Carol Colbourne
Berwick upon tweed,northumberland
Summary
I am a dedicated childcare professional with extensive expertise in therapeutic parenting techniques, nonviolent communication, and ADHD management. I can demonstrates resilience in stressful situations and a non-judgemental attitude, ensuring a supportive environment for children. I am proficient in record keeping and knowledgeable in fostering regulations, attachment theory, developmental psychology, and safeguarding procedures. I am committed to continued professional development and becoming skilled in basic counselling techniques. I am currently studying counselling therapy to advance understanding of attachment disorders to further enhance child welfare practices.
I am a compassionate caregiver with focus on providing nurturing and supportive environment for children being capable of fostering emotional and social development through personalised care and structured routines. I have strong skills in communication, conflict resolution, and building trusting relationships with both children and families.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
3988
3988
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Foster carer
Northumberland County Council
Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland
2018.02 - Current
- Arranged social activities to boost confidence levels and encourage interaction with peers.
- Supported the transition of children into new homes, easing their adaptation process.
- Coordinated with school staff regarding child's progress, enhancing academic performance.
- Provided around-the-clock support during emergencies or crises; offering immediate help when needed.
- Delivered consistent care whilst managing challenging behaviour to ensure stability within the household.
- Assisted children with homework assignments; supporting their academic endeavours.
- Adhered strictly to safeguarding protocols; ensuring safety at all times.
- Navigated complex emotional situations with empathy and patience, aiding in conflict resolution.
- Tracked and recorded child's progress for review by social services team, contributing to overall care strategy.
- Provided emotional support to children in foster care, resulting in improved mental well-being.
- Worked closely with other professionals involved in child's welfare; improving collaborative efforts towards child’s wellbeing.
- Encouraged positive behaviours through structured routine and clear boundaries, fostering personal growth.
- Built strong relationships with birth families where appropriate, strengthening family ties.
- Promoted a positive image of fostering within the community; raising awareness about the importance of foster caring.
- Facilitated open lines of communication with social workers, leading to more effective care plans.
- Attended training courses on child psychology to better understand and address unique needs of foster children.
- Maintained a safe and nurturing living environment, promoting a sense of security.
- Managed medical appointments and health needs of children, ensuring proper physical health.
- Comforted children during times of crisis to provide security and safety measures.
- Encouraged children to express views and opinions to increase confidence and openess.
- Advocated for social, emotional and educational stability of children with complex emotional and behavioural needs.
- Established close relationships with community resources, teachers and health professionals to meet children's development needs.
- Set fair boundaries with appropriate levels and methods of discipline.
- Taught socially acceptable ways to behave and communicate, reinforcing appropriate behaviours through trauma-informed care.
- Provided 24-hour day to day care of infants to adolescents to manage daily needs.
- Fostered accepting, respectful and warm environment to establish safety and security for children.
- Remembered children's life history by saving mementos, keepsakes and photographs.
- Carried out child care plans whilst maintaining awareness of children's changing needs.
- Collaborated with supervising social worker and reviewing officers for optimal care.
- Met ongoing medical needs of children by coordinating with specialists.
- Participated in community events and activities to encourage regular interaction for more stability.
- Logged significant events throughout placement and contributed to reviews, case conferences and court hearings.
Community carer worker
Bellveiw community care centre
Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland
2016.04 - 2018.04
- Helped disabled persons use assistive devices; encouraged self-reliance among clients.
- Provided emotional support to community members by listening to their concerns and offering advice.
- Maintained cleanliness in clients' homes, resulting in more hygienic living conditions.
- Conducted risk assessments within client homes; identified potential hazards and took corrective actions promptly.
- Documented client progress through detailed record-keeping, aiding in treatment planning and review processes.
- Assisted elderly individuals with daily tasks for improved quality of life.
- Handled medication management, ensuring proper dosage and timely intake by patients.
- Delivered shopping and other essentials to housebound individuals, enabling them to maintain independence.
- Prepared nutritious meals for community members, promoting better health outcomes.
- Delivered personal care to service users, from housekeeping to shopping and meal preparation.
- Executed housekeeping and meal preparation tasks, maintaining clean and comfortable living environment.
- Administered oral and topical medication following instructions from medical personnel.
- Safely lifted, transferred and repositioned service users using hoists and wheelchairs.
Registered childminder/nanny
Self Employed
Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland
2006.04 - 2016.04
- Arranged stimulating resources promoting imaginative play enhancing creativity skills.
- Assisted children with homework assignments improving their academic performance.
- Liaised effectively with external agencies for safeguarding issues ensuring child welfare.
- Managed dietary requirements for each child, leading to improved overall health.
- Cultivated positive relationships with families, resulting in long-term contracts.
- Provided consistent daily routine establishing structure in the home setting.
- Conducted regular assessments of children's development, informing tailored care plans.
- Supported toilet training efforts facilitating successful transition from nappies.
- Administered first aid promptly during emergencies, minimising injury complications.
- Collaborated with parents to understand and cater to individual child needs.
- Ensured child safety by implementing strict supervision routines and strategies.
- Maintained clean and safe premises following rigorous hygiene standards, reducing risk of illness and injury.
- Coordinated outings to enhance children's understanding of the world around them.
- Observed monitored recorded progress of each child providing valuable feedback to parents.
- Promoted good manners and personal hygiene among children instilling important life skills.
- Delivered personalised care for infants including feeding changing nappies sleep scheduling.
- Implemented positive behaviour management techniques fostering respectful attitudes amongst children.
- Developed engaging activities for children's cognitive growth through play-based learning methods.
- Fostered a nurturing environment for children's emotional and social development.
- Supervised children during rest and relaxation periods to maintain safety and facilitate mental and physical development.
- Maintained clean, tidy areas within the home to mitigate potential health and safety risks to children in care.
- Built and maintained transparent relationships with parents and caregivers to collaboratively resolve behavioural issues and facilitate cohesive care.
- Maintained records of children's daily activities, meals and medications administered.
- Transported children to and from school in line with set schedule.
- Read stories and lead activities to help children build foundational learning skills.
- Helped children with personal hygiene needs and taught young children to independently complete care tasks.
Education
Intergrative counsellor - Counselling Therapy
PCC counselling
Jarrow 2024.09 -
cache level 2 for childrens and young people - children and young people
Ofqual
UKCertificate of Higher Education - Early years practice
University of Northumbria in association with Northu college
Northumberland Home management and family care Certificate - Home and family care
Northumberland College
NorthumberlandSkills
- Resilience in stressful situations
- Certification in fostering regulations
- Therapeutic parenting techniques
- Nonviolent communication
- Life story work
- Non-Judgemental attitude
- Experience with adhd management
- Proficiency in record keeping
- Childcare expertise
- Continued professional development
- Understanding of attachment theory
- Knowledge of developmental psychology
- Attachment theory knowledge
- Understanding of safeguarding procedures
- Understanding of attachment disorders
- Basic counselling techniques
Affiliations
- I keep a vegetable garden, have chickens and ducks. I enjoy reading, walking, swimming. I have a strong netwaork of friends.
Timeline
Intergrative counsellor - Counselling Therapy
PCC counselling
2024.09 -
Foster carer
Northumberland County Council
2018.02 - Current
Community carer worker
Bellveiw community care centre
2016.04 - 2018.04
Registered childminder/nanny
Self Employed
2006.04 - 2016.04
cache level 2 for childrens and young people - children and young people
Ofqual
Certificate of Higher Education - Early years practice
University of Northumbria in association with Northu college
Home management and family care Certificate - Home and family care
Northumberland College