Clare Thomas Email & Phone Number

Wimbledon

Key Responsibilities and Achievements:Patient and Stakeholder Engagement: At the heart of my role, I have ensured that patients, the public, and stakeholders have meaningful input in the design and development of NHS services. Engagement Strategy Development: Developing the People and Communities Strategy for the ICB, collaborating with key stakeholders like Healthwatch and the Voluntary Sector. My strategic approach ensured valuable feedback and comments were gathered through a roadshow across the six boroughs.Establishment of Borough Communication & Engagement Groups: Alongside the Head of Engagement, I supported the establishment of local borough Communication & Engagement groups. These groups harmonised communication efforts, ensuring that residents received messages through unified channels, enhancing engagement effectiveness.Community Outreach Initiatives: I successfully set up and managed a grassroots funding opportunity to reach underrepresented community groups. By working closely with Healthwatches, I facilitated £10,000 funding for fun events. The feedback gathered from these events informed our five-year strategy, focusing on community needs.Team Management: As part of my role, I have demonstrated exceptional leadership by managing the Communications & Engagement Officer and a Project Support Officer. Through regular check-ins, training programs, and shadowing opportunities, I ensured their growth and effectiveness within the team.Adapting to Change: In response to new ways of working during the pandemic, I adeptly adapted engagement strategies, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for diverse communities. The learnings from vaccine engagement informed future planning and the development of our people and communities strategy.Facilitation: My experience in facilitating focus groups, including sensitive topics like UTIs showcases my ability to handle emotive conversations with compassion and professionalism.

London, England, United Kingdom

Strategic Development - devised and led on the Communications and Engagement strategy for patient and patient involvement. Ensured it offered inclusive opportunities for people to share their views resulting in increased stakeholder engagement and positive outcomes.Community Outreach - working in collaboration with patient engagement teams across the system, established valuable links with community groups.Inclusive Engagement Initiatives: created impactful opportunities for meaningful engagement and involvement of individuals from diverse communities, ensuring an inclusive and representative approach.Commissioned independent partner organisations to provide support for engagement activities, as needed, while also conducting impartial analyses of consultation responses, enriching the decision-making process.Targeted Communications: Crafted communications materials targeting various audiences and communities, effectively conveying vital information to support understanding and uptake in the engagement programme.Skilfully managed the Engagement & Communication Officer, ensuring their professional growth and development by identifying and fulfilling training needs and opportunities.Successfully managed budget allocation to support communications and engagement activities, maximising resources and achieving cost-effective solutions.

London, England, United Kingdom

As a Senior Engagement Manager, I led and managed a number consultation and engagement activities.Key Achievements:Inclusive Community Grants Scheme: I successfully established and managed a small grants scheme in collaboration with three Councils for Voluntary Services (CVS) in South West London & Surrey. By working closely with the CVS, I effectively targeted specific communities, enabling their active participation. Regularly presenting at grassroots meetings, I facilitated an accessible channel for local people to share feedback. Accessible communications: I developed tailored materials, including easy-to-read content, translated materials, and videos catered to the Deaf community.Community Roadshows & Clinician Support: As part of my engagement strategy, I orchestrated community roadshows in collaboration with external providers, fostering direct connections with the local population. To ensure credibility and expert insights, I organised the attendance and support of Senior Clinicians, bolstering community trust and engagement.Efficient Project Management: Adeptly maintaining an up-to-date project management tracker, I ensured smooth and efficient consultations, which included a vital midpoint review. This process allowed for real-time course corrections, leading to more effective outcomes.Stakeholder Liaison: I regularly participated in Senior Management meetings and Community Involvement networks, providing comprehensive updates on the consultation progress. My proactive approach to stakeholder liaison strengthened relationships and ensured a collaborative and transparent process.Empowering Leadership: As a compassionate and inspiring leader, I expertly line-managed a Project Support Officer. Through regular check-ins and mentorship, I facilitated their professional growth, ensuring they met their objectives and further developed their skills.

Wimbledon

Key Contributions:Strategic Comms: Collaborating closely with the communications team, I actively contributed to the development, execution, and evaluation of internal communication and engagement strategies, ensuring the alignment of these initiatives with the organisation's objectives.Web Management: I successfully managed and curated content for the website, ensuring that it remained a comprehensive and up-to-date platform for stakeholders.First-Point Contact: Serving as the primary contact for all inquiries, I efficiently addressed and directed various queries from the media, public, and internal and external CCGs, fostering positive relationships and enhancing the organisation's reputation.Representing the Team: In the absence of senior communications team members, I confidently led and represented the communications team.Timely Communication Updates: I managed and updated the weekly updates disseminated to external stakeholders, guaranteeing consistent and transparent information sharing.Social Media Management: Monitoring social media sites, I responded to inquiries and complaints in a timely manner. Networking and Collaboration: To promote cohesive working practices, I actively participated in and contributed to the South West London Communication and Engagement Network meetings.Effective FOI Management: I managed Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, ensuring prompt and compliant responses.Large-Scale Stakeholder Events: As a skilled project manager, I successfully planned and delivered large-scale stakeholder events across diverse audiences. My role encompassed content and program development, creation of presentations and briefing materials, and overall event management.Steering Group Leadership: I effectively managed the Patient and Public Engagement Steering Group, fostering meaningful collaboration and effective decision-making.Community Collaboration: Building strong relationships with local community and voluntary organisations,

