Meet Jade Norton, Porter BCH

For this year’s National Healthcare Estates and Facilities Day, to highlight some of the roles that colleagues in our Vital Services perform each day, we spoke with members of the Facilities Team at our Children’s Hospital to get an insight into their work.

Meet Jade Norton, Porter.

 

I’ve been working at the Birmingham’s Children Hospital since 2019, it’s been an amazing journey, one that I really enjoy. My work experience has been around domestics in various organisations but when the opportunity came to join the Trust, I couldn’t turn it down.

 

I have always wanted to work in the NHS, that is why I applied for the role of Facilities Domestic Assistant as this would give the opportunity to be able to help and contribute to the wellbeing of our patients and service users – I did this role for about four years, but frankly did not enjoy the role, the department and the team were great, but I personally didn’t enjoy the daily routine.

 

Earlier this year, a development opportunity came up in the Portering department, this sounded intriguing even though it’s different from what I’ve done in the past. I expressed my interest in the role, luckily securing a trial period within the Portering department.

 

At first, it felt daunting as I was the one of only two females in a team with almost twenty male counterparts, but they welcomed me with open arms. I have managed to integrate myself into the team, I have learnt a lot about myself and expanded my horizons around this opportunity. I sometimes struggle around working in confined spaces, part of the reason I opted for the change, but the challenges of this new role have helped my physical wellbeing too because it requires me to be active and always on the move.

 

A vacancy came up in the department, having enjoyed the trial period, and understanding a lot about the role, my great relationship with the team, I felt it would be right for me to make this permanent. I applied for the role of General Portering Assistant and luckily, I was successful in the interview.

 

I am fortunate for the development opportunity, there’s a contrast between both roles but I have enjoyed every minute of been with the Portering Team. Being the only female amongst the lads comes with its demands, but I enjoy it. I want to continue in the same vein and apply myself to the actualisation of team and organisational goals, and to be the best that I can be.