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Karen Stratton

Karen Stratton

00:00:01 My name is Karen Stratton and my job is a training Co-ordinator for Sterile Services at Addenbrookes. Sterile Services are responsible for cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation of reusable medical equipment. It is a huge job. I would say a thousand pieces pass through, thousands. My particular role is around training. I like meeting new staff when they first join us, and teaching them about what we do, and seeing them develop within the department. I really enjoy that.

00:00:34 I didn’t really achieve much at school, I liked having fun really, so I left school with not really very many qualifications. I went to work as a clerk at a credit control. I only worked there for about three years, at which time I left to have my first baby. I then remained at home caring for my children, I had four children. I then started looking for full time employment. I managed to be offered two jobs – one for the Inland Revenue and one for Sterile Services. The reason I came to Addenbrookes was because my husband worked here at the time, so it was just – that was the only reason really. After I’d worked as a technician for two years I then applied for Senior Technician, which is a Team Leader’s role. Then applied for the Training Co-ordinator position, after two years as a Team Leader. Was successful and got the Training Co-ordinator’s position. I've been doing that ever since.

00:01:35 I got back into it just really through determination. It was scary, because I was used to spending days how I wanted to spend the day. Taking the children to the paddling pool, playing with Play Doh, painting, things like that. At first I just regretted it immediately, and wanted to go back to my old life. It’s turned around, I started to enjoy it more. Because I've achieved, it’s given me more confidence in myself, and I do feel proud of myself that I've done that.

00:02:06 I did a computer course before I started full time work. I’ve also done Learn Direct at home, and I'm hoping to do a degree in Decontamination, that’s what I'm looking for at the moment. I would say the person that most encouraged me would be my husband, because he has offered me all the support and encouragement that I've needed to use my time to work on qualifications. So he has encouraged me the most. It’s a really good feeling to know that, without you, the surgery couldn’t take place. So that's a really good feeling.

00:02:46 ENDS