Alan Blair leaves his clinical director role as part of his stepped retirement this week. Alan has worked for DCHS and its predecessor organisations for most of his NHS career; first as a clinical psychologist, then head of the health psychology service, and then as a clinical director for psychological consultancy.
Alan said: “As I step away from a leadership role, I am appreciative of the genuine honour and pleasure that I feel to have worked with such great colleagues over so many years. This includes colleagues in psychology services, in the quality and professional standards directorate, in People Services, and in suicide prevention.
“I really value feeling connected to an organisation that works so hard to behave in a compassionate and inclusive way. From a psychology service and a NHS organisation perspective, there is nowhere else I have ever really wanted to be! I appreciate that there are great challenges across health and social care, but I know that, as I move on, I am leaving things in very safe and effective hands. As I step in to the next phase of my working life, which includes providing an occasional small clinical service as part of health psychology services, I look forward to keeping some connection with my DCHS colleagues and continuing to be part of the ‘DCHS Way’.”
Wendy Hodgkinson, (Pictured with Alan) suicide prevention and awareness development facilitator, will particularly miss Alan as he has played a pivotal role in setting up and supporting the suicide prevention work in the Derbyshire system. Wendy said: “From our first introduction I realised what a special person Alan is, maintaining professionalism at all times. He is kind, caring, and has a great sense of humour which he keeps under the radar! Together we formed the DCHS Suicide Prevention and Awareness Group and he has chaired this group since it started. He has also been responsible, I’m sure, in securing the role of the suicide prevention facilitator which I now hold.”
Other colleagues, Jo Hall, consultant clinical psychologist, and Rachel Holt, clinical director of health psychology services, and all the health psychology team, think back on Alan’s influence in the team over the years. We’re happy that Alan has agreed to continue to work a few blocks of months for the service over the coming year in his clinical psychologist role.
Jo said: “Alan has championed a health psychology approach in Derbyshire. He has shown commitment and drive to set up what is now a large, vibrant and thriving health psychology department. His kind and gentle approach runs through the veins of the department which values being a team and compassion, in all roles – both between patients and clinicians, colleague relationships and management support of the team.
“I recall as a newly qualified contacting Alan to express my interest in a career in health psychology, before I knew it there was a role for me to apply for – and I’ve never left, and never looked back, the same as many of my colleagues! I think the success and longevity of the department reflects the culture he built, modelled and supported – and he leaves a great legacy in the world of health psychology. And, most importantly there will, I am sure, be many thousands of people who have benefitted from health psychology support over the years – and Alan is certainly a big reason we’re able to say that. Thank you Alan”.