CURRICULUM VITAEfor

NATASHA ADRIENNE SMITH

FLAT 2, 14 WELLINGTON ROAD, OXTON, WIRRAL, CH43 2JETELEPHONE: Mobile: 07912349757

E-MAIL: tash.smith@yahoo.co.uk

PERSONAL PROFILE

I consider myself to be an outward-going person who finds no difficulty in communicating with people; in fact, I very much enjoy meeting new people and facing the challenge that this can sometimes bring. The various roles I have undertaken during my working life have brought me into contact with people at all levels and of varying disciplines.

With a constantly changing role it has given me the opportunity to develop my management skills in relation to building effective and well motivated teams, initiating and assisting effective and smooth organisational changes and establishing clear lines of communication between multi-disciplinary teams.

I am a very responsive learner and adapt easily to new situations and environments. I am a highly motivated individual who is enthusiastic, thrives on challenge and who feels a sense of achievement when plans and objectives reach a successful outcome.

KEY SKILLS

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, written and oral at all levels. Well-developed organisational skills. Ability to produce effective and analytical reports for monitoring finance and information. Considerable training and development skills in relation to staff induction and organisational

and operational changes.

CAREER SUMMARY

ST HELENS CLINICAL COMMISIONING GROUP (CCG)Project Support Officer

March 2016 to present

St Helens CCG is the NHS body responsible for planning, buying and delivering healthcare services for a population of more than 190,000 people in St Helens.  

As a project officer within the Integrated Commissioning Team my role is to support the development of the integrated health and social care services across St Helen's. 

Within my role during the eight months I have been with the CCG I have:

• Provided project support for the implementation of the Referral Management System to support the financial recovery agenda of the CCG. Involving the use of project management methodology, engaging with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring effective communication between all stakeholders and working with a flexible approach to meet the needs of the project development.

• Been responsible for the project management of the development of the new Cancer Strategy for St Helen's. Involving the use of project management methodology, co-ordinating key areas of the project including development of the strategy support group and patient, public and key stakeholder engagement and producing the draft version of the strategy in partnership with all

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appropriate partners in preparation for submission of the final draft to the CCG Quality Committee

• Assisting with the preparation and delivery of the Macmillan education programme for practice nurses and non-clinical GP practice staff across St Helen's

• Provided project support for the implementation of 'Map of Medicine' across the GP population of St Helen's. Involving the co-ordination of the project group, liaising with the primary care team as appropriate, liaising with key stakeholders from Map of Medicine to ensure smooth implementation and liaising with IT team to ensure smooth deployment of the programme.

I have also provided additional ad-hoc support within the team including the completion of Freedom of Information requests, answering queries with regard services commissioned, preparation for Protected Learning Time events and updates for Quality Committee.

BREAKING FREE ONLINE LTDNational Development Manager/Service Implementation Manager

August 2012 to January 2016

Breaking Free Online is an evidence-based treatment and recovery programme that has been commissioned by over 60 local Authorities and NHS Trusts across the UK, and adopted by several leading national substance misuse and treatment providers.

The mission of Breaking Free is to create the widest possible access to evidence-based psychological interventions. To realise this they provide a powerful and adaptable digital health programme that targets the underlying psychological and lifestyle factors that drive addictive behaviour. The programme is helping people achieve measurable and enduring behavioural change in a diverse range of settings and overcome many of the barriers to treatment and recovery.

My role with Breaking Free was varied and challenging. As Service implementation/National Development Manager at Breaking Free I was responsible for:

Delivering training workshops for practitioners, volunteers, peer mentors, recovery champions and others within the substance misuse field, in using Breaking Free Online as computer-assisted therapy.

Maintaining partnerships with the commissioners, service providers and other clients who implement our programmes.

Assisting in the securing of contracts for the implementation of Breaking Free Online products and services with commissioners, treatment providers and other clients.

Developing and maintaining sales materials and strong product and sector knowledge. Managing accounts through appropriate activities, including follow-up contacts. Identifying and resolving client concerns whenever they arise. Communicating information or feedback gathered through field activity to appropriate

company staff. Supporting company staff and advise them on market developments and new business

opportunities. Participating in promotional events such as seminars, trade shows and conferences, as

required. Continually expanding knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, reading

relevant publications, maintaining professional networks and participating in events.

