A Mission Impossible – Made Possible by Trust’s HR Team

6th June 2023
Members of the HR team collecting their award.

The South Eastern Trust’s HR Team is celebrating being awarded the title of HR Team of the Year at the NI Health Care People and Management (HPMA) Awards for it’s significant contribution to the Vaccination Programme in Northern Ireland.

In response to COVID-19 pandemic, the Trust was tasked with delivering the largest mass vaccination centre in NI within a 4 week period, a task that at the time seemed like ‘Mission Impossible’.

A dedicated HR Vaccination team led by Assistant Director of Human Resources, Noeleen McCreanor was established at a rapid pace, to undertake and achieve this massive challenge. The team worked collectively together, to deliver the required workforce model and ultimately ensure lives were saved.

As a result of the team’s sterling efforts and commitment to make it happen, 335,000 vaccines were delivered and 1370 staff were employed to work in the Mass Vaccination Centre in a variety of roles, working 29,422 shifts that equated to 237,370 hours.

Director of People and Organisational Development, Claire Smyth has described the award as an amazing achievement in recognition of the work of the HR team adding, “HR’s willingness and commitment to go above and beyond, at a time of already increased pressures across HSC, is a wonderful example of Collective Leadership at its best. I am so proud of the team’s contribution and achievement.”