Our Voice Matters
Why would you like to be a staff representative?
"I have been fortunate to work for NAViGO since it was founded. In my job as an outreach worker based at Weelsby View, I come into contact with a wide number of colleagues in a variety of settings, including Harrison House, WHISE, NAViGO Extra, Psychology, CMHT and Hope Court. In all these settings I get to meet staff and colleagues who are doing an amazing job, and if I was to be elected to the role of staff representative I would seek to ensure that the views, ideas and issues were heard via both the monthly management board and directly to managers, as appropriate.
"I would also seek to respond promptly to colleagues questions about our organisation as it develops and grows. I'm asking for your vote so that I can be your voice and your representative, working with the other staff representatives to ensure that our organisation is the best it can be for all of us. Thank you."
Tell us about you and your experience.
"My name is Jim. I started working in mental health as a community support worker and ultimately, through training supported by NAViGO, I qualified as a social worker. I now work for the Assertive Outreach Team based at Weelsby View Medical Centre but I spend most of my time out and about in the community.
"Part of my role is to act as an advocate for the service users I work for, and I would use and take that experience into my new role if I was elected to act as a representative and advocate for NAViGO's staff groups' views, ideas and issues.
"I have worked for NAViGO since it was founded and as a staff representative my focus would be on strengthening the links between the staff and management team across our various sites. I believe I would bring good listening and effective questioning skills to this role as well as being approachable, discreet and reliable."
If you are elected as a representative, what do you want to achieve?
"NAViGO is a growing organisation. It is now based over a number of sites around our area. As a staff representative, I would seek to make staff views, ideas and issues known to management. In doing this I would seek to help strengthen both colleagues and management's understanding of workplace issues affecting our organisation.
"I would work to help further an atmosphere of mutual trust and good communication between staff and management, which can be difficult when we are all working hard to deliver our service to the public and are based in different parts of the town."
How do you intend to engage with the membership to ensure their voices are heard?
"I would seek to work with my other staff representatives to ensure that all areas of NAViGO had contact with their representatives. I would like to see staff representatives being able to attend team meetings or organise regular drop in sessions at each of the various sites that provide NAViGO services (Covid restrictions allowing).
"I would make sure that staff feedback was available and promptly responded to via the staff representative email and that this email was widely circulated and publicised. I think it important that publicity about who the current staff representatives are, and how to contact them via email or phone, is widely publisicised throughout our various workplaces.
"I would like to see staff representatives regularly checking workplace's ideas/feedback boxes at all workplaces. I would also like to see a monthly staff representative bulletin produced to give our feedback and views on developments within NAViGO, as well as where we have been and what we have been doing as your staff representatives."