Kathy Jackson - Allied Health Professional

Why did you decide to become a Community Champion?

Throughout my professional and personal life, I have been committed to quality improvement with health and social care, particularly for people with long term neurological conditions in the community. I have observed unmet needs for this group and wide disparity of provision across the region, and how this impacts their health and well-being. My work and personal life involves listening to the stories of people with long term neurological conditions in numerous settings. I considered taking on a role as community champion with Health Watch some years ago as I was keen to ensure that the intelligence I was gathering could be shared with the organisation. Unfortunately, at that time, personal and professional commitments meant I did not have the capacity for this. However, I am now able to be considered for the role as Community Champion for People with LTNC living in the Community.  

How does your role help people in South Tees?

I am an allied health professional, doctoral student, and a service user of health and social care services. I also have substantial experience as a Sn Lecturer in Health and Social Care where I ensured that experience of experts with experience was embedded in to teaching and learning of health professionals, curriculum development and research. I am committed to collaborating with experts with experience of long-term neurological conditions (LTNC) in my current research which uses participatory methods to explore self-efficacy, self- management and self-management support from their perspectives. Collaborative working with other stakeholders (voluntary sector, commissioning bodies, nurses and AHPs, students, academic colleagues) is also central to my work.