Lakes seeks interim medical service manager
05/02/2024
Te Whatu Ora Lakes bids farewell to Service Manager Medicine Services Jo-Anne Deane who will take up a new position, Regional Manager Ageing Well – Te Whatu Ora Commissioning.
She says the new role is a good career opportunity and is looking forward to consolidating the experience gained in her last three roles.
“I’ve enjoyed my time at Lakes and I will miss the people. Within a week of starting I felt very comfortable in the role very quickly and excited by what medicine services could become. I knew it would be a good place to work, I could feel it. I was at home here in the environment in Rotorua as well as in the hospital.”
Jo-Anne began at Lakes in September 2020 during Covid and says medicine services and staff should be proud of their response to the challenge of the pandemic. The service has also worked hard to deliver service improvements and has delivered 29 of the 32 action points from the 2022/2023 annual plan, as well as several side projects, she says.
“It’s a reflection on the leadership team and the commitment of staff. The Covid response was big for medicine services. I took a strong lead in our response to all the changes that came through, looking at how they would impact on staff, visitors and services to make sure we responded in a timely and relevant way.”
The service manager role requires being realistic and practical about how things can be done and what can be delivered within resource constraints. The role also involves connecting with other providers and engaging in the health system.
Jo-Anne says the service manager role is a fine balance between enabling capable people to do what they can and helping people to be capable.
Being able to have courageous conversations with staff, patients and whānau is critical as a service manager is a role model for behaviour, standards and expectations.
“I’m an old ED nurse and used to challenging conversations. I think even if it’s not your wheel house you can learn to do it with coaching and support. It’s a critical part of being a leader. Some of it is intuition and experience. You bring your experience of life outside and inside work. I tiller myself by thinking how do I want to be treated, how will I accept this information. I don’t sugar coat it but I’m kind.”
Group Director Operations Alan Wilson thanks Jo-Anne Deane on behalf of Lakes for the work she has done over the last three years.
“Jo-Anne is known for her energy, enthusiasm and bright and cheerful personality. We wish her all the best for the next part of her journey. As Jo-Anne is not leaving Te Whatu Ora, just her current position, you will no doubt still see her around the hospital – she will dressed be in pink!”
Alan says, there is still work being done nationally and regionally on the structure within Districts but the Service Manager Medicine as an interim role for the next 3-6 months is currently being advertised.
“It’s a great chance for someone, perhaps someone already familiar in Lakes who would like a secondment.”
For more information go to: https://bitly.ws/3bNhs