"This week, on the 2nd March to be exact, I will have been with Locala Health and Wellbeing for 5 years.
I clearly remember my first day. I set off to our head office in Batley, only to find that the snow was so deep I had to turn back and spend my time on virtual calls instead. Which challenged my IT skills to their limit! I also clearly remember being roped into sledging down the crescent with my daughter Alice who was 3 at the time.
The team at Locala has been on a huge journey together and have some really positive achievements to show for it including a CQC rating of good in every service and in every domain, being nominated for many awards and for caring for people and each other through a global pandemic – something we had never experienced before.
There have been lots of challenges and I have pushed us all hard to be the best we can be and make continual improvements. I am grateful for the support and dedication from colleagues that has enabled us to achieve. I am sure that along the way my drive has been challenging and perhaps colleagues have thought I am a bit (lot) annoying! However, all of my motivation comes from wanting us to make the most of the opportunity and privilege that caring for people where they live presents. Every Locala colleagues has more than stepped up to the challenge. And I couldn’t be prouder.
I am acutely aware of the challenges that remain including the priority workforce challenge that we are all completely focused on and which is pressing for ourselves, our partners and our nation. I am also certain that if we work together, listen to each other, remain kind and supportive that we can solve any problem with which we are faced.
Community health services have never been more crucial in the health and care sector. The diverse range of settings and services make can make community services harder to define, and less visible than other parts of the sector. However, it is clear that with our ageing population, and more people than ever living with long term conditions, not to mention the pressure in hospitals, community services are vital. This year I was proud to take on the role as Community Services Sector Lead at a regional level for the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership on behalf of all community service partners in our ICS. I am incredibly proud of this and excited about the opportunities this gives to drive the conversation about fully integrating community services to make out health and care system the best it can be for communities.
After five years, leading a community services provider and, importantly, a social enterprise, I continue to be deeply humbled by the work that all my Locala colleagues, and everyone in the health and care system, does on a daily basis and the difference made to people’s lives. It is inspirational and provides me with the motivation to continue with a positive, can do attitude despite how hard it might feel.
Here’s to the next 5 years. Working together, and harnessing the passion and drive that exists, we can have a huge impact for the people that we serve."
- Karen Jackson, Chief Executive, Locala Health and Wellbeing.
