A reflection of 2023
One of the things I love in the run up to the new year is the time to reflect on all achieved that year. 2023 wasn’t just business as usual for me, it was a time of change and diving straight back into the working world after a year of maternity leave.
My maternity leave wasn’t as I had planned, I went away thinking I’d still be up-to date with all business as usual, spying on what the comms team have been up to and keeping up to date with the transfer from CCG to ICB. Instead, my beautiful boy Ellis was born with complex needs, and I spent most of the year jumping between Dorset County Hospital, Southampton PICU and Great Ormond Street. I was not just a mum, but a carer wondering how I was going to make the job I love work.
It’s been busy but I did it. Sometimes you must lean into that change and embrace it, even when it’s tough. Just because it’s different – that doesn’t mean it will be bad. The best advice I ever got was nobody can tell you how you feel, whatever that is – it’s valid.
Adversity at home aside, there were some changes at the office too and not just the obvious change in name. I was a few steps behind, everyone above my line manager had left and we had new members of the team. Goals, vision, and the way we worked all different and I was trying to get back to my usual pace of working on Adobe, as well as learning the new SLT’s names!
I think there’s something to be said about carers and the level of resilience they build. We keep going, we persevere, and we never give up. We find hours in the day others didn’t know existed, we get things done and we always have a plan B!
#SupportYourWorkingCarers , and I’m really lucky that my team do. Not just with flexibility but with empathy and understanding, that my life doesn’t look like everyone else’s most days.
I have to say, my biggest success this year is doing it. Sitting down at my laptop and getting it done, doing what I love regardless of all the uncertainty that is my life. Choosing to show up for myself. This is the hardest thing to do as a carer when you have someone else who needs you a whole lot more.
A shout out to some of the creative projects I’ve worked on in 2023
Choose Right, Save a life
This project is a little on the nostalgic side for me. One of my first projects when I joined the CCG 6 years ago was Staywelldorset.nhs.uk. Considering the revamp and new campaign for choosing the right service this year was a full circle moment.
With this campaign we wanted to embrace the crossover to digital, making sure all large scale print designed leads to it’s corresponding clinician on the website.
The beauty of this project is the collaboration with the clinicians within local Trusts. Using the basic principles of behavioural science, delivering service advice from the experts, and putting them front and centre.
I’m pretty sure they loved seeing their face at the local bus stops too.
A mention goes out to the Data Insight Team with this one too - all bus stop advertisements were targeted using their genius dashboard!
A mock-up of the Emergency Department bus stop advertising featuring local Dorset County Hospital Consultant, Kevin.
Open the Bag
Bold, bright and a simple message. Delivering this campaign to select pharmacies with the medicines team for an upcoming medicines audit around meds waste was a joy. I have to say, there’s a special place in my heart for print and pink. So, this hit the spot for me!
A well-received and successful project we are looking to expand in 2024.
A mock-up of the poster designed to support the campaign. I also designed clip on flyers to add to prescription bags at pharmacies. We developed this campaign so pharmacies can print out the materials they needed in house to suit them. Lots of options.
The Joint Forward Plan
This year I have been able to use some of my procreate skills I have developed in the last 4 years. Art working the map to represent the Dorset geography, showcasing our green spaces and some of the landmarks we have was great fun.
Translating this to the physical and all the information needed for the 5 pillars has been a real challenge visually. But, I have to say – I think we pulled it off!
An image of some of the team in the Transformation Hub, where we made the 5 pillars of the Joint Forward Plan, come to life. This was also my birthday. The panels were laid out by my lovely design partner in crime Emma.
From left to right: Me (Maryann), Annabelle (Social Media Queen), Emma (Graphic Design Guru), Kim (Wordsmith, comma conqueror and publications genius), Jadene (Recruitment Marketing Wizard). Some of the amazing women I get to work with everyday.
Little things, Big Difference
This is a cuddle in a campaign. Providing campaign packs to partners and the voluntary sector to shout about some of the amazing work going on in communities to support the people of Dorset. The work they do makes a huge difference to wider health inequalities as we all know. I think this is one of the most wholesome campaigns I’ve worked on in my career. And, also one of the most valuable.
You can see more from this campaign at www.staywelldorset.nhs.uk/littlethings
Print materials designed for the little things campaign that was showcased at NHS Dorset’s health marketplace events this December.
And finally, my oldest would never forgive me if I didn’t mention his birthday party invites this year.
A big hit amongst the playground! *All rights belong to Epic Games*
