Who we are

Name: Maggie Clark Job Title: dallas project manager

Department:NHS Highland

  1. Who am I?

I am currently seconded into the role of dallas project manager. I was the Long Term Conditions Manager for Argyll & Bute until September 2012. My background was nursing and I have a real interest and passion for supporting self management and using technology to support and maintain independent living.

  1. What do I do? Describe your role?

I am one of 5 project managers working across 5 health board areas in Scotland, I cover the whole of NHS Highland.

My role is to work as part of a national team, supporting the design, development and implementation of a national project. My role is very varied and includes:

  • attending national meetings with all our partners including, the 5 health and social care partnerships, industry partners, and voluntary sector, this includes being involved in the design process of the prototype and ensuring that it is relevant to the Highland population
  • co leading one of the key services
  • working as part of national team of project managers to standardise as much as possible and to share and contribute and link to each other service developments
  • running community engagement events within identified local areas
  • maintain our Highland page on the community engagement website
  • recruiting and retaining people/members from our target group to initially test the project in highland
  • attending local/ groups/events to promote recruitment
  • reporting to the national programme team based in NHS 24,

and to the Local Highland project board

  • Initiating and maintaining project documentation and action plans to support the implementation
  • Identify and support service innovation opportunities with the use of technology.
  1. Why is this role important?

This is a new project being tested in 5 health board areas in Scotland. The role is important as it allows us to explore better use of technology to support people to remain independent.

This is a 3 year project which started in June 2012, we have very tight timescales and key recruitment targets.

  1. Most challenging part of my job?

The most challenging parts of this post are without a doubt covering an area the size of NHS Highland particularly as I am based inDunoon which is just about as far as you can get from the rest of Highland.

Other challenges involve working across different agencies involved and in particular such close working with industry partners. Working in such a close way with such a diverse range of partners is new to all of us and there are key differences in how they work, and in particular the terminology used at meetings.

A big challenge is trying to recruit and retain such significant numbers to the project in the tight timescales

  1. Most interesting part of my job?

The whole process of using a coproduction model in such a diverse project is very interesting and enjoyable. But the whole project is really exciting and the capability of the project is immense but that in itself is a challenge as to make it workable and doable we need to maintain focus.

Weare about to launch our first version to communities in Lochgilphead,Nairn and Skye in April, but will quickly be moving to other communities in a rolling manner to make it workable to cover the geography of Highland.

The community engagement work that we have carried out has been really interesting. Talking to people about what they value and what works for them really gives an insight to local communities. Community engagement has been built in to the whole development process.

We have had opportunities to learn from other areas in particular from some European projects.

What qualifications do I need?

The 5 project managers all come from different backgrounds with differing qualifications, ranging from RGN, Registered social work, research skills, community development skills, project management skills, registered allied health professional, We all bring different skills and experience to the national team. We work well as a team and share our skills.

This post requires

  • experience of project management
  • experience of using technology in health and social care
  • resilience
  • ability to manage competing expectations
  • ability to work autonomously
  • ability to support and lead change
  • excellent communication levels
  1. Who do I get in touch with if I want to find out more?

Contact

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