As part of Volunteers Week, we’re celebrating the people who give their time, energy and expertise to support the infection prevention community. We spoke to Jonathan, Lead Nurse – IPC Lead and Coordinator for the IPS’ Mental Health and Learning Disabilities (MH+LD) Special Interest Group, about his volunteering journey with us.
Jonathan’s involvement with IPS began early in his infection prevention career, inspired by the encouragement of a manager who was actively involved with the Society.
“When I first came into IPC, my manager at the time was very involved with IPS and it was her example and encouragement that led to me becoming involved with the Scottish Branch,” he explained.
Over the years, Jonathan has taken on a range of volunteer roles, including Deputy Communications Lead for the Scottish Branch. More recently, he stepped into the role of Coordinator for the MH+LD Special Interest Group.
For Jonathan, one of the biggest benefits of volunteering has been the connections and sense of community it creates.
“I love getting to meet new people and listening to how they find working in IPS,” he said. “We can often feel isolated in our roles and think we are the only ones facing certain problems. Then you speak to people from other Health Boards, Trusts and countries and realise we are all facing the same issues and looking for someone to discuss the best way forward with.”
Volunteering has also helped Jonathan build strong professional relationships with infection prevention experts and colleagues from across the UK and beyond. Personally, IPS has become an important and enjoyable part of his career journey.
“IPS has always given me a place to relax,” he shared. “I’ve attended all but four annual conferences since joining and they’ve been amazing experiences for meeting new people and trying new things.”
One standout moment came last year, when Jonathan presented at the IPS Annual Conference in Brighton. “It was something I’d wanted to do for many years but never felt I was at the right stage in my career,” he said. “I loved every minute of it.”
Jonathan encourages anyone thinking about volunteering with IPS to take the leap.
“At the risk of being sued by NIKE – just do it,” he joked. “It may seem intimidating at first, especially when there are people who have been involved for a long time, but you quickly realise they’re doing the same job as you and facing the same pressures. They’re volunteering their time to support the Society and its members.”
Reflecting on the wider importance of volunteering in infection prevention, Jonathan added: “Without volunteers, much of the wider IPC network would cease to exist. If we don’t support each other, who will?”
A huge thank you to Jonathan and to all our volunteers who help make IPS such a supportive and collaborative community.
