Dr Trudy Sevens

What do you do in your current role/area of expertise?

In both my academic and network roles I have experience of leadership, management and mentoring diverse and multiprofessional teams. I have lead teams through multiple course redesigns and approvals as well as introducing completely new models of education such as the Sonographer Degree Apprenticeship. I have acted as an external examiner and advisor for other Universities broadening my appreciation of alternative learning and teaching strategies and pedagogies. I continue to support the Diagnostic Imaging team as professional advisor, and undergraduate students on leadership placements through my system role. I am the lead for the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw (SYB) Sonography Training Academy and Reporting Radiographer Academy which has adopted a whole system approach to training, enhancing trainee experience and reaching confidence and competency levels in shorter timeframes. I have successfully developed and implemented practice educator roles across SYB to support undergraduate and postgraduate training for the imaging workforce, increasing staff opportunities and workforce retention as well as driving quality improvements. These have been supported by successful funding bids from NHS England, which I have secured.

My Associate Head of School role has a remit for supporting research, innovation and knowledge exchange across health and social care, increasing research capacity and capability and complements my SYB role as the Strategic Team Lead for Research and Innovation for the AHP Council.

I completed my Doctorate in Professional Studies in 2017 and have proactively sought post-doctoral opportunities including a successful College of Radiographers Industry Partnerships Scheme Research Grant (CoRIPS) award. I have since secured small scale research grants and been part of research teams securing significant research grants. My particular research interests are around workforce transformation and new models of education.

I am also an ethics reviewer and doctoral supervisor for the university.

As the Lead Radiographer for the SYB Imaging Network, I work closely with the AHP Council, AHP Faculty, Workforce Transformation Leads, Workforce Hub and Learning Environment and Placement team. I represent the SYB imaging workforce at regional (North-east and Yorkshire) NHS England workforce, training and education, diagnostics and Cancer Alliance meetings and groups. I also support the Therapeutic Radiography workforce group, nuclear medicine group and medical physics group.

Regionally, I also work closely with other North-east Yorkshire (NEY) higher education institutions (HEIs) and clinical partners.  I am part of the leadership team of the NEY Reporting Radiographer Group, NEY Ultrasound Deep-dive Group, Medical Physics Group and the NEY Workforce Leads Group.

Nationally, I am a member of the SCoR Support Workforce Expert Group, Secretary to the SCoR Qualitative Research Specialist Interest Group and registered with, and contributed to, the SCoR professional guidance for medico-legal expert witnesses. I am Deputy Chair for the National Sonography Apprenticeship Trailblazer Group, Editorial Board member and previous Associate Editor for the BMUS Journal.  I am a peer reviewer for the journals, Ultrasound, and Radiography. I am also a member of the SCoR Imaging Managers Group in my SYB role and have been an invited speaker at BMUS, SCoR and NHS England events.

I was invited by the SCoR to write a case study for the Joint Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme, Antenatal Results and Choices, the Maternity Transformation Programme vision document for obstetric ultrasound and record an interview as an inspirational leader for AHP day.

What steps did you take to get to this role?

I qualified as a Diagnostic Radiographer with a Diploma of the College of Radiographers (DCR) just as the new BSc was introduced so continued studying at night school whilst working as newly qualified radiographer to top my Diploma up to a degree.

My interest in ultrasound had been sparked as a student radiographer and I was fortunate to be able to undertake a Masters in ultrasound to follow this career pathway. I was also passionate about securing the education and training of the future workforce and started to undertake some associate lecturer work at two local universities before taking up a post at Sheffield Hallam University as the MSc Ultrasound Course Leader. Here I completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching, a Leadership and Management course and secured a place on a mentoring and coaching course for aspiring female academics before starting my Doctoral journey which I completed in 2017.

I have also completed the NHS Leadership Academy Achieving Large Scale Change Programme and the NHS Leadership Styles Programme to enhance my understanding as well as the PRINT programme to explore my personality traits to enhance teamworking as part of my Lead Radiographer role.

What support did you have along the way or would have been helpful to have had?

I have been fortunate to have inspiring and supportive managers especially in my early clinical career which created strong foundations for my progression. I have also had the benefit of great mentorship in my academic and research career which has provided me with numerous opportunities.

My secondment has also been an excellent platform for increasing networks and visibility and for removing traditional organisational boundaries to create whole system and even regional working at a transdisciplinary level.

What is the most rewarding thing about your role?

The most rewarding aspect of my role is seeing progression and the difference we can make as academics and leaders. This has been in many forms including students, staff, education, workforce and services at system level and nationally, all with the ultimate goal to improve patients experience and lives.

What advice can you give to others who might want to work towards this role or follow a similar pathway?

I would say believe in yourself, you can and should do it. Draw on the wealth of experience, expertise and resource around you and never let an opportunity pass you by. Sometimes it’s about being really proactive and seeking those opportunities out, they are worth it. Widen your networks and follow up on contacts, you never know where they might lead you.