#GoodallAmazingAdmin – “You're the sticky tape that holds us together”

On Wednesday 29 June, we held our first ever Goodall Admin Celebration, where 140 colleagues from across CNWL’s largest division tuned in to celebrate and give thanks to staff working in administrative roles.

Under the theme of ‘Celebrating People, Pathways and Possibilities’ we explored career progression, personal development and wellbeing initiatives. The event was hosted by Vanessa Odlin, Goodall Managing Director, and she was joined by Senior Leaders from the wide divisional portfolio, including an array of insightful guest speakers.

Watch the recording here

We finished off the event with an awards ceremony - a huge congratulations to all the nominees and winners! More details can be found below.

“At the forefront and core of what we do is our admin staff. You are vitally important to us, and without you, we wouldn’t be able to run our services and organisation.” – Vanessa Odlin, Goodall Managing Director

“Admin are our unsung heroes and play a huge part in what we do day-to-day, which is to provide the best possible care. I can’t say how many times I’ve reached out to admin colleagues for help and they’ve worked their magic.” – William Sakala, Director of Nursing Goodall

“I want to say thank you for the care and compassion that you give to our patients and our colleagues. You’re such a huge asset and we are so fortunate to have you.” – Tina Swain, CAMHS and Eating Disorders Service Director

“Admin support is one of our most treasured resources. We’re so lucky to have dedicated and skilled staff who help our services and develop innovations. Most of all, admin go the extra mile, providing a bedrock of administrative knowhow, analytic intelligence, and creative thinking. You are right at the centre of our units, and you’re the sticky tape that holds us all together.” - Sarah Farooq, Service Manager, Mental Health Rehabilitation

Career possibilities

Sharing homegrown examples of career journeys, we started off with Meera Mistry, who has worked for over 20 years in health and social care. Her pathway started as a mental health support worker in Brent, and she is now CNWL’s Director of Strategy and Integration. She says: “I started my journey in CNWL as an admin, and I recognise that I’m an admin through and through. Whatever role I’m in I utilise those skills I learnt through the journey.”

J’nelle James followed, inspiring everyone with the story of her 15-year career journey (so far) from Ward Clerk in a mental health ward to the Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in CNWL. She addressed the various barriers she had faced and emphasised the importance of professional mentorship. "My journey has had a number of setbacks but none of that compares to the highlights of my career,” she said.

Download the presentations here

#GoodallAmazingAdmin

The awards ceremony was a time to highlight the hard work of our admin colleagues and recognise your successes. We received nearly 300 nominations, including a mixture of individuals and teams. Well done to all!

“You’re the heart of the operation. Thank you for everything you do - you are invaluable to us and we are indebted to you.” - Alastair Penman, Borough Director for Hillingdon Mental Health Services

The winners are: