Health Junction is an innovative and dynamic community interest company (CIC) based in Liverpool but with national reach.
We are a social enterprise business with social objectives working in partnership with Public Health and the Clinical Commissioning Groups throughout the UK. Founded in 2011 by Cath Aitken and John Smith, Health Junction has come to include a wide partner network of expert clinicians and leading clinical bodies. By working in co-production we can achieve more.
Our Vision
Our vision is for better health and wellbeing in a world where inequalities and social and digital divides no longer exist. Equipping people with the tools and the confidence they need to manage their own health is our way of bringing that vision to life. Healthy people build healthy communities, and a more resilient world.
Our Mission
Our mission is to reduce health inequalities and put important healthcare decisions back into the hands of patients and their careers.
We go beyond treating conditions – we tackle health inequalities at community level by changing behaviours, and educating and supporting those engaged with health pathways, to give them control over their conditions and treatments.
We believe people should be at the centre of health service delivery, with everything they need to manage their own conditions and become the best version of themselves, living a healthy, fulfilling life.
Our Core Values
We are proud of our core values and we embody them in everything we do. They reflect who we are as people, and the impact we want to make.
Quality
With both extensive practical health and research backgrounds, the quality of our work is everything to us. We research and test our processes and services, using patient feedback and evaluation to make sure we’re putting our mission to work. Everything we do, we do well – with the evidence to back it up.
Passion
Working with health means working with people, and there’s nothing we’re more passionate about than helping people live their healthiest, happiest lives. Passion is an important course corrector for us; if we don’t feel passionate about it, then we don’t do it.
Innovation
Thinking differently is in our DNA. We push boundaries, challenge conventional views and drive innovation – not imitation. Our agenda is one of change, and change needs innovation to work.
Collaboration
Together, we are stronger and more creative. Together, we can find shared solutions and make a difference. Our work thrives when we share ideas with the right partners.
Measurement
We track and measure all our activities and evaluate the results to establish what is working well and what needs to change, incorporating our findings into future work for constant improvement in our services and processes.
Integrity
We are open, honest and trustworthy with a moral compass that guides everything that we do. We aim to be the change that we wish to see in the world.
Inclusion & Diversity
At Health Junction our strength lies in differences not similarities, and we lead diversity from the top down. We respect all abilities, cultures and backgrounds.
Fun
This might be our most important value. For us, this isn’t just a job; it’s a calling, and we love it! We never miss an opportunity to celebrate!
Our Founders
John Smith
Background
John has extensive experience working in mental health across diverse communities.
As an NHS Commissioning Support and Case Manager, John worked alongside GPs and commissioners in Wirral to support the health and employability of patients.
Working in Adult Mental Health Services in Liverpool, John supported patients to develop personalised plans as part of the Care Programme Approach and established the first Health Sub Group as part of Liverpool’s Local Area Agreement and community networks.
John also championed mental health during his 14 years as an Outreach Youth Worker, working across multicultural communities to deliver programmes for young people and their families.
A passion for teaching led John to pass his Adult Education & Training qualification.
John represents Health Junction on several boards and community groups.
Expertise
John’s expertise lies in service design and pathways implementation and development, with particular emphasis on education, personalised planning, patient-reported outcomes, digital innovation and interaction.
Additional achievements
- Worked with the NHS Mental Health Trust Mersey Care on patient co-production and the national models for recovery colleges.
- Trustee for national charity Home Start (South Liverpool).
- Selected to participate in the development and design of the Open University Course on Personalisation – a joint initiative between Wirral NHS, Wirral Borough Council and the Open University.
- Guest lecturer for John Moores University
- Guest speaker in various settings, for example on the Development of Personalisation within Health and Social Care
Cath Aitken
Background
Cath has worked across various health organisations including the NHS, Public Health, Primary Care and private health organisations.
Her interest in chronic health ignited while studying for a BSc in Applied Psychology, and Cath then went on to complete an MSc in International Public Health which focussed on global health inequalities, and a PhD which explored the impact of fatigue and pain in patients with psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.
Cath also brings her marketing expertise to Health Junction, having been at BT for ten years marketing the launch of cutting-edge projects.
Cath represents Health Junction on several boards and community groups.
Expertise
Cath’s focus is on designing and delivering a broad spectrum of targeted health interventions underpinned by a rich evidence-base. She is passionate in her belief that our healthcare systems require continuous innovation to meet the needs of patients and providers and that innovative early intervention and prevention solutions are paramount in supporting population health.
Cath designs, delivers and evaluates services and programmes that aim to influence the health of populations at local and regional levels. Proficient in undertaking qualitative and quantitive research and experienced in working with and facilitating the delivery of services as part of consortia.
Additional achievements
- Consultant to Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust; for staff engagement and Change
- Management in order to support the development of their Recovery College.
- Developed the UK’s first ‘Fit Note Clinics’ whilst working within Primary Care – an intervention that tackled poor health outcomes and unemployment.
- Track record of writing successful funding proposals and securing contracts.
- Sessional Lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University, responsible for teaching Statistics to first-year BSc Applied Psychology students.
- Guest lecturer, Liverpool John Moores University – PGCert Improving Access to Psychological Therapies in Primary Care (IAPT).
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