Meet the Team - Natalie Smith
Get to know a little about Natalie, one of our lovely Operational Navigators.
by IC24
I have worked for IC24 for 18 months. I started my journey as a National Service Advisor and then moved to the navigation team at the end of February.
A family member who worked for IC24 told me about the National Service Advisor role. It sounded appealing, so I decided to give it a go. Being able to support patients in need was so rewarding, but when the NSA role came to an end, I wanted to see what else IC24 had to offer. That’s when I came across the Operational Navigator role.
I wanted to start my journey with IC24 as I had seen family members progress within the company, and they always spoke so highly of the organisation. There is so much to learn and so many different directions and opportunities to further your career should you wish to. I know this is just the start of my journey within IC24.
For the first time in a job, I have goals and a direction of where I would like to go, and I know with the support of the organisation and my own determination, this is possible.
I work with the out-of-hours team overseeing the Clinical Advice Service (CAS) base appointments and home visits. We support clinicians and drivers/receptionists and signpost patients to their nearest location. We also check that the correct classification has been selected to ensure urgent cases are picked up within the correct disposition timeframe.
I have some amazing colleagues who are always there to support each other alongside our service managers. When I first started this role, a colleague said to me, "No question is a silly question," and it’s true. There’s so much to learn, and we learn by asking questions.
I really enjoy being able to support colleagues, listen to their views, and take action to ensure our colleagues are being heard.
Every day, knowing you’re part of the support system ensuring palliative patients are given the best care possible is incredibly rewarding. Knowing I work in a team that provides that care makes me proud of myself, my team, our drivers, and clinicians. There’s no better reward than knowing we have done everything we can for our patients.
IC24 stands out to me because it’s an organisation that looks after its employees. If you want to progress, there is the chance to do so, and you’re fully supported. It’s by far one of the best organisations I have worked for. We have colleague resource groups, ways of giving recognition to colleagues, and hold events such as Listening into Action, giving our people a voice.
What three words describe my role?
Intense, rewarding, and crucial.