing are considered greatly within the NHS as it is a heath organisation by definition. Also the fairness of progression without discrimination is a positive factor.

Whenever applying to work for the NHS, the main characteristics one should consider to build are to show they care, they are compassionate, committed and competent to do the job. Communication is also one of the most important skill to have as the NHS is a huge organisation and sharing and communicating with other members of staff and other NHS organizations is inevitable.