Key skills developed:

Superior management and organization Solid problem solving, decision making and analytical capabilities

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Excellent written and verbal communication/presentation skill Expert negotiating and influencing skills Self-motivated, with the ability to work proactively using own initiative Well-developed time management skills Experience in delivering computer assisted therapy training and evaluation

WIRRAL DRUG AND ALCOHOL ACTION TEAMProject Manager – service user and carer involvement

October 2007 to August 2012

Wirral Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) brings together a wide range of statutory and voluntary and community organisations concerned with the effects of the misuse of drugs and alcohol on the peninsula. The DAAT is responsible for ensuring that the targets set by the Government's National Drug Strategy are achieved by working in partnership with all agencies. The role of the Project Manager for service user and carer involvement was to lead the active contribution and inclusion of current, future and ex service users and carers in the improvement of performance and quality of drug and alcohol services on Wirral. As project manager I undertook a lead role in the joint development, implementation and delivery, with partners, of new projects and initiatives that enhance services and offer new opportunities for involvement for service users, carers and community members

Within the role I led the implementation of the local programme of action to increase the involvement of service users and carers in the planning and development of services. To inform this work it was essential that I maintain high levels of contact, establish good professional relationships and ensure effective communication with a wide range of service users and carers. I took the lead responsibility for establishing and/or developing new initiatives that were designed to further the development of service user and carer involvement and contribute to key DAAT targets. It was key that I provided project management skills and expertise to the development of these initiatives and deliver against agreed targets and timescales.

My work within this role also involved attending strategic meetings with key partners and on occasion chairing meetings with service providers, service users and carers and other key partners. I took lead responsibility for maintaining, facilitating and developing the structured system and programme for service user and carer consultation and their contribution to relevant research and development.

A key responsibility within the role was to take the lead in the management of the operational budget allocated to service user and carer involvement, working closely with the operational service user and carer groups, ensuring that this was spent in line with policy and with due governance.

Particular achievements include:

The development of a recovery community project for service users and carers run by service users and carers, offering personal experience and expertise to anyone affected by substance misuse. ‘The Quays’ project enables those service users in recovery to act as role models, to inspire, to support and to enable people to move through their recovery and on to fulfilling and purposeful lives as active members of society and more importantly, their community.

The development and production of DAAT policy for service user and carer involvement, expenses and payments policy for service user and carer involvement and training and development policy for service user and carer involvement

The development, implementation and ongoing facilitation of newly established service user groups

CHESHIRE & WIRRAL PARTNERSHIP NHS TRUST

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Contracts Development Manager October 2006 to September 2007

Working closely with the Finance and Informatics departments the role of Contracts Development Manager, using project management methodology, was to lead and direct on the development of legally binding contracts with commissioning organisations, as part of the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership Trusts development towards Foundation Trust status. It was essential within the contracting process to establish a good working relationship with finance leads and commissioning managers from Primary Care Trusts and Social Services.

Within the role I was also responsible for the management and development of the portfolio of service level agreements which the Trust had, working closely with senior clinicians and managers across the Trust. I was responsible for providing advice and guidance to the Foundation Trust Project Team on contract development. Contributing to the Board and management development programme was a key task within the role, by providing awareness sessions on contracting as an NHS Foundation Trust.

CHESHIRE & WIRRAL PARTNERSHIP NHS TRUSTPatient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) Officer

February 2003 to September 2006

My role within Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust was to provide a Patient Advice and Liaison Service to users, carers and their families who received services provided by the Trust, those being mental health, learning disability and drug and alcohol services.

In order to deliver this service it was essential to build positive relationships with key partners, advocacy and user groups and other voluntary sector organisations, Primary Care Trusts, Citizen Advice Bureau’s, Independent Complaints Advocacy Service, Hospital Trusts, for the continued establishment and development of PALS. I made contact with many key people and groups and was invited to present and talk at various training sessions, meetings and informal group sessions. Those included Mental Health Forums and user and carer groups from around the four main areas of the Trust. The awareness and understanding of what the PALS was, with Trust staff at all levels, was critical to the success of PALS. I met with the Modern Matrons regularly and attended team meetings and ward managers meetings to talk to staff, introduce the service and encourage effective working relationships for the benefit of the service users and carers.

Particular achievements include:

The establishment and development of PALS within Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust

Building working relationships with all departments in all areas within the Trust as well as external organisations, to raise the profile of PALS.

The design and implementation of new promotional leaflets and posters. The development and introduction of PALS volunteers, including recruitment and training. Assisted colleagues with the development of policies for Volunteering within the Trust, the

payment of expenses for service users and carers and the smoke free policy implemented 31 December 2006.

The development, design and regular production of a PALS ‘Talkback’ newsletter.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Cowplain Comprehensive School 1974-1979

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Southdown College, Havant, Hants. 1979-1982 Wirral Metropolitan College 1990-1991 Wirral Hospital Trust, Training & Development 1992-1993 IBMC Conway Park, Birkenhead 1998-1999 West Cheshire College 2005 Wirral Metropolitan College 2012

QUALIFICATIONS

GCE ‘O’Levels – Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, Statistics, Accounting, Commerce, Geography, French, Spanish.

BEC General Diploma. BEC National Certificate City & Guilds 924 Youth Trainers Award ISM Certificate (Management foundation programme). NEBS Management Certificate Introduction to Counselling Certificate NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Drug Awareness

REFERENCES

Mr Jonathan WardManaging DirectorBreaking Free Group Ltd274 Deansgate ManchesterM3 4JB

Mr Gary RickwoodPublic Health Commissioned Services LeadWirral Metropolitan Borough CouncilOld Market House Hamilton StreetBirkenheadCH41 5FL

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