Forces: RAF
Lindsey P
“Sodexo has given me a number of opportunities in my career for personal growth. The prison environment has enabled me to experience a true mix of emergency and primary care, which is rare in other healthcare settings.”
Lindsey Partington, Deputy Head of Healthcare at HMP Forest Bank shares her career journey from the Royal Air Force.Lindsey
Partington began her medical career with the Royal Air Force in 2000.
She completed her training as a nurse at the University of Portsmouth
during active service, while based at Fort Blockhouse in Gosport. During
training, Lindsey travelled to 12-14 different bases, taking in the
varying climates of Cyprus and Scotland along the way.
Her first
post out of training was in Peterborough at RAF Wittering. Then as a
Corporal, she served on the MAU (Medical Admissions Unit) at the
Ministry of Defence hospital unit. Working her way up to the position of
Senior Nurse, Lindsey completed higher education courses in acute care,
leadership, mentorship and chronic disease management, amongst others.
In
total, Lindsey completed 9 full years in the military, leaving as
manager of the unit in her officer’s deployment absence. She made a
decision to leave the RAF as she wanted to raise a family as a civilian.
Looking at her career options, she was told by a Sodexo employee that
the company had a prison in her native North West England.
Lindsey
saw the similarities between the prison environment and the military,
and was attracted to the structure and discipline. In 2009, she applied
for the role of nurse at HMP Forest Bank and joined during her
resettlement leave. Lindsey had a successful transition into civilian
life – barring a gradual adjustment to stop calling officers “sir” or
“ma’am”! She fitted in quickly and performed to a high level, operating
as a nurse for 5 and a half years before being promoted to the position
of Clinical Lead for Primary Care.
Talking about her achievements
to date, Lindsey said: “I set up the first dedicated respiratory clinic
here at Forest Bank, which has since branched into two bespoke
services; with a separate provision for asthma and COPD due to increased
demand.
“As a manager, I have changed a number of service
provisions in order to meet performance requirements and improve
clinical care.
“In terms of training, I have completed a
specialist degree in respiratory practice, as well as various management
courses, such as the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”
In
September 2017, Lindsey was promoted to the role of Deputy Head of
Healthcare at HMP Forest Bank. In a moment of reflection, she says:
“Sodexo has given me a number of opportunities in my career for personal
growth. The prison environment has enabled me to experience a true mix
of emergency and primary care, which is rare in other healthcare
settings.”
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