After 18 years here, Karen Bates has become a qualified Emergency Planning Officer (EPO) and her role is now part of our Community Healthcare Division. She loves admin, walking, her family and her cat.

Hello my name is… Karen Bates - I have two grown up children, four grandchildren and a cat who all keep my busy and in need of a break!!

Family is the most important thing to me, our get-togethers I’ll treasure always.  My daughter Kirsty has two girls, Layla, 11 and Mollie, eight. My son Richard has a little girl, Harper, five, and a boy Preston, just 19 months old.

I like to walk and have done walks for charity and also walk for my own enjoyment and fitness and intend to join a walking club in the near future.

I have been working for CHFT for 18 years and enjoyed every minute – starting in 2001 and still going strong!  When I commenced my current role in April 2018, I was keen to learn the Resilience side of the role and was asked if would like to study for the Diploma in Healthcare Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (DipHep), I jumped at the chance.

What is your position?  

Resilience & Security Support Officer

Ooh, sounds interesting. What does that entail?

The highlights of my role include:

  • Providing support to the Emergency Planning Advisor (I am now a qualified Emergency Planning Officer - EPO)
  • Ensuring we are compliant in our NHSE Annual Assurance Process (Core Standards), which ask for compliance on our Governance, Policies & Plans, ED Wet/Dry Decontamination processes and equipment (HAZMAT / CBRNe) etc.
  • Provide Loggist Training – a vital role required to log all decisions in a critical or major incident whereby we have initiated an Incident Control Centre
  • Assisting in the facilitation in any exercises, i.e. EPR Table Top Exercises; Business Continuity Exercises etc.
  • Ensuring an effective communication process in the event of an incident

Summarise your career background

Administration Assistant and Lathe Operator in private sector from leaving school in 1981 up until 2001.

I started at CHFT in 2001 within Therapy Services Administration at Princess Royal CHC, then joined the Estates Department in 2003, supporting the managers in all services provided by Estates. More recently I started supporting Ian Kilroy the Resilience & Security Management Specialist

What is the highlight of your career so far?

Obtaining the DipHep.

Sum up your role in three words

  • Exciting
  • Challenging 
  • Rewarding

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I always wanted to work in administration. I enjoyed book keeping in my position before working for CHFT which surprises me, I’ve always been terrified of mathematics!
 

Who is your hero/heroine and why?

Diana – I loved her influence in bringing up William and Harry and the modern approach that they have brought into the Royal Family.
 

When you are not at work, how do you relax?

In my own time I like to read, travel and even decorate!

What is your favourite place?

There are so many beautiful places I’ve visited, but my favourite place is home with my family and cat.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I played violin in an orchestra at Huddersfield Town Hall – we recorded an album for our school 25th anniversary – I don’t play now!

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