C Ashton-Smith
Oldham,Lancashire
Summary
As a specialist foster carer for 13 years, I have supported children and adults with disabilities and navigated the benefits system through all levels of severity, including children’s Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and Attendance Allowance, as well as family experiences with Special Rules applications.
I have assisted adults leaving care with applications for Universal Credit, as well as handling applications for mandatory reconsiderations. I am familiar with the scoring system when applying for benefits.
As a former cancer sufferer, I am a compassionate and understanding person who has experienced support from Macmillan and appreciates the vital role it plays. I carry a significant amount of compassion and empathy, both from my own cancer experience and from supporting family members who have been affected by cancer.
Being given the opportunity to support other people living with cancer and other lifelong illnesses would allow me to continue my goal of making a genuine difference to people's life experiences.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work history
Foster carer / Mockingbird Hub home
Manchester City Council
Manchester , Greater Manchester
2022.03 - Current
• Maintain national minimum standards for foster care.
• Support and facilitate contact arrangements for children with their families with complex needs.
• Attend all relevant meetings, including CLA (Children Looked After), PEP (Personal Education Plan),
Placement Planning, Contact Planning, and Permanency meetings.
Mockingbird Hub Home Carer
• Provide support to 9 families and 20 children in care, promoting an extended family model.
• Organize and lead support coffee mornings for foster carers and social events for both birth children
and those in care.
• Support other foster carers in the facilitation of family time and managing family members complex
needs.
Foster Care in Greater Manchester
• Collaborate with 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester, conducting home visits for potential foster
carers.
• Discuss the role and application process with prospective carers, offering guidance and support.
• Deliver training in essential fostering skills to new carers.Collaboration and Project Management
• Work closely with the 10 Directors of Service in Greater Manchester on various projects and
standardizing policies, procedures, and benefits across services.
• Attend meetings with senior heads at the Department of Education to discuss funding projects and
their viability.
• Share best practices and processes with representatives from the Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland
Reform
Full Time Foster Carer
By the Bridge with Cambien
Manchester, Greater Manchester
2019.01 - 2022.03
Specialist Foster Carer for Children with Neurodivergence
• Maintain national minimum standards for foster care.
• Support and facilitate contact arrangements for children with their families.
• Working with disadvantaged family’s with complex needs.
• Attend all relevant meetings, including CLA (Children Looked After), PEP (Personal Education Plan),
Placement Planning, Contact Planning, and Permanency meetings.
Foster Carer
Fostering People
Manchester, Greater Manchester
2013.10 - 2019.01
Full Time Foster Carer
Fostering People-Manchester
October 2013 to January 2019
Specialist Foster Carer for Children with Neurodivergence
• Maintain national minimum standards for foster care.
• Support and facilitate contact arrangements for children with their families.
• Working with disadvantaged family’s with complex needs.
• Attend all relevant meetings, including CLA (Children Looked After), PEP (Personal Education Plan),
Placement Planning, Contact Planning, and Permanency meetings.
Education
GCSEs - Maths, English, Science, Art, Religious Studies, French, Food Technology
Mossley Hollins
Tameside 09/1996 - 07/2001
Skills
- Dedication to confidentiality
- Child benefit understanding
- Interpersonal sensitivity
- Benefit program knowledge
- Financial literacy
- Financial planning aptitude
- Personal independence payments expertise
- Universal credit awareness
- Debt advice knowledge
- Disability living allowance insight
- Resilient attitude
- Exceptional interpersonal skills
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Foster carer / Mockingbird Hub home
Manchester City Council
2022.03 - Current
Full Time Foster Carer
By the Bridge with Cambien
2019.01 - 2022.03
Foster Carer
Fostering People
2013.10 - 2019.01
GCSEs - Maths, English, Science, Art, Religious Studies, French, Food Technology
Mossley Hollins
09/1996 - 07/2001