Jenny Allen and Laura Smith

Director of Workforce, OD and System Development

Jenny and Laura job share our Director of Workforce, Organisational Development (OD) and System Development role. The pair joined us in June last year. We believe that they are the first HR Director job share partnership in the NHS. 

Jenny studied Law at university before joining the NHS on the National Graduate Management Scheme as a General Management Trainee in 1998. She has held a number of senior HR and Workforce leadership roles across NHS organisations including at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and NHS Digital before commencing with Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust. 

Jenny has previously run her own HR consulting business, has held associate lecturer roles at several local universities and is a published academic author in the field of HR and management. She is also Associate Editor for an academic journal.

Laura joined the NHS in 2000 as a General Management Trainee and has held leadership roles in general management, HR and OD across acute organisations, Primary Care Trusts and national organisations. She is an accredited coach and mentor as well as a qualified HR professional. 

What matters most to both Laura and Jenny in work is people, the people we work with and the patients and population we work for, both across the city of Leeds and the wider geographic communities served by Leeds Community Healthcare.

Laura and Jenny’s aim is to build on the excellent work already in place at the Trust, facilitating working conditions and a culture that provides the best possible opportunities and support for people to both fulfil their potential and to provide the best possible care for our patients and population.