Daniel Graver

I have 16 year's experience working in the residential field in various settings. I began my career working in a respite/residential service. I developed a range of skills in various roles; I worked with young people with learning difficulties, autism, and challenging behaviour. I learned various communication methods, including widgets, basic Makaton, objects of reference, and PECs. In this role, I worked with children with diverse needs daily. This expanded my knowledge and skills around working with children with complex needs. It was here where I first trained in PRICE. Over time, I became the Hartlepool Borough Council PRICE trainer. When I moved to Middlesbrough, I became the head PRICE instructor, and part of my role was to plan and deliver PRICE and troubleshoot in the homes as required. I am also the trainer for Middlesbrough foster carers.

From here, I moved to Stockton Road Children's Home when it first opened. I remained here for eigChildren'srkinged with mainstream teenageras a very different client group from which I had previously worked, and I enjoyed the challenge. I developed several skills here, including enhancing and expanding my IT skills and online safeguarding. I also learned the value of humour and consistency when working with teenagers. I became the lead for data collection in our home,and throughout my time there,I developed spreadsheets to track outcomes and LAC Review books for young people. I was the lead person working with Netopian to help safeguard our young people online. I also found MM Guardian and used it where appropriate to ensure our young people remained as safe as possible online. While working on Stockton Road, I also completed the British Expeditions Leaders Award (BEL). This helped us to plan outdoor activities for the young people, including camping trips away.

I moved to the Middlesbrough Council in July 2020. I am the portfolio lead in this role,specialising in health and activities. In this role, we work to prevent placement breakdown and young people from ending up in residential care. I have worked extensively in the community in this position, directly with young people on the edge of care. This then crosses over into our hub, which offers short-term emergency placements. This is in the view of working with the families to integrate them back into the family home, or if this is not possible, then to help move them into a more suitable placement. I also regularly completed supervision with staff every month.

I am very calm. I work openly and very honestly with children. I often use humour in my work with young people, which can be as effective as honesty, depending on the situation. I am trained in DDP and use this daily in my practice. I am comfortable with Reg 44 and OFSTED inspections and have participated in numerous inspections.

Since being at Hopespring I have continued to hone my skills into management. I completed monthly supervision taking part in regular Reg 44 visits and completing Reg 40's and taking part in Ofsted. We also worked closely with the young people and their families, taking part in supervising family time and transitions on from care with us to other providers. During this time I was offered the chance to go and work in the school with the teaching staff and due to my family situation at the time with young children I decided to take on this challenge and moved into a teaching role with the company instead.

• Level 2 Basketball coach, Coaching an u12 girls team for the 2025 season.