A very warm welcome to Lisa Quinn who joined #TeamCDDFT as Non-Executive Director, in June

A very warm welcome to Lisa Quinn who joined #TeamCDDFT as Non-Executive Director, in June.

Like many colleagues, Lisa is one of those amazing people who has devoted her career to the NHS, having started working as part of the finance department of the then Newcastle Heath Authority at the age of 17.  Almost all NHS organisations have 'morphed and changed' in the intervening years but Lisa has spent many of those years working in mental health and learning disabilities across several organisations - all in the North East.

Lisa says, "I feel very privileged that the NHS not only enabled me to study and take qualifications whilst continuing to work, I was actively encouraged to learn and develop.  This made the world of difference to me because I had limited qualifications but leaving employment to study full time wasn't really a route I wished to follow, however I was able to combine working in NHS finance departments whilst gaining qualifications. Ultimately, I became Deputy Director of Finance.  I encourage any colleagues, of any age and background, who feels their time for education has passed, or that their personal situation means education isn't an option for them, to think again. I came into the NHS at 17 with few qualifications and was not only educated, colleagues and managers actively developed and encouraged me.

"In 2008, I moved out of finance and became an executive director at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Foundation Trust (CNTWFT) with a wide portfolio that included commissioning, quality assurance, governance, risk and technology.  Working within the areas of mental health, learning disability and community service is really where my heart lay so I was very happy to be able to contribute in those areas.

"My role included being the Trust lead for CQC inspections and I am very proud that CNTWFT was the first mental health and learning disability trust to achieve 'Outstanding' status. For the last seven years I have also been a Care Quality Commission inspector myself,  combining this with my executive role. Inspections have taken me across the country and to all forms of NHS organisations including acute, community and mental health.

"Although I was ready to leave my executive position I still very much want to contribute to the NHS and the services it offers our populations - and to be part of its continual improvement.  I am delighted to be part of #TeamCDDFT - it's an organisation I know well and I also lived in County Durham for many years and the people are very close to my heart.   I will now combine my non-executive director role with my CQC inspector responsibilities, where I focus on the area of 'well-led.'

"I think I got my passion for the NHS from my mum, who was a nurse and think my son's, who both work in the NHS, also inherited the NHS gene.

Outside of work, my main joy is teaching children aged 4-15 to ride horses.

I've had such a warm welcome to #TeamCDDFT, thank you, I look forward to visiting as many services as I can over the coming months."