Who we are

Name:Joanna HyndJob Title:District Manager (Lochaber)

Department: North and West Operational Unit

  1. Who am I?

I have been in post six months. It’s my first post with NHS Highland. I worked 21 years previously with the Local Authority working predominantly with Highland Council but also Aberdeenshire Council and Argyll and Bute Council managing a breadth of services from care homes and care at home to community care teams and occupational therapy. I am qualified social worker with a post grad qualification in management

  1. What do I do? Describe your role?

I manage community health and social care services for Adults across Lochaber. I work closely with the Rural General Hospital Manager, GPs, independent and private sector. I currently manage the Team Leads with responsibility for health and social care services including podiatry, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, dietetics, community nursing and many others. We will shortly have Integrated Team Leads in post who will manage the three integrated team in Lochaber.

  1. Why is this role important?

This role is important as it has responsibility for delivering integrated services to adults in the community. Previously NHS managed health care and Highland Council managed social care for adults but now both are managed by one organisation, there are many opportunities to do things differently and even better. My role is to lead on this and work with managers and staff to improve quality services.

I work with communities and elected members to understand the different community priorities and explore how we can deliver services better to these communities.

  1. Most challenging part of my job?

Fitting everything into the day. There are so many opportunities to do things differently and in more patient focussed ways now that adult services are all managed by the NHS. Local staff are now working in integrated teams and have got lots of positive ideas for further service improvements, including co-location of services, reducing bureaucracy and improving and simplifying access to services.

We are moving forward with lots of different service improvements currently but there is not enough time to do everything now. Staff have been so positive about integration and positivity generates enthusiasm which generates ideas and suggestions for improvements and doing things differently which is exciting to hear and see.

  1. Most interesting part of my job?

Working with the staff in adult services with their wide variety of backgrounds and seeing the commitment and focus on delivering high quality care to people in the community. Every day is different and there are always positives even though sometimes the work can be challenging. Seeing the planning and development of services and hearing patients/ service users saying that they have had a good service.

  1. What qualifications do I need?

A health or social work degree or equivalent

  1. Who do I get in touch with if I want to find out more?