Kerry King
MSc Healthcare Management
1. Tell us about yourself
I have worked for the National Health Service (NHS) for 25 years.
I started my career as a physiotherapy assistant in 2000 and via a four-year part time NHS apprenticeship degree, completed a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy in 2005. Since this time, I have worked across various NHS clinical physiotherapy roles in acute hospitals and community settings.
More recently in my career I moved into NHS community management roles, and have managed large integrated clinical teams of people from different health and social care professions. I have worked for a number of different NHS trusts across Essex. It was from completing these management roles that I developed an interest in furthering my education and knowledge. I was supported by the NHS to explore healthcare management courses and then, through my own research into courses that suited my learning needs, I discovered the Masters degree in healthcare management at Anglia Ruskin University.
Working full-time and having a young family, the online flexible nature of the programme meant I was still able to take on this two-year course. I graduated in November 2023 in from ARU's campus in Cambridge.
Completing this MSc degree enabled me to progress my career further. The knowledge I gained gave me the confidence to apply for roles I would not have previously considered or had the correct educational requirements to apply for. I now work for an integrated care board working in NHS service development and service commissioning.
2. What is your fondest memory of Anglia Ruskin University?
Firstly, Anglia Ruskin University gave me the confidence to even take on a Masters degree. I had convinced myself I would never be able to complete this level of education as a mature student who worked full-time with a young family.
After starting the course, my fondest memories were that I initially prepared myself for a lonely online, distance learning course, and was pleasantly surprised to find that this just was not the case. I very much felt part of ARU still. I had full access to library services and student support and was able to seek assistance from the University at any point where I needed help throughout the course. I attended online lectures and was able to meet other people on the course. The tutors were accessible and contactable, and I always felt supported by them through my degree (special mention to Nebil Achour).
3. What has been your favourite job?
My favourite job is my current job with an NHS integrated care board.
Working in NHS service development through an integrated care board allows me to design and influence NHS services and pathways. This has enabled me to gain a great overview of the NHS and how it really works and fits together as a wider system.
Having the ability to positively influence how services are provided and being able to identify and assist with filling gaps in NHS services through developing pathways, bringing together services and commissioning is highly rewarding.
4. In one word, how would you describe Anglia Ruskin University?
Supportive.
5. How did your time at ARU help you?
I would not have been able to progress my career in the direction I wanted if I had not been to ARU and completed the MSc in Healthcare Management. By allowing courses to be delivered flexibly through distance learning, it let me, as a full-time working mother, be part of further education. I had options to progress my career as I wanted to do so.
6. What did you love about your chosen course?
I loved that although this course was online, taught by distance learning, I still felt part of the university experience.
I thought I would be an invisible student behind a screen, but this just was not the case. I was given the same accesses as on-site learners and was well-connected to all of the resources, tutors and other students. [I was] able to complete the course in a supportive and connected environment.
7. What advice would you give to current students as they’re preparing to graduate?
My favourite quote is 'Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle'.
At the start of my journey, my belief was: I was not capable of juggling everything to be able to complete a Masters degree in two years and I was fully prepared to prove myself right.
As I approached my final dissertation submission date, two years later, and was being sent emails about booking tickets for my graduation, I suddenly realised that I had done it. I was there, I was completely capable, and I should never have doubted my own ability.
So, my advice is simply to just believe in yourself, in every step of your own journey.
8. What do you know now that you wish you had known whilst studying?
Feeling overwhelmed with the enormity of a new assignment and not knowing where to start with it is completely normal. If you always start each new assignment by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable tasks it will make things much easier.
9. Who was the biggest influence on your career?
The whole of the senior management team within Redbridge NHS and social care integrated community services. They believed in my abilities as a new manager, and they gave me the opportunities, support, recognition, guidance and freedom to feel confident in being able to take my career in the direction I wanted to move in.
10. What advice would you give your younger self?
Never give up on yourself, if you do not believe in yourself, then nobody else will either.
11. Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.
I was very sporty and injury prone when I was younger and that inspired me to become a physiotherapist. I thought if I was going to get injured playing sport, I may as well learn how to fix myself afterwards. Being so sporty I always envisaged I would work as a sports physiotherapist and as a lifelong West Ham fan my career aspiration when I was younger was to become West Ham United’s first team physiotherapist. I still hold that dream but for now the NHS will have to do!
12. What’s next?
My new career path is keeping me very busy learning new aspects of the NHS and how services are delivered. I will continue to learn and develop within role for now and see where this takes me in the future. Also, after a very hectic schedule in the last few years I am taking some much needed relaxation time with my family.