Community Engagement Officer

• Aug 2021 - Present

Agency Social Worker

• Jan 2020 - Apr 2021

Children’s Social Worker Bradford Council- child protection/Children in Care - contract has ended. Children’s Social Worker Bradford Council- child protection/Children in Care - contract has ended.

Social Worker

• May 2018 - Dec 2019

Children in Care Social Worker Children in Care Social Worker

Social Worker

• Aug 2016 - Nov 2017

During my time in Kirklees I have worked with children, young people and families as a child protection social worker completing referrals from initial assessment to closure or achieving permanency options. I have undertaken pre-birth assessments, section 7 court work as well as coordinating direct work, statutory visits and partner agency referrals for families on Child In Need and Child Protection Plans within statutory timescales. I have also acted as a Looked After Children's social worker for children during this time undertaking placement planning, liaison with foster carers and Independent Fostering Agencies to ensure all statutory meetings, visits and reviews were completed and recorded. I also undertook regular duty work alongside colleagues which included S47 and S17 enquiries and worked collaboratively with partner agencies in gathering relevant information and constructing recommendations and plans for families.Whilst at Kirklees my assessment skills were noted for their thoroughness and analysis by the then Head of Service, and the bench at sitting for the Family Court in Huddersfield commented upon the comprehensive nature of a court report produced for a private family law matter. I received feedback during an audit and subsequent OFSTED inspection my assessments and direct work for a case I held positively recognised the needs and wishes of the children were child focussed whilst working to SMART targets. Show less

Contact Officer (temporary)

• May 2016 - Jul 2016

Temporary post overseeing court ordered contact for children and families where care proceedings are in progress or rehabilitation to family is part of the care plan. Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children during contact, producing detailed records of contact to inform social workers and/or court reports.

Student Social Worker - Child Protection Placement

• Jul 2015 - Dec 2015

I held a range of cases varying in complexity and produced Child and Family Assessments and recommendations in line with statutory timescales. I managed existing case requirements arranging and chairing Child In Need meetings, multi-agency liaison, recordings and statutory visits alongside duty requirements including S47 enquiries, new referrals and unanticipated case developments. I completed a section 7 report under supervision, the report was reviewed and accepted by my Team Manager as having identified the risks and strengths and the recommendations were accepted by the bench when the Child Arrangements Order was made. Undertook direct work with children and families and made referrals to relevant agencies. Worked within council policies and procedures including use of safeguarding protocols, restorative practice and Data Protection. Show less

Student

• 2014 - 2014

My responsibilities included supporting older and vulnerable people to make informed choices about housing options and manage the application and bidding process. I coordinated property moves and completed funding bids to ensure individuals had essential items. I worked in partnership with colleagues from adult social care in relation to clients with assessed care needs and in relation to mental capacity assessment and adult safeguarding issues. This was a first year social work placement and I met the HCPC requirements in full. Show less

Youth & Community Development Worker

• Oct 2012 - Mar 2013

I worked on a fixed term contract to complete a city-wide outreach project to promote positive activities amongst NEET (not in employment, education or training) young people. I liaised with area youth work teams to develop and embed reporting and recording of additional contacts with the target group. In addition I developed an additional partnership service that provided outreach activities in locations with high levels of anti-social and nuisance behaviour and an intergenerational volunteering project and celebration event to conclude the project. Show less

Specialist Foster Carer

• Jun 2004 - Jan 2012

Specialist foster carer providing specialist care for older looked after young people with challenging behaviour who were hard to place or had experienced multiple placement breakdowns. Key responsibilities included following and contributing to care plans and evidencing progress against these. Managing a range of recordings including care records, risk assessments and providing a range of written and verbal reports for review meetings, CAMHS, social workers and other professionals. Providing a range of positive experiences and managing risky behaviours (offending, sexual abuse, aggression, absconding) to promote child development and develop confidence and resilience in line with expected milestones. Advocating alongside young people to have their needs and wishes met where possible and modelling respectful communication with birth families and maintaining safe boundaries for contact visits. Show less

Area Youth Worker/Accreditation & Curriculum Coordinator

• 2004 - 2009

I supervised an area team providing induction, supervision and initial training for the Muncaster area and its surrounds. I managed a youth centre providing a range of universal and specialist services to young people aged 11-18 and liaised to develop partnership arrangements to extend provision to 8-11 year olds through after school provision.

Early Intervention Coordinator

• Oct 2001 - May 2004

I supervised the Early Intervention Team and developed a range of services for young people subject to reprimands or final warnings. I also developed a further service for young people at risk of offending (Youth Inclusion & Support Panel) chairing a multi-agency group that assessed and allocated services for young people aged 8-18 and brought in the first parenting support programmes for parents using YOT services. As part of the management team I allocated and supervised case holders and provided out of hours duty services. I left to take up a promotion within York Young People's Services. Show less

Regional Organiser

• Sep 1999 - Aug 2001

I came through the trainee organiser scheme and had the responsibility of supporting key seats to prepare for and run their election campaigns. I supported constituency parties to recruit and support volunteers, organised a range of campaigning activities and events including Ministerial visits and oversaw the production and delivery of a range of voter publications for the whole of the Yorkshire and Humber region. All of the sitting MP's within my area were reelected. I came through the trainee organiser scheme and had the responsibility of supporting key seats to prepare for and run their election campaigns. I supported constituency parties to recruit and support volunteers, organised a range of campaigning activities and events including Ministerial visits and oversaw the production and delivery of a range of voter publications for the whole of the Yorkshire and Humber region. All of the sitting MP's within my area were reelected.

Communications Systems Analyst (Voice)

• Aug 1990 - Dec 1996

I worked as a Russian and Serbo-Croat linguist at a range of locations including RAF Digby, RAF Rudloe Manor, RAF Gatow, with the UN in Bosnia and GCHQ. My primary duties were the monitoring and transcription of a range of audio communications in real time and reporting them for secondary analysis. I worked as a Russian and Serbo-Croat linguist at a range of locations including RAF Digby, RAF Rudloe Manor, RAF Gatow, with the UN in Bosnia and GCHQ. My primary duties were the monitoring and transcription of a range of audio communications in real time and reporting them for secondary analysis.