KENNY O'DRISCOLL

I have worked in the Ambulance Service for twenty five years moving from patient transport to Technician, Paramedic ,Clinical Team Leader and now a Critical Care Paramedic.

During this time I have been part of a development which has seen advanced clinical, academic knowledge, and skills, move our profession into its own unique speciality, and my job into a career I am extremely passionate about.

I am a highly motivated individual who is very passionate about the pre-hospital environment. I take pride in every task I undertake and start each day with a purpose. At each stage in my career I have felt an immense sense of achievement and fulfilment.

I have always wanted to remain in the clinical arena and apply research into practice to enable best clinical outcome for my patients, but in the bigger picture, challenge what is possible by working with or empowering people to do the same, thereby changing outcome and turning the deficiencies we see in our service into positive outcomes for our patients.

Under the support and guidance of some outstanding colleagues in a variety of fields I have developed excellent skills in leadership and teaching. I enjoy and advocate leading by example, teaching whenever an opportunity arises, dealing with confrontation in a diplomatic manner, which may also involve employing crew resource management skills (CRM), and most importantly know when to step aside, and coaching others to lead.

One of the steepest learning curves I have experienced is the human factors affecting my role, these can range from one to one situations with staff who need anything from help guidance or support, to highly stressfully situations out in the pre-hospital environment where staff and patients may need a great deal of diplomatic support and direction with clinical or managerial guidance. However the human factors can extend beyond these issues and into subjects like, management to change practice, which many people can also find stressful and if not dealt with appropriately will inevitability hinder the development of our role and therefore affect patient care

This was a skill I learnt from my mentorship course (Paramedic Placement Educator), since completing this course I have been able to recognise different learning styles and adapt my teaching plans to specific individuals which in turn I believe creates a more robust team.

I am an optimist who sees problems as challenges and believe life is for living. I work hard but always make sure I am getting a good balance between work and home. When I am at home take time to relax with my family, I have two children who keep me active, motivated and play a big part in my life.

I am an excellent team player who can also take initiative and lead whenever is needed but I also know when to stand back. I have immense respect for my peers

ADAM HEYWOOD - Adam.Heywood@secamb.nhs.uk 

07885 497503 

NICK  LAWRENCE - Nicklawrence1978@gmail.com 

07590 846908