Stephanie spoke to us as part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2024. Stephanie is a widening participation coordinator, part of our work opportunities team, who has dyslexia, and this is her CUH story.
What is your name and your role in our hospitals?
Hi, I'm Stephanie Fearon-Isle and I'm a widening participation co-ordinator in the work opportunities team.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
What I enjoy most about my role is that I get to inspire the future generation. A lot of my time is spent in schools talking to students about the different jobs and roles in the NHS and how to gain employment at CUH. It’s nice to be part of their journey.
Tell us a bit about your CUH journey. When did you join CUH?
I joined CUH in March 2021, so I'm just celebrating three years here.
What positions have you held here?
I worked as a medical secretary in allergy for two years, then moved into my current role.
Why you like working at CUH?
Everyone has the same goal, give our patients the best care possible!
What does a usual day look like for you?
I don’t really have a 'usual' day but a usual week can involve spending a morning at a school giving an apprenticeship talk or career carousel, the next day I could be in the office organising work experience and sending invitations to our insight programmes. I work from home once a week which is usually my day to follow up any emails and update spreadsheets. I could finish the week at a careers fair talking to a variety of students from different schools or year groups.
Tell us about a case study/experience at CUH that really stands out to you.
At a careers fair I had a student who was studying photography attend my table with their friend who wanted to be a doctor, they had no interest in our stand themselves. However, I discussed with the student about medical photography and our communications team. Once their time was up they wanted to look into medical photography further as they'd never considered that before.
It really shows there is a job for everyone in the NHS!
How do you feel your role benefits our patients?
Although I do not work directly with patients, I hope my role helps inspire the next generation of those that do work with our patients. I teach pupils about all the different routes into the NHS and how those that might not want to go university can do apprenticeships instead. My work helps to inspire and recruit the future workforce.
Are you a member of one of our staff networks?
I’m actually a member of all 4 networks! I think it’s important to share your voice and help create positive change in the work environment. It’s also a great way to make new friends and connections with other teams.
Being dyslexic can be challenging when I am creating resources but it’s also a plus point!
I’m a very creative thinker and often come up with ideas others haven’t thought of which can really engage the younger generation.
Being a member of the CUH networks has helped with my confidence. I know that even with my disabilities I can achieve my goals. Sometimes I might need an extra minute to think or someone to go over my resources before I hit print but the support that the networks, my managers and CUH as a whole, has given me helps me to progress.
Do you have any coping mechanisms you use at work that may help others?
- I've used the purple passport as this allows me write down what my struggles are and the ways that my employer can help in my own time. This gives me enough time to really think of the support that I need and I can then have a discussion with my line manager based on what I have written.
- I have two screens to help me with my work, being dyslexic it can be difficult to flip from one resource to another so having two screens allows me to have my resources and my working documents open at the same time.
- I often write in blue pen instead of black as this ‘pops’ more on written documents.
- I use yellow tinted notebooks to write notes as this background allows me to read text easier.
- I use the ‘To Do List’ function in Teams as this allows me to have all my tasks in one place. I can add additional steps to my tasks and reminders. My colleagues can also send me tasks with a deadline to help me prioritise my work.
- I use the hashtag #madebydyselxia in my email signature so email respondents have a greater understanding of any spelling or grammar mistakes.
- I use the ‘speech’ tool in word to check any long documents or text that will be published online for spelling and grammar. Hearing your text spoken out loud allows me to identify mistakes easier as spell check doesn’t always catch words I've misused.
Tell us a bit about you outside of work, do you have any talents or hobbies you would like to tell us about?
I am part of an amateur acting group – RADSOC and was the lead girl in our last panto, sleeping beauty. I also take part in beauty pageants and run my own online magazine ‘The Pag Mag’!
Tell us something interesting about yourself.
Although I’m dyslexic I’m an author! I have published three books and aim to publish another two this year. My most popular book is ‘There’s a monster under my bed.’ A story to help children sleep at night.