Morven McAvoy - How NHS Scotland's AFTP Programme Support Me as a Military Spouse

Background

Initially, I had joined the Armed Forces Talent Programme (AFTP) as an

Ambassador, because I was already in NHS employment. I had worked for the NHS

as a receptionist/ administrative assistant. While there, my office hours had been

school hours, which had helped me with childcare. My husband’s upcoming

deployment at that time made me realise that being in an Office everyday would not

be viable. The practicalities of trying to balance and juggle everyday life of childcare,

looking after my home and travelling to work in an office while my husband was

away would not work.

How the Armed Forces Talent Programme helped me

I attended an AFTP meeting where I gained further knowledge and more of an

insight into the different roles available in the NHS. I heard that many positions are

now hybrid/ remote. I had been looking for a position like this but had limited my

search to NHS Lothian where I already worked and lived. The AFTP team suggested

broadening my search by looking for positions in all NHS regions, as so many jobs

were hybrid/ remote. I had never considered this but followed up on this advice and

also utilised the opportunity to upskill. I found a job advertised, applied and was

successful at interview and that was how I started working for Public Health Scotland

(PHS) as a PA/Administrator.

Present and future thinking

While in this role with PHS, I have found that I now have a greater work/life balance,

and it helped while my husband was deployed. I began to think about career

progression within NHS. When I heard that the AFTP was offering internships for

Project Co-ordinator positions, I was keen to apply, as this would broaden my

knowledge and experience and extend my skills. It would also help with the next step

in my career development. I have found AFTP to be a very beneficial programme

and I’m excited to embrace this opportunity of an internship and working with the

team. This will enhance my personal development and will be of benefit in furthering

my career and progression within the NHS.