AN NHS worker would have had to give up work — and wouldn’t have had the confidence to leave her home — if she didn’t have her disability assistance dog.

Natasha Lees is excelling at her job as a human resources manager with Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board, thanks to Giles, an English springer spaniel who has been trained by national charity Support Dogs.

It trains and provides dogs to help children with autism, and adults with epilepsy or a physical disability, to live safer, more independent lives.

Natasha, of Mansfield Woodhouse, is currently working towards a Level 7 Senior People Professional apprenticeship and has also recently completed her advanced CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management.

To mark National Inclusion Week, from 25th September to 1st October, which celebrates inclusion and taking action to create inclusive workplaces, the 42-year-old highlighted how her “amazing” employers allowed Giles, a rescue dog, to aid her working life.

Aged 18, Natasha had a place at Sandhurst, the prestigious Royal military academy, and was looking forward to a career in the Army.

But an injury to her spine while on a military exercise in the Falklands changed everything.

Natasha has a degenerative disc disease and has since been under the care of a spinal specialist.

Despite having spinal fusion surgery and multiple interventions, her condition continues to worsen, resulting in high levels of pain in her back, neck, legs, hands, shoulders, arms, and hands on a daily basis.

But Giles has helped Natasha not only with day-to-day tasks, but also in her work life following a career switch to the NHS.

She said: “Even before I had help from Support Dogs, my employers were amazing and amenable to the idea of me bringing a dog into the office, and me wanting to turn him into an assistance dog.”

She added that her line manager supported her throughout Giles’ training process with the Sheffield-based charity, allowing her to have disability leave for his initial training and authorising special leave for Giles’ reaccreditation with the charity each year.

Natasha, who now works hybrid remotely, said: “The biggest help was when we were working in the office and Giles gave me the confidence in knowing I could go in and be safe if I was alone, because he was trained to go and get help if something happened to me, like a fall.”

Other tasks Giles helps with include picking items up off the floor, finding Natasha’s phone, and opening doors and drawers.

“I just don’t think I would be in work if I didn’t have him,” she added. “Between my physical health and my mental health, I think they would have spiralled and escalated.

“Before we moved to the hybrid model, he was the main reason to get up and leave the house. Before I worked at home I wouldn’t have been able to attend the office without him.

“I wouldn’t have had the confidence to leave the house. I would have ended up not working. I wouldn’t have been working where I’m working now, in the position I’m working in.

“All of what I’ve achieved is because he made it possible for me to attend an office environment.”

She said she couldn’t fault her employers, adding: “Generally it was the line manager’s compassion and flexibility to the idea of an assistance dog that changed my life.”

Gemma Waring, head of human resources for NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, added: “As an employer we want to give all our people the opportunity to bring their true selves to work and be able to thrive in that environment.

“Making adjustments and incorporating flexibility into an individual’s working practices is part of that process and Natasha and Giles are a shining example of the positive impact this can have on our people’s whole life, not just the time they spend with us at work.”

To find out more about Support Dogs, visit www.supportdogs.org.uk