(Not) lost in translation

Our Centre for Guidelines develops guidance for health and social care. But what's it like being a technical analyst here at NICE? Olivia Crane tells all.

Olivia and her husband on holiday at Mt Etna.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi, my name’s Olivia Crane and I’m a technical analyst at NICE. I’m 28. I live in Stockport with my husband and my little rescue cat, Jasper. I love baking, but I haven’t managed to master any of the ‘Bake Off’ technical challenges yet! I love reading as well. I have a book swap club that takes place at my house. So I’ve always got a good pile of books on the go!

When did you join NICE?

I joined NICE just over 2 years ago, as an assistant technical analyst. There have been quite a few changes since then and loads of developments. So it’s always keeping me on my toes.

What does a technical analyst do?

We do a lot of different things, so it’s not always easy to describe the role! I like to think of the technical analyst role as being the channel between the literature and the evidence that’s out there and the committee. So part of our job is to translate that evidence into a format that’s useful for the committee to use to make recommendations. And then we have to translate all those discussions and everything that goes on in the committee meeting into a guideline. So a technical analyst is really a translator!

Our Centre for Guidelines team in Manchester

What do you enjoy most about your role?

The role is challenging and there’s always a lot to do, and a lot to prepare for! But what I really enjoy is seeing something which starts off as a very complex issue become less so. It can often be quite confusing when you start to look into a health issue that’s on a population level. There’s so much to consider. But as you go through it, everything starts to come together and you can set out a coherent story. It’s still complicated and complex - most health issues are - but it makes sense. And bringing everything together into a narrative is what I really enjoy and find really satisfying.

Describe your career journey so far.

My career journey so far has been a bit eclectic. I studied anthropology at university. I went on to try and apply that in the workplace. I did a graduate scheme in human resources, communications and management for an energy company. After that I worked as a communications executive for a while. Then I had a complete career change and did a public health Masters at the University of Sheffield. That was amazing. After that, I was lucky enough to get my first job here at NICE – and the rest is history!

What was it that made you want to work with us?

Initially, I wanted to work for NICE because of its reputation. And because the work of a technical analyst – which is pretty meticulous and rigorous – sounded like it would be a great fit for me. But now that I’m here what really keeps me is the people. Everyone’s so, so smart and so good at what they do. It’s really inspiring.

How has NICE supported you in achieving your goals?

Because of what NICE does, there's a real focus on making sure everyone can fit in the training and development they need. Last year I got to attend the Guidelines International Network (GIN) 2018 conference in Manchester for 3 days. I learned about all the latest updates in the guideline development sector and got to meet people working on guidelines from around the world. And, of course, I got a free t-shirt or 2!

What do you think is the biggest perk in working for NICE?

I think it’s all the little things that build up, really. We get the NHS discount, which is really useful. And with my office being right in the centre of Manchester you really do get to use it! There's a great pension too, of course. And one of the smaller, but perhaps nicest perks, is the free tea and coffee. But mainly it's the work itself. It’s challenging, but it’s worth it.

Describe the culture of NICE in 2 words.

I would describe NICE as clever and kind.

Want to know more?

You can learn more about Olivia and her colleagues below.

Interested in working with us?

Keep an eye on our vacancies on our website.