Experience

Unisus - Skills, Care, Wellbeing

• United Kingdom
• Health, Wellness & Fitness
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founder

  • Nov 2014 - Present

  I set up Unisus in 2014 leading its growth from nothing into a six figure business employing more than 70 people. We have achieved over £1.5 million turnover and continue to grow. We have over 70 care clients and provide 1700 hours of care every week. There are three sub brands within our work - Skills, Care and Wellbeing. Care includes all care and support services - home care and supporting people to live as independently as they can be. enabling people to live their best life. We can also offer palliative and end of life care, supporting you and your loved one at a most sensitive time to remain at home. Unisus Wellbeing provides counselling services for individuals and employees of local businesses. We have a funded offer for those on a low income We are developing a package of occupational health support in association with other partners which will be available in the near future Our skills offer, has historically delivered employability projects to unemployed people to support them into work. We are now providing wellbeing training to organisations including mental health first aid, resilience training and secondary trauma in partnership with SCT Therapy Our activities often overlap - for example our care staff and clients access our counselling service when needed. All of our services feed into each other and our clients can access different services when they need them. We believe in well resourced frontline services so that our clients can access everything they need at the time that they need it. We work in a person centred way, providing support for people to be able to achieve for themselves and putting in extra support when they are unable to carry out tasks for themselves. Unisus is a group of companies trading together as a social enterprise Show less



Aidan-James Property

• Director

  • Mar 2023 - Present

  Buy to let property company in partnership with my son, Rhys. Buy to let property company in partnership with my son, Rhys.



UNDER THE DOME EVENTS

• United Kingdom
• Performing Arts

• Social Media Marketing Manager

  • Oct 2014 - Oct 2015

  I managed all aspects of the social media strategy for the festival. I managed all aspects of the social media strategy for the festival.



PETE

• United States
• Restaurants

• PETE Chair

  • 2010 - Dec 2014

  Chair of North Shields area PETE (Partnership for Education, Training and Employment) working with partner organisations to share good practice and resources to benefit local people looking to change their employment, re-enter the workplace after a gap due to ill health, having children, caring responsibilities, imprisonment etc and supporting people to access appropriate courses to improve their skills and enhance employability. Chair of North Shields area PETE (Partnership for Education, Training and Employment) working with partner organisations to share good practice and resources to benefit local people looking to change their employment, re-enter the workplace after a gap due to ill health, having children, caring responsibilities, imprisonment etc and supporting people to access appropriate courses to improve their skills and enhance employability.



Rehab Group

• Ireland
• Non-profit Organizations
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Community Integration Coordinator, Changing Lives North of Tyne

  • Feb 2012 - Nov 2014

  A partnership between Momentum Skills (Part of Rehab Group) and the Stroke Association. Working with clients with brain injury and other neurological conditions, setting up social interest groups based on individual needs and wishes, to prevent and reduce social isolation. Groups included a walking group, lunch group and peer support group. Working towards vocational rehabilitation where appropriate. I worked with a range of professionals including Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Social Workers as well as providing much needed support to family members and carers. This work involved supporting clients with the benefits system, memory strategies, aphasia and communication issues and support around changes in behaviour and personality after brain injury. As part of this role, I set up and managed a counselling service for clients across all Momentum services and their family members, in partnership with Brainbox and Tynemet College / Sunderland University. Recruited and managed volunteers. Lead a multi- disciplinary staff team. Promoted service to increase referrals. Carried out risk assessments. Liaised with clinicians, solicitors, carers and family members. Supported semi- autonomous, user led groups with governance, strategic planning, fundraising bids and financial management. Developed and facilitated service user feedback forum. Monitoring and reporting outcomes data for contract management Show less


Acorns Project
• United Kingdom
• Individual and Family Services
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Board Trustee

  • Sep 2010 - Jun 2013


Mental Health Matters

• United Kingdom
• Mental Health Care
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Manager

  • Aug 2011 - Feb 2012

  A temporary post covering maternity leave. Manage a team of seven staff plus casual workers. Manage three supported housing services – Crisis, Respite and Rehabilitation for people with severe and enduring mental health problems. Responsible for health and safety checks and risk assessments. Responsible for person centred risk assessments. Carrying out support & supervision and appraisals for staff. Liaison with statutory services and referral partners. Networking with relevant local agencies and professionals. Petty cash returns. Void and outcome returns and monitoring. On call management responsibility. Overseeing care plans. Key working responsibilities for tenants. Responsible for completion of rent and utility payments. Property management, employing outside contractors, repairs and maintenance carried out to appropriate standard Show less



