60 seconds with Rehana Meghji for Carers week 2021
Name: Rehana Meghji
Role: Recruitment Business Manager
What is your role?
I am the Recruitment Business Manager working within People Services. I support both Permanent Recruitment and Temporary Staffing.
I manage the recruitment events for People Services as well as provide support for site events.
I am a carer for my fiancé who has epilepsy and am proud to be the BartsAbility Site Lead for Canary Wharf. I also sit as a member on the Carers Network.
How did you come to work in this area?
I have a background in project management, business and events organisation. I have worked in many different roles and organisations as well as abroad in Los Angeles as a PR Officer and in India as an Intercultural Communication Advisor.
Each of the roles I held had an element of recruitment and HR. It was an area I was really passionate about and wanted to pursue further.
I remembered how much I had enjoyed working in the NHS in my 20’s and I wanted to return.
When the role of Recruitment Business Manager for Barts Health was advertised in 2018, I applied as it was the perfect opportunity for me. I could pursue my desire to work within recruitment as well as put my knowledge to good use and contribute to the Trust and wider NHS.
In short, it was the best decision I made!
What achievements are you most proud of?
The past year has been extremely difficult and I am incredibly proud to have been a part of the NHS Nightingale Hospital London Team recruiting medical and non-medical staff.
I also successfully lead the Group Support Services Redeployment Team and redeployed staff throughout the Trust who I have supported during the pandemic. Being a part of these teams gave me the opportunity to contribute and give something back.
I am also proud to be a qualified mediator in conflict resolution, a reiki practitioner and am now studying to be an ILM accredited wellbeing coach!
What does being a carer mean to you, has it had any impact on your career, have you felt supported at work and what advice, if any would you give?
I have been a carer to my fiancé who has epilepsy for 8 years. I also have a disability. It’s challenging at times but we’re a team and care and support each other.
My previous experiences before coming to Barts Health had not been positive. I didn’t feel I had the support from previous organisations I worked at to enable me to fulfil my caring responsibilities. I was therefore a bit anxious when I applied for my role at Barts Health.
However, I chose to be honest and disclose my disability and my caring responsibilities.
I didn’t need to worry in the end because during the interview process I was treated fairly and was even asked to come back for a second meeting to discuss how my managers could support me.
I was overwhelmed; it was these conversations, the awareness from my managers and colleagues and the little things like understanding my situation that I may need to attend to an emergency at any moment that made me feel so supported.
My advice to carers would be: if you are able to, find the strength to speak up and know that you are not alone.
What are your equality, diversity and human rights aims for the year ahead at #TeamBartsHealth?
Caring for someone can be emotionally demanding and overwhelming. I want to help the Trust understand what type of support, advice and resources colleagues need who are carers, not only to be able to care for their loved ones but also to be able to care for themselves and their wellbeing.
I would like to see more colleagues feel comfortable and empowered to come forward and share their experiences, as well as join the Carers Network to bring about positive change, awareness and support.