Meet the Northern Lifetime Associate
Northern Lifetime is a growing Case Management company, currently on the lookout for new team members to join Christina and Rachel as Associates. We are a proudly northern business and are ideally seeking Associate Case Managers who are based in the north of England. If you are looking for a change, interested to work with a non-corporate, friendly northern-based team, you can find a job description and application form here.
Christina Wilks
Associate Case Manager
I had always wanted to be a nurse and to look after and care for people. This led me into domicialiary support work for the elderly, which I enjoyed. I then saw a position advertised for a support worker at a specialist educational college for children with complex needs, and so began working with brain injured children and their parents.
I remember my first day so clearly and knew I had come to the right job.
I was involved in setting up a team and found this bringing a group together and supporting them so appealing. It was like second nature for me. My approach is holistic and this experience taught me a lot about running complex care packages.
I've learnt a lot from colleagues along the way, most notably Akilah Akinola, who is CEO of Outreach community and Residential Services; and Christine Morren, who was the college nurse and really inspired me, not least with her sensitive use of language to promote dignity when supporting a client.
A good case manager needs to be a good listener for sure, and to be empathetic enough to understand how hard things can be for clients, and also for their families. I feel that honesty in managing expectations is extremely important, with both clients and their families, as is supporting parents in a non-judgemental way.
A good case manager needs to be a good listener for sure, and to be empathetic enough to understand how hard things can be for clients, and also for their families. I feel that honesty in managing expectations is extremely important, with both clients and their families, as is supporting parents in a non-judgemental way.
Rochelle Mills
Associate Case Manager
In my early nursing days, I worked with many vulnerable patients, providing palliative or end of life care and this cemented my interest in making a difference to all those I come into contact or work with.
Some years later I began working in neuro-rehabilitation and gravitated towards Case Management. I have met many nurses and managers along the way who have inspired me.
Some years later I began working in neuro-rehabilitation and gravitated towards Case Management. I have met many nurses and managers along the way who have inspired me.
One piece of advice I was told early on in case management was ‘whatever decisions you have to make, always keep the client at the centre’.
This advice has been especially helpful during difficult times.
You have to be a good listener, so the client feels heard and supported. It is always necessary to be honest when difficult situations arise and help clients and their families deal with circumstances, however frustrating they may be.
It’s so rewarding when a client achieves a goal, and you have been part of assisting them to achieve this. For me, a client reporting that they feel listened to and understood is everything.
Case management is so varied – I can be running around a cricket field chasing a client’s dog one day and attending a serious meeting with a litigation team the next – and everything in between.
Christina Wilks
Associate Case Manager
I had always wanted to be a nurse and to look after and care for people. This led me into domicialiary support work for the elderly, which I enjoyed. I then saw a position advertised for a support worker at a specialist educational college for children with complex needs, and so began working with brain injured children and their parents.
I remember my first day so clearly and knew I had come to the right job.
I was involved in setting up a team and found this bringing a group together and supporting them so appealing. It was like second nature for me. My approach is holistic and this experience taught me a lot about running complex care packages.
I've learnt a lot from colleagues along the way, most notably Akilah Akinola, who is CEO of Outreach community and Residential Services; and Christine Morren, who was the college nurse and really inspired me, not least with her sensitive use of language to promote dignity when supporting a client.
A good case manager needs to be a good listener for sure, and to be empathetic enough to understand how hard things can be for clients, and also for their families. I feel honesty in managing expectations is extremely important, with both clients and their families, as is supporting parents in a non-judgemental way.
Rachel Taylor
Associate Case Manager
Early on I worked as a relief porter in a busy local hospital, which I loved, before becoming a BT engineer. Taking on the engineering role made me realise that working in a healthcare setting, and most importantly with people as opposed to tech, was the way forward for me.
My epiphany came via a library book that included a chapter on possible NHS professions. I stumbled on Occupational Therapy (OT) and it really appealed to me. I resolved to enrol on a college course.
After this I worked in Rotherham for an OT manager who was terrifically charismatic and plain speaking. She was professional and pragmatic, and represented the profession in a powerfully dynamic and assertive manner, which made a big impression on me.
To my mind, a good OT practitioner needs to be client centred, non-prescriptive and a good problem solver too, but really the crucial first rule of OT is to establish a rapport with your client.
My professional mantra is to ask, “Has my input made any difference to the individual’s quality of life?” Yes I give people equipment and adaptations that have helped them considerably, but I see my role as being much wider and considerably more holistic than that.
My epiphany came via a library book that included a chapter on possible NHS professions. I stumbled on Occupational Therapy (OT) and it really appealed to me. I resolved to enrol on a college course.
After this I worked in Rotherham for an OT manager who was terrifically charismatic and plain speaking. She was professional and pragmatic, and represented the profession in a powerfully dynamic and assertive manner, which made a big impression on me.
To my mind, a good OT practitioner needs to be client centred, non-prescriptive and a good problem solver too, but really the crucial first rule of OT is to establish a rapport with your client.
My professional mantra is to ask, “Has my input made any difference to the individual’s quality of life?” Yes I give people equipment and adaptations that have helped them considerably, but I see my role as being much wider and considerably more holistic than that.