Introducing…Amanda McInnes
Each month you can learn more about the people behind East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership and its Integration Joint Board (IJB).
Find out more about staff and board members and what they enjoy most about their role!
This month we’re ‘Introducing’…
Amanda McInnes, Senior Manager for Business Support at EAHSCP
Read on to find out more about Amanda and her role within the partnership!
I’m Amanda McInnes and I am the Senior Manager for the Business Support Service within East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership.
I am based in The Johnnie Walker Bond and was appointed to my current post in September 2014, although I have worked in East Ayrshire since 2005.
Prior to this I worked in several local authorities, and also the Police Service and Fire Service since 1986, so I feel that providing support within local government services is ingrained within me.
I enjoy the depth and breadth of my role as it spans across the whole partnership. This involves working with managers and officers from NHS Ayrshire and Arran and East Ayrshire Council on issues relating to property and accommodation, health and safety, governance, risk management and IT equipment and access to systems.
A typical working day consists of attending a number of online and face-to-face meetings to progress projects and issues relating to the above areas. Communication is also key to my role and working in The Johnnie Walker Bond provides a great opportunity to speak in person to all members of the partnership’s Senior Leadership Group and Partnership Leadership Team who also work from this building.
Meeting people and building relationships are my favourite aspects of my job as I’m very sociable and enjoy solving a wide variety of issues (which appear to arise almost on a daily basis) alongside my team of managers, whose ideas and innovative solutions make my working life so enjoyable.
Throughout my career I have been advised that it is important to ensure your academic skills are in line with your practical skills. Given that I left school at 16 years old this has been a significant challenge; however, with the support of various line managers over more than 30 years, I have been able to study part-time and remotely, which has enabled me to gain a number of work-related qualifications.
The most recent qualification was a Masters Degree, which I am very proud of. Without the continued support and understanding of my family, friends and work colleagues this achievement would not have been possible, albeit they were also very glad when I completed it due to my high levels of stress in doing so!
In relation to wellbeing I think it is important to spend time outside, especially after being in an office all week. I enjoy walking around the various parks and nature trails in Lanarkshire where I live, albeit less so at this time of year when some of them are like mud baths!
I also think that it’s important to spend quality time with family and friends as opposed to texting and messaging, and this personal priority of mine is made so much easier given my need to be sociable!
Thanks for chatting with us Amanda!
Don’t miss next month’s ‘Introducing’ segment!
