Opening in 2024, Lakefield Neurological Centre is a fully refurbished 22 bed neurological service which will provide a range of services for people with neurological and spinal conditions who require specialist rehabilitation following an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or other neurological condition.
The service will specialise in ongoing assessment, treatment and rehabilitation, whilst providing complex physical, tracheostomy and respiratory care.
To celebrate the launch of our new service, this article will introduce you to Margrid Jeffries, the Care Centre Director for Lakefield Neurological Centre. Learn more about Margrid’s extensive experience and career working in the neurological sector, why you should join the team and her vision for Lakefield’s Neurological Centre.
Tell us more about your career journey leading up to joining Elysium, why did you want to start a career in healthcare?
I am originally from Estonia. I was born there and did all my training including my Nursing degree and further education in Health Sciences.
My first job as a Nurse was in a local University hospital’s Neuro Intensive Care Unit where we looked after level 3 intubated post-trauma patients who required major brain surgery. I worked there for nearly five years. I gathered lots of valuable experience during that time but was ready to see more of the world and explore what else I could do.
I moved to Finland which is a neighbouring country to Estonia, where there is a similar language and culture, but very different healthcare system. Finnish healthcare has lots of similarities to American systems and processes. I joined their major trauma centre in Helsinki where all the big traumas across the country were brought by Mediheli (helicopter). I also worked in A&E for couple of years which broadened my experience in acute care. I lived in Finland for over 7 years.
I moved on because there was more I wanted to do which I couldn’t get in Finland at the time. I was considering moving to Australia but this was very daunting to do on my own, so I chose to move to the UK.
I moved to the UK in 2014 and have shared my time between the public and private sector. I worked as a Ward Manager in private healthcare and then I did my matron level role within the NHS.- I’ve also been Director of Clinical Services in the private sector and joined Elysium as a Head of Clinical Services at Gardens and Jacobs Neurological Centre in 2022.
When I started my Nursing training, I realised soon after that I wanted to go into the management side of things and this is what I have focused on from there on. Now I’ve been appointed as a Care Centre Director, alongside a new challenge of opening a brand-new service which is extremely exciting.
Tell us more about Lakefield Neurological Centre? What are your expectations and values as the Care Centre Director?
Opening in August, Lakefield is a neurological centre that specialises in tracheostomy and ventilator care. We will be looking after service users with very complex physical needs. It is extremely important that we offer patient centred holistic service that meets the unique needs of the service users and that the service is being delivered in a safe and effective way.
At the same time the real focus for me as a leader is to ensure that the staff are nurtured and looked after well. I have carried out interviews for all our roles available myself as finding good quality candidates and like-minded people who want to deliver great healthcare is crucial for our success as a team.
Why should someone want to join Lakefield?
It’s a brand new, exciting service where everybody will have a say how we should do things, share ideas, look at the best ways of working, look at the best ways of collaborating with other external stakeholders and ultimately do the right thing for service users.
Why should someone join Elysium Healthcare?
I think Elysium is a good company that looks after everybody really well, and it doesn’t matter what your role is, everybody’s voice is being heard. And if you have ideas the executive team wants you to share these ideas which is fantastic.
There is that sense of togetherness as well, which is not always the case in my experience, having worked in various healthcare settings before. We have opportunities to develop and grow and this is one of the best things about Elysium.
In your 2 years at Elysium what has been your favourite thing about working here?
I have really enjoyed working alongside a fantastic service director who encouraged and supported me in my journey to become a service director myself. I have enjoyed being part of the Neuro Division and contribute to the Clinical and Operational governance agenda.
It is important that as registered managers we have an opportunity to meet regularly, network, share ideas, talk about what we are doing well or what needs to be improved. It has been really beneficial for me being new to the business.
What roles are you looking to hire for to join the team at Lakefield Neurological Centre?
There are a number of clinical and non-clinical roles available, with new opportunities opening up as the service establishes and grows. If you are looking for a new opportunity where you can make a difference to the lives of people with neurological conditions in a brand new service, click here to apply today.