Emma's Journey - Director of Corporate Affairs and Performance
Emma De-Carteret is our director of corporate affairs and performance. She has been with the Trust for 13 years.
My career in the NHS began in 2003 where I started as a physio, before moving into clinical governance after a few years to try something different. I then came to EEAST in 2010 as a complaints manager, having moved back to the area and the ambulance service seemed a good opportunity to get wider experience.
In 2012, I became the safety and risk lead for the Trust before moving into the role of head of the project management office four years later. After two years in this role, I moved to head of governance and in 2020, I started my current role as the director of corporate affairs and performance.
What I love about my role is that every day is different, and it gives me the opportunity to make a difference and work with great people. I’m proud to be part of the EEAST team due to the passion and commitment of our people to make a difference for our patients and the public.
I definitely encountered lots of challenges throughout my career journey to get to where I am now. Especially when I arrived at EEAST, in terms of understanding how the Trust worked and how to get the best out of relationships I needed to deliver my job when we work across six counties.
In terms of progression, finding the time to balance work, home life and personal development – a mix of supporting your own personal and professional development, as well as support and development through the Trust. I also found it challenging to be brave and go for opportunities when they come along – they don’t always appear at the best time which means a lot of focus and effort.
If you want a rewarding career in an organisation that is trying to make a difference, EEAST is for you. It’s hard but rewarding work, and the people are dedicated to making a difference for patients and the community. My advice would be to take the time to understand the different roles in the service and think about what you want to achieve, and don't just stick in a set 'lane' - there are lots of opportunities if you are open to them. I'm proof of that.
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