“The people I work with have been friendly and supportive.”
Katy Denniff is a Project Support Officer with GMMH’s Capital, Estates and Facilities (CEF) Department. She’s worked for GMMH since January 2023.
How I got into the role
I was looking to find my way back into full-time work. I had worked for many years in higher education and then had taken a career break, before returning to work on a part-time basis. A friend who works as a nurse in GMMH suggested I try onboarding with NHS Professionals (NHSP), so I did.
After onboarding with NHSP, I took a role in a Community Mental Health Team. Once I had found my feet, NHSP contacted me with information about other opportunities. The role I am currently placed in came up and looked interesting, so I put myself forward for it.
How I use my experience and skills
This role fits very nicely with my past experience. It is quite broad and varied, which I enjoy as there are different aspects to get my head into. Through my career in higher education, I have experience of organising events, working with large data sets, servicing meetings, coordinating complex tasks and projects, and producing written documents. The work I’ve been allocated in this role is similar to the work I did in higher education, so I feel I am applying my skills well.
What I do
If I’m in the office I cycle to work. I have been experimenting with different routes and I am happy to have found some that take me mostly through parks and green spaces, so that is a lovely start to the day. Once I’m in the office, I will review my emails and then the tasks that I am working on, looking at what needs to be prioritised and focus on that. Usually, I will be working on a task with other members of the team in Facilities, so there is plenty of interaction with other people. I haven’t been in the role for long, but I’ve found the team in Estates and Facilities to be welcoming, friendly, and supportive – it has been an enjoyable experience so far.
The best bits and challenges
As I’ve mentioned, the people I work with have been friendly and supportive, so that is a definite plus to the role.
I like that the work I am doing is varied – this keeps me engaged and interested in what I am doing. In a short space of time, I have learnt quite a bit about the wider GMMH estate. I have been involved in creating Toolbox Talks for staff on a variety of topics – this has been particularly enjoyable. I had to research different subject areas and work with a wide range of staff in their production, learning about different subjects in the process, from safe driving practices to handling clinical waste, whilst building working relationships with other staff within Facilities and the wider Directorate.
Life outside work
I enjoy walking and being in nature. I love music and going to gigs, concerts and festivals. I also sing in a choir.