NHS

• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Counsellor

  • Jan 2011 - Jan 2012

  I provided an integrated approach with a firm base in person centred, brief intervention counselling - usually contracting for 6 -8 sessions and then reviewing. This was shorter term counselling with a higher throughput of clients which gave me a wider client experience. I provided an integrated approach with a firm base in person centred, brief intervention counselling - usually contracting for 6 -8 sessions and then reviewing. This was shorter term counselling with a higher throughput of clients which gave me a wider client experience.



Age UK North Tyneside

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Employment Advice and Support Worker

  • Jan 2009 - Jul 2011

  Supporting people aged 50+ on the Back on Board project, to explore their work and learning goals. I managed the work club to provide IT and job search support to people who may not have used a computer before, supporting a team of volunteers to enhance the support on offer. Developed, promoted and delivered a modular employability course called Mid Life Moves. Some of the contracts I worked on included Careers Advice Plus, Next Step and Cultural Volunteering contracts. The project worked on multiple contracts simultaneously to ensure we were able to deliver a service which met the needs of the clients as well as the funders. I was heavily involved in marketing this service including writing press releases, producing and disseminating leaflets and networking extensively to ensure the project had a high profile in North Tyneside. I also participated in speed networking events where staff from Age UK could talk to professionals and other interested parties about all aspects of the organisation, as many people were not aware of all the different services available. Supporting people 50+ with work and learning issues, employability skills and support with life issues relating to employment. Managed a team of volunteers to support the work club and the wider project. Responsible for one to one client work which involved devising, implementing and reviewing action plans. Responsible for promotion and marketing of the service including writing press releases and articles. Also developed and delivered pre-employability group training programme. Delivered multiple contacts within project and was responsible for contract monitoring and reporting. I worked with the Business Factory to support clients to consider self-employment, arranging workshops to explore ideas and to develop business opportunities. Show less



Tyneside Women's Health

• United Kingdom
• Mental Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Counsellor

  • Aug 2010 - Jan 2011

  Providing short to medium term counselling provided to women in Gateshead. 6 - 20 sessions, mainly dealing with domestic violence, relationship issues and eating disorders. Providing short to medium term counselling provided to women in Gateshead. 6 - 20 sessions, mainly dealing with domestic violence, relationship issues and eating disorders.



D.I.S.C. Registered Charity

• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• In Work Support Adviser

  • Apr 2007 - Jan 2009

  Supporting former inactive benefit claimants to sustain their employment by removing barriers such as ensuring maximum benefit take up and liaising with employers to provide them with support to tackle any disability issues of their employees. This work was for a Jobcentre Plus contract with challenging targets, working alongside Progress to Work. Supporting former inactive benefit claimants to sustain their employment by removing barriers such as ensuring maximum benefit take up and liaising with employers to provide them with support to tackle any disability issues of their employees. This work was for a Jobcentre Plus contract with challenging targets, working alongside Progress to Work.



Age Concern North Tyneside

• Personal Support Assistant

  • Sep 2005 - Apr 2007

  I was a care worker I was a care worker



NORTH TYNESIDE VODA

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Millennium Volunteers Monitoring Assistant

  • 2004 - 2005

  Providing a brokerage service for volunteers and volunteer involving organisations. Supporting volunteers to sustain 200 hours of volunteering. Providing a brokerage service for volunteers and volunteer involving organisations. Supporting volunteers to sustain 200 hours of volunteering.



M2M befriending scheme

• Befriender

  • 2001 - 2003

  Providing support to teenage parents and parents to be to prevent social exclusion, remove barriers to services and reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancies. This was achieved through social activities, signposting where appropriate. Providing support to teenage parents and parents to be to prevent social exclusion, remove barriers to services and reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancies. This was achieved through social activities, signposting where appropriate.



Pre-school Learning Alliance

• United Kingdom
• Education Administration Programs
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Trustee

  • 1998 - 2003

  Secretary and Fundraiser Secretary and Fundraiser