The Chicken Licken Dilemma: Finding Purpose as a South African Psychologist in the NHS

Written by Razeenah Mahomed, HCPC Registered Educational Psychologist

When I first arrived in the UK, I was filled with purpose - a deep desire to create an impact in the field of psychology and the lives of the young people I work with. Coming from South Africa, where challenges are immense, but growth opportunities are limited, I was eager to make a difference in the NHS, believing that I could contribute to meaningful change. In my mind, I was ready to ‘save the world.’

A year and a half later, much of that motivation remains. On most days, I still wake up driven by the possibility of influencing policy and making a positive impact on young lives - engaging with the complexities of their challenges, problem-solving, and providing support. However, there are also days when the weight of the system becomes inescapable: the bureaucracy, inefficiencies, and not only the relentless demand to meet others' urgent expectations but also the nuanced air of frustration that seems to permeate the workplace. It's as if this shared sense of disillusionment has become a constant, subtly influencing the attitudes and energy of those around me.

It was during one of those routine, seemingly mundane tasks that a realization struck me: despite the obstacles, I still love what I do. The problem isn't the service I provide or the young people I help. It’s the overwhelming external pressures - the unrelenting push to deliver and the collective dissatisfaction that seeps into daily interactions, making it harder to stay focused on the work that matters most.

To put it in terms familiar to South Africans, it’s like the old Chicken Licken advert from the '90s -that Chicken Licken craving always on your back, persistently nagging at you until it's satisfied. The NHS can feel like that - an insatiable demand for more, constantly looming and never quite fulfilled. But unlike the fleeting satisfaction of fast food, I refuse to let this persistent pressure dull my passion for working with young people and contributing meaningfully to psychology.

Part of my ability to stay focused and positive comes from the inspiring leadership of my manager, Nina Browne, and my colleague and mentor, Ioannis Patkis. Their support and guidance have helped me navigate the complexities of the system while remaining committed to the values that brought me here in the first place. They embody the hope and resilience I aspire to model in my own practice.

What I’ve also come to realize is that while the NHS is burdened with bureaucracy and systemic challenges, it also offers immense opportunity. The opportunity to model hope, to demonstrate that optimism and persistence still have a place within a nearly century-old system, and to show that it is possible to resist the collective resignation that often takes root in environments like this. Change might come slowly, but the chance to make a meaningful impact - on both the young people I work with and the system itself - is still very much alive.

The real challenge lies in resisting the pull of frustration and maintaining hope in a system that can sometimes feel overwhelming. Many have already given in, but there is still space for those of us who refuse to be shaped by the system's limitations. By holding onto optimism and focusing on the people whom we support, I can continue to push for small but meaningful shifts that matter, both in their lives and in the broader NHS.

Ultimately, I still believe in the transformative power of psychology and the role we play in shaping the future of young people and communities. The goal is not to transform the world overnight but to keep pushing for progress, even when the system feels stifling. And that’s a fight worth taking on - every single day.