00:00:03 My name's Karen Beesley, and I work in the Emergency Department, and my title is EAU Admin and Business Manager. EAU stands for the Emergency Assessment Unit, and that covers the Accident & Emergency Department, and we have four emergency wards as well. My role is very much around staff management. We've got about forty members of staff working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
00:00:32 I hated school, I wasn't interested in school at all, I found it really boring. I left school with absolutely no qualifications and went into hairdressing. And I suppose I thought the plan for my life would be, I would get married, and I would have children, and I would do some part time jobs, but my main role would probably be housekeeping and looking after children. But children didn't come along for us so, you know, that's probably why a career developed.
00:01:02 My husband and my father were self-employed. They were running a plumbing business, and that was growing. And they really needed somebody to help them with their book work. I worked in the family business for quite a few years, and then we were hit by the recession in the building trade, and I was an overhead so I had to go, I had to go and find another job. And well you can imagine how my poor Dad felt, making his daughter redundant. But anyway - don't worry Dad, I'll get a job no problem.
00:01:34 I saw a job advertised as a Traffic Warden and I thought, that's different! Good money, I'll have a go at that. It was good fun, 'cause I was only early twenties and I used to have long hair and I'd plait it and tuck it up under my hat (LAUGHS) and off I'd trot. And I was only sworn at twice. And even one of those chaps found me afterwards and apologised. Fantastic life experience really.
00:02:01 So after about four and a half years as a Traffic Warden, I thought I think I should have a go at something else now, and I saw a part time position at our local hospital. So I started working in the Appointments Office part time, and I absolutely loved it.
00:02:18 We joined with another hospital, so became much larger, we became a Trust. And the Manager I had at that time was quite frustrating to work with, she didn't really make decisions, and I found that quite frustrating. Eventually this Manager left, and the Manager above asked me if I would act up in this role. So I discussed with my boss that, you know, I'd give it a go, and I said to him, But I need to do some more training. This is my certificate in Management - Post Graduate Certificate. And I never dreamt I'd be capable of getting that. And here's my photograph to prove it.
00:03:03 I'd also been to evening classes and learnt British sign language for deaf people, and I'd got very involved in the deaf community. And I'd had some really moving experiences in the hospital environment where I'd supported deaf people. You know for me that was a really - almost a life-changing experience, 'cause it was so moving to be able to help somebody who was really in quite a difficult position.
00:03:33 What stands out for me as the thing that holds me back really is myself belief. And that has often been highlighted as my weakness. So I try hard to overcome it, but funny, if something's really deep within you, it is still quite hard to overcome it.
00:03:52 When I left school I didn't think I could do anything, but actually my life - the way it has turned out - has proved that actually if you put your mind to something, and you want to do something, you could do anything.
00:04:06 SIGN LANGUAGE
00:04:11 ENDS
Karen Beesley
Karen Beesley
My name's Karen Beesley, and I work in the Emergency Department, and my title is EAU Admin and Business Manager. EAU stands for the Emergency Assessment Unit, and that covers the Accident & Emergency Department, and we have four emergency wards as well. My role is very much around staff management. We've got about forty members of staff working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
I hated school, I wasn't interested in school at all, I found it really boring. I left school with absolutely no qualifications and went into hairdressing. And I suppose I thought the plan for my life would be, I would get married, and I would have children, and I would do some part time jobs, but my main role would probably be housekeeping and looking after children. But children didn't come along for us so, you know, that's probably why a career developed.
My husband and my father were self-employed. They were running a plumbing business, and that was growing. And they really needed somebody to help them with their book work. I worked in the family business for quite a few years, and then we were hit by the recession in the building trade, and I was an overhead so I had to go, I had to go and find another job. And well you can imagine how my poor Dad felt, making his daughter redundant. But anyway - don't worry Dad, I'll get a job no problem.
I saw a job advertised as a Traffic Warden and I thought, that's different! Good money, I'll have a go at that. It was good fun, 'cause I was only early twenties and I used to have long hair and I'd plait it and tuck it up under my hat (LAUGHS) and off I'd trot. And I was only sworn at twice. And even one of those chaps found me afterwards and apologised. Fantastic life experience really.
So after about four and a half years as a Traffic Warden, I thought I think I should have a go at something else now, and I saw a part time position at our local hospital. So I started working in the Appointments Office part time, and I absolutely loved it.
We joined with another hospital, so became much larger, we became a Trust. And the Manager I had at that time was quite frustrating to work with, she didn't really make decisions, and I found that quite frustrating. Eventually this Manager left, and the Manager above asked me if I would act up in this role. So I discussed with my boss that, you know, I'd give it a go, and I said to him, But I need to do some more training. This is my certificate in Management - Post Graduate Certificate. And I never dreamt I'd be capable of getting that. And here's my photograph to prove it.
I'd also been to evening classes and learnt British sign language for deaf people, and I'd got very involved in the deaf community. And I'd had some really moving experiences in the hospital environment where I'd supported deaf people. You know for me that was a really - almost a life-changing experience, 'cause it was so moving to be able to help somebody who was really in quite a difficult position.
What stands out for me as the thing that holds me back really is myself belief. And that has often been highlighted as my weakness. So I try hard to overcome it, but funny, if something's really deep within you, it is still quite hard to overcome it.
When I left school I didn't think I could do anything, but actually my life - the way it has turned out - has proved that actually if you put your mind to something, and you want to do something, you could do anything.
SIGN LANGUAGE
ENDS
Some people are so strong they go on to achieve amazing things despite life's disappointments and blows. When children didn't come along Karen focussed on work. Recession made her redundancy from the family firm a necessity, but Karen never gave up and now the girl who hated school and left with no qualifications, has achieved her postgraduate certificate in management! As if this were not enough she has also learnt British sign language for the deaf, life changing for Karen, as she makes a real difference to other people's lives.
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