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• Service development practitioner: Peter

Service development practitioner: Peter

This Case Study belongs to Health services manager.

Peter graduated in 2006 and is currently working as a service development practitioner within the NHS and studying towards an MSc in Healthcare Leadership and Management.

At school, I originally wanted to be a computer programmer. I got 9 GCSEs and progressed onto an AVCE in Business Management and an ‘A’ Level in Accounts.

I was interested in business philosophy, so I took a business management degree and, as part of my degree course, I was given the opportunity to spend a year in industry. This practical experience enabled me to put theoretical skills into practice and gave me an advantage when applying for graduate positions. I also did some work experience as a business adviser; working for a company contracted by Business Link and I provided advice and support to new businesses. This experience helped me develop both business consultancy experience and my communication skills, as I had to provide clear, accurate advice to others, both in one to one settings and in groups.

Both my parents are clinicians within healthcare and this influenced my decision to move into health service management. The business and management skills I developed at university and through my practical experiences enabled me to successfully apply in 2006 for a place on the NHS Graduate Training Course (General Management), run by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement  .

I’ve recently completed the course, which incorporated leadership and management workshops and I’ve worked towards completing an MSc in Healthcare Leadership and Management.

My present position as a service development practitioner is with the trust where I was working during my final placement. On a day-to-day basis, my key responsibility is service improvement (such as value stream mapping), but I’m also involved in facilitating group workshops and developing clinical pathways.

I work every day with service teams and wards, so communication skills are important for me to do my job successfully. I enjoy all aspects of my role; it provides me with a wide range of developmental opportunities and enables me to utilise my skills and the knowledge I gained from my degree. I hope to develop my career within the NHS and move into a service management role.

Case Study sourced by Nicola Abbott of University of Durham, 21 May 2009.