Wimbledon

Key Contributions:Board-Level Secretariat Support: I efficiently provided board-level secretariat support to the Clinical Strategy Group, ensuring seamless coordination of meetings, documentation, and action items. My attention to detail and strong organisational skills contributed to the smooth functioning of decision-making processes.Project Management Expertise: Within the PMO, I demonstrated my proficiency in project management by effectively revising and updating the risk and issue log. My contributions significantly enhanced the overall risk management strategy and streamlined project workflows.Flexible Team Player: As a dedicated team player, I readily adapted to various roles and provided support as needed within the wider program team. My collaborative and approachable nature fostered a harmonious work environment and allowed for efficient cross-functional collaboration.PMO Support: I effectively supported the PMO lead with critical aspects of governance, financial management, and contracts, ensuring compliance and efficiency in project operations.Strategic Document Production: I contributed to the production of strategic documents by efficiently collecting and synthesising information and data as required. My contributions bolstered the quality and accuracy of key strategic reports.General Office Management: My responsibilities extended to overseeing general office management tasks, including liaising with external contractors for office equipment, building maintenance, and printing services. My attention to detail ensured smooth office operations.

Task and Finish Group Support: I provided crucial assistance to the task and finish groups by preparing agendas and papers, ensuring smooth and productive meetings. My attention to detail and organisational skills facilitated the timely production of reports to the London-wide specialised commissioning group.Project Initiation Document Coordination: I efficiently coordinated the production of the project initiation document (PID), a framework for project success. My involvement in managing timelines and deliverables ensured seamless project execution.National Screening Programme Events: I assumed full responsibility for the coordination and setup of national screening programme events. My commitment to excellence and flawless event management contributed to the success and impact of these gatherings.Performance Data Collation: Working closely with the Assistant Director and Senior Commissioning Manager, I played a key role in collating National Screening Programme performance data. My accurate data management contributed to informed decision-making and program improvements.Pre-Genetic Diagnosis Data Collection: I took ownership of data collection and validation for Pre-Genetic Diagnosis, a critical component of healthcare services. My commitment to data accuracy and reliability ensured the provision of dependable and actionable insights.

National Screening Committee (UKNSC) Support: I have actively collaborated with the National Screening Committee, providing valuable Quality Assurance Support. Engaging Seldom Heard Communities: Working alongside the Communications Team, I have been actively involved in engaging seldom heard communities to promote awareness and knowledge of screening programs. My commitment to inclusivity and effective communication has empowered these communities to make informed healthcare choices.Strategic Material Development: Collaborating closely with the Communications Director, I have been instrumental in crafting tailored materials to resonate with and engage hard-to-reach communities. My dedication to inclusivity and effective communication has empowered these communities to access vital information and resources.Budget Management: With meticulous attention to detail, I have successfully managed a budget of £250,000, skillfully allocating funds to develop and deliver comprehensive training programs for local midwives across England. This strategic allocation has maximised the impact of awareness-raising initiatives.Training Program Execution: I have overseen the end-to-end delivery of training programs, ensuring that local midwives are equipped with the knowledge and tools to address sickle cell and thalassemia concerns in areas where prevalence is not high. The success of these programs has positively influenced healthcare outcomes.

Key Contributions:Regional Operations Support: As a PA to four Regional Operations Managers, I have efficiently managed their schedules, coordinated meetings, and handled critical communications. My dedication to detail has ensured smooth workflows and effective collaboration within the regional teams.Care Home Staff Administration: As the sole administrator for care home staff, I have been instrumental in creating and designing personalised reports. My proficiency in handling diverse administrative tasks has streamlined operations and improved efficiency.Data Collection and Validation: I have demonstrated a keen eye for detail while undertaking data collection and validation for care homes across England. My commitment to accuracy has contributed to reliable and informative databases, ensuring adherence to regulations and standards.Incident Logging and Regulations: I have skillfully logged incidents and regulations on the SRO database, bolstering care home compliance and regulatory adherence. My dedication to maintaining up-to-date records has been essential for accountability and continuous improvement.Audio Typist for HR: My expertise as an audio typist has been pivotal in handling HR letters, memos, and general correspondence. My swift and accurate transcription has supported effective communication within the organisation.

Postgraduate Degree, Healthcare Communications, Merit

Btec National Diploma - Public Services, Pass

As Level Communications, As Level English

Communications - A Level English Literature - A Level Sociology - A Level

Education record

9 GCSEs