Talking #TeamCWPT blog

With Julie Frake-Harris

Julie Frake-Harris joined CWPT as our Chief Operating Officer in May this year. With an NHS career that has spanned over 27 years across 5 areas, it all started when Julie joined the NHS as a personal assistant. In her career story, she tells us about her journey to become a chief operating officer, the support she has had along the way, and her advice for forging an impactful career in operational and support services.

Drawn to the values of the NHS

When Julie left university, she was drawn to the NHS. She wasn't a clinician but knew she wanted to work somewhere where she could make a difference. While studying a degree in biological sciences, she had started working as a ward clerk for a local private hospital in London. It had given her an insight into healthcare and how support roles, like administrators, play an important role in enabling patient care. "It was amazing. I had so much respect for the nurses and doctors in particular."

Julie was offered an opportunity at the private hospital she had been working in but knew she wanted to take a different direction. "I think back in the day I'd just come out of university. My politics and my values aligned with the public sector, and it was clear that I wanted to work for the biggest employer in Europe, the NHS."

When she wasn't successful in her interview for an administrator role, she says: "I remember my dad saying, 'your values are amazing, but you do need a job' [but I just felt] it's all going to come right." Julie was offered the role after the person who originally got the job left and became an admin personal assistant (PA) to the Chief Finance Officer in what used to be a Primary Care Trust (PCT). She says: "I was a non-spelling dyslexic. The idea that I was ever anybody's PA was a bit of a joke really."

Developing as an NHS leader and finding a passion for forensic services

That role was a gateway to an impressive career, which has seen Julie work for the NHS delivering services in London, Cambridge and Peterborough, Lincoln, Leicester, Dartford, and now Coventry and Warwickshire.

After a year as a PA, Julie took a business manager role for forensics and psychotherapies at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust. She says: "It was great. It was a brilliant grounding in how to pull an annual report together and manage a budget." It was also where she found her passion for forensic services, which is where Julie has spent much of her career since. She says: "I was very fortunate that people saw potential in me, and I left there as a band 9 director."

"I learnt so much and I went to central London to be the Director of Offender Care across central London and manage physical and mental health services in Wormwood Scrubs Prison." For Julie, working in prisons and secure services presented big, but exciting leadership challenges. "I really started to work out how you work with people from completely different working cultures and did some absolutely great stuff." 

When Julie and her family moved to Cambridge, she moved organisations to become the Director of Operations for the integration between physical and mental health services across older people's services, aligned to what are now Primary Care Networks (PCNs). During her time in that role, Julie and her team developed a new model of care that was in the NHS Long Term Plan. "I was so proud of the work that we did. Over 2000 physical health staff were integrated into mental health teams in primary care. It was amazing." 

Becoming a chief operating officer

When Julie was asked to apply to cover a chief operating officer secondment for a year, she was hesitant at first. She loved the nitty gritty of working closely with her team and was concerned becoming a board member would change that. Never one to turn down a new opportunity, she decided to give it a go for a year and has never looked back.

Now in her fourth chief operating officer role, Julie has led operations across acute, community, mental health and learning disability organisations. She says: "mental health and learning disability and autism is absolutely my passion. I always say I came home to what brings the best out in me."

As CWPT's Chief Operating Officer, Julie is responsible for the day-to-day delivery and planning of our services. With support from her team and people working in operations across services, she makes sure that the right processes, resources and support are in place to allow our services to deliver high-quality care. She works alongside the Trust's Chief Executive and board members to shape the future of CWPT and ensure we are delivering high-quality services for everyone who needs us. She says: "I love being a part of the Trust board. I see the value I can bring to the conversations and decisions as someone who is not a clinician."

Overcoming challenges and feeling supported to thrive  

Julie has achieved a lot during her career, but it hasn't been easy, and it has never been alone. Collaboration has been a part of every achievement, and the support of the people around her, both in and out of work, has helped her to navigate some of the more difficult moments. Whether it was during her early career as a single mum, managing her dyslexia and neurodivergence in demanding roles, or feeling confident to be open about her identity as a gay woman.

"I'm very fortunate. I'm very, very supported. I have been with my partner for around 16 years. She chose to retire early and be our daughters primary care giver." This has allowed Julie the space and time to focus on her career. "Nobody is superhuman. It's true that behind some of the most fortunate people there are people at home in different guises who support us, look after us, and know us better than we know ourselves."

At work, there have been coaches and mentors who have helped to guide Julie at each step of her career. Whether it has been people who have seen something in her and encouraged her to take her next opportunity, or people who have brought fresh perspectives and ideas. "I've been very privileged to meet people that have taken a risk on me, which is also why I feel very committed to giving back around developing our people."

Julie has never stopped learning and is committed to creating an environment where everybody's voices are heard,  so that we can all make improvements to the services we provide, together. It's why Julie feels so passionate about being open about her identity, to create an environment where we can all be open, honest and feel valued.

Julie's career advice

Now 6 months into her role at CWPT, Julie has a message for people who want to follow a similar career path, whether you are looking to join the NHS, or are already here.

"Don't ever think that just because you don't see patients directly, you don't make an impact. All of us together serve our citizens. Administrative and operational roles are the WD40 of any organisation."

"Really get excited about the value you bring. People can't do their expert professional job without you doing your expert professional job. There are great opportunities in non-clinical roles and so I would advise you to be curious."

"I always say to people who've asked me for career advice to find the next job you want and really think about how you're going to push yourself forward to get what you need to get it. If you feel you haven't got the experience the job is asking for, go and get it. Talk to your line manager and suggest improvements and tell them you want to be the one to do it. Go for it." 

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Thank you to Julie for sharing her career story.

With over 350 careers in the NHS, there are countless ways to make a difference in support services and operational roles. Explore our current job roles, and amazing career and development opportunities. Find out more about working with us at CWPT.

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