Moving careers and healthcare opportunities in the prison service
Lindsey Partington began her medical career with the Royal Air Force in 2000. She completed her training as a nurse at the University of Portsmouth during active service, while based at Fort Blockhouse in Gosport. During training, Lindsey travelled to 12-14 different bases, taking in the varying climes of Cyprus and the Scotland along the way.
Her first post out of training was in Peterborough at RAF Wittering. Then as a Corporal, she served on the MAU (Medical Admissions Unit) at the Ministry of Defence hospital unit. Working her way up to the position of Senior Nurse, Lindsey completed higher education courses in acute care, leadership, mentorship and chronic disease management, amongst others.
In total, Lindsey completed 9 full years in the military, leaving as manager of the unit in her officer’s deployment absence. She made a decision to leave the RAF as she wanted to raise a family as a civilian. Looking at her career options, she was told by a Sodexo employee that the company had a prison in her native North West England.
Lindsey saw the similarities between the prison environment and the military, and was attracted to the structure and discipline. In 2009, she applied for the role of nurse at HMP Forest Bank and joined during her resettlement leave. Lindsey had a successful transition into civilian life – barring a gradual adjustment to stop calling officers “sir” or “ma’am”! She fit in quickly and performed to a high level, operating as a nurse for 5 and a half years before being promoted to the position of Clinical Lead for Primary Care.
Talking about her achievements to date, Lindsey said: “I set up the first dedicated respiratory clinic here at Forest Bank, which has since branched into two bespoke services; with a separate provision for asthma and COPD due to increased demand.
As a manager, I have changed a number of service provisions in order to meet performance requirements and improve clinical care.
“In terms of training, I have completed a specialist degree in respiratory practice, as well as various management courses, such as the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”
In September 2017, Lindsey was promoted to the role of Deputy Head of Healthcare at HMP Forest Bank. In a moment of reflection, she says:
Sodexo has given me a number of opportunities in my career for personal growth. The prison environment has enabled me to experience a true mix of emergency and primary care, which is rare in other healthcare settings.
Lindsey has now been promoted to the Head of Healthcare for HMP Forest Bank, responsible for strategic leadership of all aspects of healthcare in the prison.
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