Who are you?
Melissa White – widening participation advisor.
Summarise your role.
Facilitating the development and implementation of apprenticeships at SASH to promote and support career development internally to staff. I am responsible for the widening participation agenda which incorporates work experience and employability programmes to encourage our future NHS workforce and to support our 'Get in, Get on, Go further' initiative.
What do you find rewarding about your role?
Contributing to someone’s learning journey and professional development, seeing them succeed is a highly rewarding aspect of my job. Having worked within the Trust for four years in various education and training roles, I take pride in helping others, seeing them develop and then put their new skills into practice.
What do you find challenging?
I've only been in the role only a few months, whereas my predecessor having nine years experience, so I am sure I will be faced with many challenges that are ever-changing as the role develops. Currently, my main challenge is getting new ideas and projects off the ground to further support the participation agenda whilst also doing day to day tasks and learning the role.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
I enjoy the outdoors, discovering the British countryside and finding hidden gems that aren’t widely visited. I am keen on photography so incorporate this on my adventures. I often go on local walks, sometimes followed by my three cats (dog walkers are often confused and say “are you walking your cats?!”).