As part of our day in a life series exploring the different team roles here at ICHP, Innovation Delivery Lead, Shakti Dookeran shares her day with us.
I first open my eyes…
I like to start most mornings with 40 minutes of Yoga or Pilates followed by a delicious bowl of yogurt, berries and granola. Once ready for work I then briskly walk or run to catch my train as I somehow always tend to leave home on the cusp of my departure (I recently moved out to the suburbs so getting to grips with scheduled train times has been… let’s just say a ‘new’ experience). While on the train I click onto my newsfeed and then get through a few work emails.
I’m responsible for…
The projects I am working on are quite distinct and as a new starter (only in the last few months!), ICHP offers me an opportunity to understand the breadth of our work and how best to meet the needs of our stakeholders. At the moment, I am coordinating input to the development of a proposal to the Department of Health for development of a new Academic Health Campus, in this role I help manage and coordinate activities across three partner agencies and provide advice and recommendations for consideration by decision makers. My other project is nationally aligned and provides me with the opportunity to work with clinical and non-clinical teams to locally implement the Maternal and Neonatal Health and Safety Collaborative. In this role, I am helping to strengthen system leadership, nurture and embed a learning system to facilitate the spread & adoption of good practice.
My path took me…
My career in the UK has been in Public Health, which started in the fascinating borough of Tower Hamlets where I contributed to various projects such as the borough’s first mental health Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), Health Trainers Programme and the development of primary care networks. After four fantastic years and a growing interest to work at a more strategic level I moved to Public Health England where I led a national AF-related stroke prevention programme. In this role I used my leadership skills to engage and influence partners to work collaboratively and unblock joint challenges. I was able to step away from this role as the programme is now embedded in the system and take up this exciting role at ICHP where I have the opportunity to offer strategic direction and work closely with frontline teams to help improve healthcare services and population outcomes.
My daily calendars reminders look like…
About 50% of the time I am out and about working with stakeholders and the other 50% I am at the office which gives me the opportunity to get through my list of actions and catch up with the team!
My most memorable work moment…
Being relatively new still, I would say it was securing support from the LMS Chair for the Maternal Neonatal Health and Safety Collaborative programme, as a key influencer having her onboard can helpfully steer successful roll-out of the programme.
My biggest groan about my job is…
No major groans, but some days can feel there aren’t enough hours to get through my list of actions…note to self: prioritise!
My best part of my job…
Two things… I get to work in an area I am passionate about…. helping to improve population outcomes and reducing inequalities through innovative approaches and secondly the fabulous team …such a diversity of skills and experience and A+ fun personalities!
