Karen Nichols
St Ives,Australia
Summary
Highly experienced professional with 26 years in various roles at NSW Ambulance. Demonstrates leadership, teamwork, and accountability, while upholding integrity and moral values. Committed to creating a healthy work environment by addressing inappropriate behaviors. Deep understanding of organizational management and clinical operations, seeking to increase this knowledge to support professional development and optimize business outcomes.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Team Leader
NSW Ambulance
Kincumber, NSW
01.2024 - Current
- Coordinated team activities and delegated tasks to ensure efficient completion of projects.
- Developed strategies for problem solving and conflict resolution among team members.
- Conducted regular performance reviews to assess individual team member progress.
- Provided mentoring and feedback on employee performance, encouraging professional development.
- Monitored daily workflow to ensure adherence to established policies and procedures.
Acting Duty Operations Manager
NSW Ambulance
St Ives, NSW
01.2023 - Current
- Promoting positive cultural change.
- Promoting professional development.
- Promote development of competent, capable, and empathetic paramedics.
- Provide clinical and operational leadership, and support the St. Ives Leadership team and paramedics across the sector.
- Developed and implemented operational procedures to ensure quality standards are met.
- Monitored and improved efficiency of processes, team performance, and customer service.
- Ensured compliance with safety regulations and maintained a safe work environment for all.
- Developed key performance indicators to measure effectiveness of operational processes.
Peer Support Officer
NSW Ambulance
01.2016 - Current
- - Provide nonbiased non-judgmental confidential support to all staff
- Collaborating with staff phycologist, chaplains and many other support services to provide a holistic approach to mental health care to all NSW Ambulance staff and their families
Clinical Training Officer
NSW Ambulance
Point Clare
01.2021 - 01.2023
- -Support clinical governance and performance
- -Assist Paramedics to maintain currency with credentialing
- -Facilitate training and professional development inclusive of induction training and clinical level upgrades
- -Support Paramedic to reach their full potential in their clinical role
- -Delivery of quality education
- -Promote development of competent, capable and empathetic Paramedics
- -Provide strategic influence on patient care
- -Provide supportive, challenging and a positive environment
Acting Duty Operation Manager
NSW Ambulance
Sydney, South West
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Provide clinical and operational leadership and support to station officers and paramedics across the sector
- - Ensure the delivery of high quality, cost effective emergency health transport, clinical and operations practice, rescue and patient transport services to all stakeholders
- - Driving force behind Key Performance Indicator improvements at Station, Zone and Sector levels
- - Provided strong Governance and Accountability support to ensure maintenance of Balance Score Card results
- - Championed for increased People Matters Employee Survey (PMES) response rates across the South West Sector for 2020
- - Achieved 100% compliance for Professional Development Program (PDP) at Station level
- - Financial responsibility through oversight of utility usage, stores ordering and rational rostering practices
Team Leader
NSW Ambulance
Campbelltown
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Ensure operational, clinical, and financial governance of Station.
- Provide advice and direction to paramedics, and report to the inspector.
- Foster a cooperative and enthusiastic work environment.
- Ensure compliance with policies and protocols.
- Improved Net Cost Of Service with scheduled vehicle maintenance, prudent ordering processes, and judicious rostering practices.
- Ensured broad compliance with policy and procedure.
- Promoted Clinical Safety Notice, Clinical Safety Alert, and mandatory course compliance.
- Ensured operational readiness in all areas.
- Supported professional development of staff and ongoing maintenance of skills.
Acting Team Leader
NSW Ambulance
Campbelltown
01.2015 - 01.2019
- Coordinated team activities and delegated tasks to ensure efficient completion of projects.
- Developed strategies for problem solving and conflict resolution among team members.
- Conducted regular performance reviews to assess individual team member progress.
- Provided mentoring and feedback on employee performance, encouraging professional development.
- Monitored daily workflow to ensure adherence to established policies and procedures.
Control Centre Officer
NSW Ambulance
01.1998 - 01.2012
- Effective and efficient management of Ambulance resources
- - Plan, prioritise and manage workload to provide a targeted approach driven by best patient care whilst managing fatigue
Mobile Data Terminal/System Support Unit
NSW Ambulance
01.2000 - 01.2002
- - Statewide introduction, education and rollout of Mobile Data Terminals
- - Project management collaboration, planning and prioritizing a targeted approach to deliver results
Acting Duty Operations Manager
NSW Ambulance
Liverpool
01.2023
Winter Strategy Project Officer
NSW Ambulance
01.2019
- - Establish, implement and manage strategies to support Paramedics in an environment of sustained and increased activity to maximise operational performance with best clinical care
- Ensure Operational Readiness during periods of peak demand
- - Implementation of telegram SMS system for all Managers for real time hospital updates from S/O through to the DDCO
- Improve escalation and distribution of the patient journey
Integrated Care Project Officer
NSW Ambulance
01.2018
- - Ensure the delivery of appropriate, safe and evidence based clinical practice
- - Development and implementation of Alternate Care Pathways
- - Educated front line Paramedics and Managers in all facets of Alternate Care Pathways
Education
Diploma of Paramedical Science -
NSW Ambulance
Diploma in Pilates instruction Basic, Intermediate and Advanced -
Tensegrity Training
Cert IV - training & assessment
Skills
- Overtime Management
- Complaint resolution
- Documentation And Reporting
- Leadership
- Quality Improvement
- SOP Adherence
- Work Planning and Prioritization
- Performance Improvement and Development
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Strategy implementation
- High level Communication
Training
- Ambulance Management Qualification Course 60
- Forward Commanders Course
- People Management Skills Program - ongoing
- Management Matters
- Managing difficult behaviours
- Having difficult conversation
- Giving Supportive feedback
- Conflict resolution
- Working across generations
- Emergency Management Courses
- -EM Overview and Introduction to EM
- -EM Operations Centre Concepts
- IMS+ On line Training
- ICON Training
- RFS,SES EOC
- Completion of all mandatory HETI on line courses
- Privacy Training Modules
- Respecting the Difference On Line training
- Fire Safety
- Janison up to date
- Attended Resilience and Wellbeing Conference
- Attended Resilience Workshop
References
- Stewart, Clarke, Associate Director Clinical Operations, stewart.clarke@health.nsw.gov.au, 0428205349, Central Coast North Sydney
- Christie, Marks, Acting Zone Manger, christie.marks@health.nsw.gov.au, 0409320066, North Sydney
- Liam, McDermott, Zone Manager, Liam.McDermott@health.nsw.gov.au, 0409158750, South West Sydney Sector
Timeline
Team Leader
NSW Ambulance
01.2024 - Current
Acting Duty Operations Manager
NSW Ambulance
01.2023 - Current
Acting Duty Operations Manager
NSW Ambulance
01.2023
Clinical Training Officer
NSW Ambulance
01.2021 - 01.2023
Acting Duty Operation Manager
NSW Ambulance
01.2019 - 01.2021
Team Leader
NSW Ambulance
01.2019 - 01.2020
Winter Strategy Project Officer
NSW Ambulance
01.2019
Integrated Care Project Officer
NSW Ambulance
01.2018
Peer Support Officer
NSW Ambulance
01.2016 - Current
Acting Team Leader
NSW Ambulance
01.2015 - 01.2019
Mobile Data Terminal/System Support Unit
NSW Ambulance
01.2000 - 01.2002
Control Centre Officer
NSW Ambulance
01.1998 - 01.2012
Diploma of Paramedical Science -
NSW Ambulance
Diploma in Pilates instruction Basic, Intermediate and Advanced -
Tensegrity Training
Cert IV - training & assessment
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