Name: Sharon
Role: Search Technician
Joined SusSAR: July 2008
Employment
I work for a private occupational health provider based in Lewes. My responsiblities
include the recruitment of all Occupational Health Advisors, Liasing with
clients to organise their health surveillance requirements, sending out
reports following the visit, ordering equipment and consumables for the
clinical operations team and looking after all the on site nurses at a
variety of clients all around the country. .
Background & Outdoor Experiences
I grew up in Africa so have long had a love of the outdoors. The plains
of Sussex may not be as wild as those in Rhodesia; however I have found
through the mix of varying backgrounds in the unit that we all still learn
and bounce ideas off each other when out training & searching.
Why I joined SusSAR
I was carrying out fundraising duties for another organisation at the
Eastbourne 999 show when I noticed the SusSAR stand there also, and took
the time to find about the work the unit does. I immediately recognised
the valuable service they provide and being someone who has a caring and
compassionate nature, I made enquiries there and then about membership.
Steps to become operational
Having completed the “expression of interest” form in joining
the unit, I was invited to one of the new member evenings that the unit
run. I went along to this meeting with an open mind but still thinking
that maybe I did not have the skills they were looking for. My apprehensions
were soon put aside as the evening is very much an informal one, run solely
for the benefit of prospective team members to find out more about what
is involved in becoming a member. After this meeting, I was then invited
to join the unit on their training evenings, and after 3 months I attended
a weekend course to gain my qualification as a search technician.
The time commitment and what I've enjoyed
I find the time commitment is really not an issue. If you feel passionately
about wanting to try and help others then you’ll give whatever time
you can reasonably afford to help the cause. Everyone appreciates that
work and family commitments do sometimes mean you can’t attend all
searches or fundraising events, but as long as the passion and enthusiasm
is evident then you know you have put the missing person’s best
interests first.