We Are IH: Kamloops social worker stretching her wings as manager

January 12, 2023

Lauren Phillips at Okanagan Lake.

Name: Lauren Phillips (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Interim clinical operations manager
Years of Service: 10
Worksite: Hillside Centre
Community: Kamloops
Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc
Advice to live by: Just breathe

Lauren Phillips describes herself as motivated – this is why the regional tertiary coordinator recently took an interim position as the clinical operations manager at Hillside Centre, which provides psychiatric services. Her current day-to-day work includes supporting staff, psychiatrists, professionals and patients within Hillside.

“Being new to this role it’s a steep learning curve, but I have amazing support from my director, fellow MHSU managers and the staff.”

In this Story…

Learn more about her journey with IH

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Learn more about her journey with IH

Four people in skiing gear in front of a snowy mountain covered in evergreen trees. — Lauren (left), her sons and husband Tim on a chairlift at Sun Peaks, taking advantage of their annual passes.

Lauren started off with Hillside in 2012. After completing her orientation shifts, she knew it was the workplace for her. Taking a position in community care for a year confirmed this. She returned to Hillside and hasn’t looked back.

The staff and patients [at Hillside Centre] are amazing, and every day is interesting with new challenges. In addition, being able to work alongside the psychiatrists at Hillside has taught me so much and I’m thankful for their expertise. I also enjoy collaborating with all the professionals in IH and our counterparts in different health authorities.

For Lauren, it’s hard to pinpoint one singular moment she’s most proud of as there have been many. Recently, when a transition plan for a patient was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous teams came together to develop a last-minute plan to transition this patient. Despite roadblocks, the patient arrived at his destination. “I was very thankful to everyone involved as we came together for a client in a difficult situation.”

A woman on the left in a blue sundress and a man on the right in a white linen shirt seated at a table with drinks on it, with a background of people sitting in white chairs in rows and coloured flags hanging from strings above. — Lauren and her husband Tim in Mexico.

“The professionals and patients I work with in my role continuously inspire me. I enjoy being a part of a patient’s journey, albeit in the background, and I really enjoy learning from everyone I collaborate with.”

A woman with wavy blonde hair, wearing sunglasses, with a light blue t-shirt and jeans, holding a pumpkin, sitting on a hay bale between two children, the one on the left with a bright blue sweatshirt and grey and purple leggings, and on the right with a grey and black polka dot sweatshirt, red skirt and blue leggings, with a pumpkin patch in the background. — Lauren and her daughters at Davison Orchards near Vernon.

This funny, compassionate mom loves to laugh. She’s involved in soccer and high-impact sports, such as skiing, HIIT and running.

A highlight every year is the annual visit to her in-laws’ farm in Yorkton, Sask. Lauren’s family loves visiting with them, and her kids enjoy free reign on the farm. “We typically go quadding with the cows, to the lake, to the pool, and lots of other fun activities. It is always a nice vacation.”