Who are you?
My name is Samantha Ellis and I’m the Trust wellbeing and engagement manager, part of the workforce directorate, and working across all sites.
Summarise your role.
My role is to design, promote and deliver the Trust’s non-clinical wellbeing offering, signposting staff to the resources available, and arranging wellbeing initiatives and events that help us to fulfil our commitment to the NHS People Promise. Focussing on preventative measures, I am on hand to provide wellbeing ‘check-ins’ for staff with non-clinical wellbeing queries, and visit all sites each week to make sure everyone, wherever they’re based, has access.
I also support the implementation of SASH engagement campaigns, working alongside our associate director for people and culture, Donna Webster in arranging and delivering the Trust’s star of the month and long service awards. A proactive point of contact for our staff surveys every quarter, you’ll find me out in the hospitals with a tablet to enable all staff to have their views heard, confidentially.
What do you find rewarding about your role?
Recently I’ve been able to complete delivery of most of the outstanding long service awards, and have arranged the final event for the remainder, to take place at the end of September which has been incredibly satisfying – delivering a long service certificate by hand where possible, seeing colleagues’ appreciation that their continued commitment and contribution has been acknowledged is rewarding.
Also, rolling out the star of the month awards to various departments has been a great way to meet more colleagues, get to know about some of the amazing personal qualities and see the values being demonstrated, which is a lovely reminder of how our SASH family really is #OneTeam.
What do you find challenging about your role?
Similar to a lot of colleagues’ experiences probably - being proactive is a key part of being able to make a difference and feel that sense of achievement we all enjoy; whilst I recognise and fully accept the need for an agile approach managing changing priorities, it can be difficult to keep to deadlines and I often find myself revising my carefully planned schedule!
What do you enjoy outside of work?
I’m an avid reader of all things non-fiction, with a special interest in sociology and human behaviours, and volunteer as a wildlife rescuer for several charities. My garden is my favourite space, where I enjoy growing my own fruit and veg and plants for pollinators. I also enjoy a glass of cava or two on occasion with my friends, family and neighbours.