My Job - Jonathan Topp

Jonathan Topp

Jonathan is a physiotherapist and clinical leadership fellow in quality improvement and the Leeds Improvement Method. He has worked at LTHT since 2009.

Summarise the main aspects of your role?

A physiotherapist by background, I am usually based at St James’s Emergency Department and other front-door clinical areas e.g. SDEC, providing holistic assessment of the older patient, facilitating timely discharge and working towards hospital admission avoidance. I am currently non-clinical, undertaking a Health Education England Future Leaders Programme secondment in Quality Improvement and the Leeds Improvement Method. This role involves being an ambassador for Quality Improvement in the Trust, promoting improvement activities in staff, assisting with the provision of Training and Coaching and organising Quality Improvement Network Events. This role also allows me to invest in the development of my leadership skills and to understand how the Trust functions at corporate and Board level, crucial during crisis contexts such as the Covid-19 Pandemic. I am involved in many exciting and challenging projects and activities and am also undertaking a Post-graduate certificate qualification at Bradford University.

What else have you done in your career so far?

I have won two significant poster awards at the British Geriatric Society national convention in 2012 for quality improvement work looking at communication issues in the older patient with hearing impairment and staff awareness of issues facing this patient group.

What’s the best thing about your job?

I am working closely with a great bunch of highly driven and like-minded Clinical Leadership Fellow colleagues, and have developed friendships that will continue beyond the secondment. My current role also allows me to independently manage my own diary and time which has contributed to a better worklife balance.

What is the one thing you would change at LTHT to help you do your job better?

As a clinician, it can be difficult to obtain access to suitable computer facilities to participate in virtual meetings and do other important tasks such as online training. Being able to access a computer in a quiet and calming environment would really help me thus it would be great if there could be dedicated facilities throughout the Trust.

What is one thing people could do to be more inclusive of the needs of deaf/Deaf colleagues at LTHT?

Think of your approach in face-to-face conversations with deaf colleagues, acknowledge that they may have difficulties hearing well and ask how best to communicate with them. The Covid-19 pandemic has been particularly challenging for those with hearing-impairments – the wearing of surgical face masks may pose a significant issue for those colleagues who depend on lip-reading/facial expressions so consider lowering your mask for the duration of your conversation (if it is safe and appropriate to do so) or use NHS approved transparent face masks.

What’s your best advice to a new starter at the Trust?

Get into the habit of taking time out to reflect on and record your experiences, both positive and negative, and learn from these as you progress through your career.