Hayley Walton – A Story of Success

Posted by: karin.bond at 9:00 am on October 19th, 2022

Hayley started working for South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust in 2009, as a band 2 in medical records, filing patient notes. She was soon able to secure a full time role in the Clinic Prep Department, still within Medical Records. After a couple of years Hayley moved on to work in Sunderland Eye Infirmary as part of the Cataract Treatment Centre Team, as a receptionist/administrator.

From Sunderland Eye Infirmary, Hayley moved back to Sunderland Royal Hospital, this time working within the Obs & Gynae Directorate for Maternity. It was here that Hayley experienced her first stages of management and was able to secure a band 3 Higher Clerical Officer role.

Hayley was really enjoying her new supervisory role and was keen to develop and progress within management, so started her search for more opportunities.

Hayley moved to a role within the safeguarding team into a non-supervisory / management role. She was soon offered a promotion as a Personal Assistant to the Deputy Director of Safeguarding and Admin Team Lead. Hayley was lead for the admin team, offering the supervisory responsibilities she desired.

After a couple of years Hayley continued to persist and finally secured some formal training, and enrolled on a Level 5 Operational Management and Leadership course.

The course proved invaluable to Hayley. She said she took so much from the course and developed so many ideas and suggestions, that she was keen to implement and run with. Hayley felt now was the time to move on again to new challenges, to put her newly found skills and knowledge to the test.

The role of Facilities Administration Manager for CHoICE came up and colleagues encouraged Hayley to apply. Hayley said she applied thinking it would be good experience for her, however at the interview was pleasantly surprised with how well it went and was thrilled to be offered the role and even more pleased that CHoICE were willing to support Hayley with the remaining duration of her level 5 management course.

Hayley started with CHoICE in October 2021, and this is what she had to say:

“The first seven to eight months of my role were the last months in my course. I noted immediately the impact that my change in role had to my course. I was able to relate and understand more almost immediately, to what was being taught and discussed in lectures. I felt a shift in my assignment writing and I was able to expand and provide further detail, looking at things from a different perspective. The management team within CHoICE were supportive and I felt they were as keen to develop me as I was to be developed. I still feel this way now. I can say without a doubt that the Distinction grade I achieved at the end of my studies, was largely thanks to CHoICE and the support that was on offer from my very first day. I will have been in post for one whole year in October this year, and I can say that professionally it has been the best decision I have ever made, and I have never looked back. To work with such an amazing team, who I know value me is amazing. I have had the freedom and support to introduce many things, and I am able to directly and positively implement changes that benefits not just my team but CHoICE overall. Professionally I have also developed so much in such a short space of time, I feel confident, respected and empowered. I feel very much part of the team and have done from the beginning.

The management team have embraced me, they share their knowledge and skills with me, and they want the best for me. They are not intimidated by my potential, they embrace it.”

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Hayley in achieving a distinction, and look forward to continuing supporting her in her personal development, and her contribution to the development of CHoICE services.

(pictured Hayley Walton, Facilities Administration Manager)