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Women in Leadership
Name: Lauren Cane
Role: Urgent Access Lead (Senior Operational Manager)
Company: Kent and Medway NHS Partnership Trust
A bit about you: I grew up in Kent and am originally from Folkestone but have lived in Maidstone for the past 10 years. I left school after completing my GCSEs and moved onto college where I did AS Levels and then an apprenticeship in Children’s Learning, Care and Development. That ultimately presented me with the opportunity to travel and I spent a year in Australia working as a nanny. That was an amazing experience and while I was away I realised I was ready to return to education but wasn’t really sure what sort of career I wanted to pursue. After going through a range of university prospectuses mental health nursing was really the only thing that jumped out at me, despite always discounting nursing as my mum was a nurse and it had never appealed to me before. I think everyone was surprised when I announced I was coming back to the UK to start my nurse training!
What is it like working in your company?
Kent and Medway NHS Partnership Trust (KMPT) provides mental health services to 1.7 million people across the county. There is a huge range of services in both inpatient and community settings, working with people from all walks of life with a variety of mental health needs. Going in, I had no idea there would be so many different opportunities available within the NHS and there has been incredible progress in the past few years to offer a really broad range of career pathways. Working in healthcare has its challenges, none more so then during the Covid-19 pandemic, but it is also incredibly rewarding. Working for the NHS is a privilege, it’s a national institution and I’m proud to be a part of it. I also really enjoy working alongside so many different professionals and staff from so many varied backgrounds.
Why did you decide to go into your chosen field?
I chose to work in mental health because I could immediately see it was a field where you could really make a difference to people’s lives and I am passionate about promoting and supporting recovery. Even as I have progressed in my career and stepped away from working clinically with patients, I still know how important the work I do in transformation and development is to those people who need the support of mental health services. Its often an incredibly challenging time when people experience acute symptoms of a severe mental illness and being able to support service users and their families is very fulfilling.
What qualifications and work experience did you need to reach your current position?
I completed my nurse training at the University of Southampton and joined KMPT as a newly qualified mental health nurse in 2011. Since then the organisation has supported me through various roles to gain a good breadth of experience as well as complete a range of post-graduate training. I completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership, PRINCE2 certificates in project management and also a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Leadership and Management. I am also about to commence training to become a professional coach, hopefully assisting me in supporting others to achieve their career goals.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
I love the variety. Working in mental health, no two days are ever the same and that has always been something that appeals. When I first qualified as a nurse I also thought I knew exactly the direction my career would take but I’ve ended up somewhere completely different. I enjoy that flexibility and the range of opportunities that a career in healthcare presents.
What obstacles have you overcome in your career?
Compared to some I progressed in my career relatively quickly and have come up against the occasional person who thinks I’m too young or too female to hold the position I do. It took a while but I now recognise that that’s not my issue, it’s theirs. I’ve earnt my reputation and have grabbed the opportunities presented to me with both hands. That said, I’m also not the only one in a relatively senior position that maybe doesn’t fit the traditional mould of an NHS manager so the tide is definitely turning!
Why do you think it is important to have a strong female representation in your industry?
Healthcare is typically a female dominated industry with 75% of NHS staff being women. However, less than half of all executive and non-executive roles are held by women which means there is still a lack of equality at a senior level and there also continues to be a gender pay gap at very senior manager level. It is vital that we continue to develop the opportunities for females in healthcare leadership and management and that the wider workforce is accurately represented in leadership roles.
What advice would you give those wanting to take a similar career path?
It is important not to discount the NHS simply because you don’t want to be a Doctor or a Nurse, there is a huge range of opportunities available and not just from a clinical starting point. There are also so many possible routes for growth and development, in fact the NHS truly does embrace lifelong learning. If you are interested in becoming a healthcare leader it is worth exploring the NHS as an employer regardless of which sector you aspire to work in – there are over 350 different NHS careers and every one makes a difference.
