Darlene Chitsa
Penwortham
Summary
Compassionate Mental Health Nursing MSc student with a solid clinical foundation in Sport Rehabilitation and experience in community, inpatient, and rehabilitation settings. Background in rehabilitation case management and mental health support has developed skills in therapeutic communication, risk assessment, and crisis intervention. Experienced in mental state examinations, care planning, and multidisciplinary team collaboration, demonstrating readiness to support individuals with acute and complex mental health needs.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Support Worker
Young People First
11.2024 - Current
- Provided emotional and practical support to young people facing challenges, fostering resilience and stability.
- Developed structured daily routines and learning activities to enhance independence and wellbeing of young people.
- Maintained comprehensive records and contributed to care planning and safeguarding discussions, ensuring effective support and compliance with standards.
Mental Health Support Worker
Greys Healthcare
01.2023 - Current
- Delivered person-centred care and emotional support, enhancing overall well-being of mental health service users.
- Applied de-escalation strategies and therapeutic communication to manage periods of distress.
- Coordinated with multidisciplinary colleagues, facilitating comprehensive support for service users through collaborative care.
Carer (Bank)
Orchard Care Home
11.2024 - 12.2025
- Managed personal care plans to ensure consistent and timely support for residents' needs.
- Coordinated moving and handling practices to ensure safe and effective care for residents in elderly wards.
- Oversaw physiotherapist exercise routines to support residents' mobility and enhance overall function.
Rehabilitation Case Manager
HCML
06.2022 - 11.2024
- Conducted comprehensive assessments of client needs to develop tailored support plans.
- Evaluated clients through consultations and monitoring to identify service needs and required benefits.
- Facilitated patient communications to guide rehabilitation decisions and foster progress.
- Maintained thorough case history records and wrote detailed reports outlining observations, diagnoses and treatment plans.
- Prioritised attention to detail and responsiveness in fast-paced casework amid shifting demands.
Clinical Assistant
HCML
08.2021 - 06.2022
- Supported rehabilitation case managers by reviewing physiotherapy reports and conducting calls for onward referral assessments and discharge follow-ups, facilitating timely patient transitions.
- Communicated regularly with clients and treatment providers via email and phone to ensure clear information exchange and continuity of care.
- Resolved customer complaints promptly by listening to concerns and providing appropriate solutions.
- Assisted team members with training and administrative tasks, contributing to a well-coordinated and efficient work environment.
Care Assistant
Four Seasons Care Home
10.2020 - 11.2021
- Provided personalised care and support to residents, enhancing their quality of life.
- Built strong, trusting relationships with patients by providing continuous support and delivering best possible care.
- Assisted with daily living activities, promoting independence amongst elderly clients.
- Supported residents with mobility issues, using equipment safely to aid movement.
- Documented care provided, ensuring accurate and up-to-date records were kept.
Student Sports Rehabilitator
University of Bolton Sports & Spinal Injury Clinic
09.2019 - 02.2020
- Conducted assessments, treatment, and rehabilitation for diverse clinical caseloads, improving patient recovery outcomes.
- Collaborated with team members to achieve specific rehabilitation goals for patients.
- Engaged with customers to understand their needs and provide tailored rehabilitation services.
Care Assistant
A1 Nursing Home & Care
08.2017 - 08.2019
- Assisted with daily living activities, promoting independence amongst elderly clients.
- Supported residents with mobility issues, using equipment safely to aid movement.
- Built strong, trusting relationships with patients by providing continuous support and delivering best possible care.
- Maintained clean and hygienic living environments, ensuring comfort and safety.
- Participated in training sessions, continuously improving care techniques and knowledge.
Education
Master of Science - Nursing (Mental Health)
University of Central Lancashire
07-2026
BSc (Hons) - Sport Rehabilitation
University of Bolton
A Levels - Psychology, Economics, Sport
St Wilfrid's Academy
GCSEs - including English, Mathematics and Science
St Wilfrid's Academy
Skills
- Risk Assessment
- Mental State Examination (MSE)
- Care Planning
- Crisis Intervention
- De-escalation
- Safeguarding
- Recovery-focused Practice
- MDT Working
- Physical Health Monitoring
- Rehabilitation
- Documentation
- Time Management
- Leadership
- Therapeutic Communication
Clinical Placements
Student Mental Health Nurse – Home Treatment Team
- Supported adults experiencing acute mental health crises within the community.
- Participated in Mental State Examinations (MSEs) and comprehensive risk assessments under supervision.
- Worked alongside nurses, psychiatrists, social workers and other MDT members to deliver recovery-focused care.
- Assisted with crisis intervention, relapse prevention, medication support and discharge planning.
- Developed strong therapeutic communication skills while promoting independence and reducing hospital admissions.
- Provided compassionate care for adults with complex and enduring mental health conditions within an inpatient setting.
- Built therapeutic relationships to promote recovery, dignity and person-centred care.
- Assisted with physical health monitoring, observations, care planning and clinical documentation.
- Applied de-escalation techniques and trauma-informed approaches to safely support patients experiencing distress.
- Worked collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to deliver holistic care.
Timeline
Support Worker
Young People First
11.2024 - Current
Carer (Bank)
Orchard Care Home
11.2024 - 12.2025
Mental Health Support Worker
Greys Healthcare
01.2023 - Current
Rehabilitation Case Manager
HCML
06.2022 - 11.2024
Clinical Assistant
HCML
08.2021 - 06.2022
Care Assistant
Four Seasons Care Home
10.2020 - 11.2021
Student Sports Rehabilitator
University of Bolton Sports & Spinal Injury Clinic
09.2019 - 02.2020
Care Assistant
A1 Nursing Home & Care
08.2017 - 08.2019
Master of Science - Nursing (Mental Health)
University of Central Lancashire
BSc (Hons) - Sport Rehabilitation
University of Bolton
A Levels - Psychology, Economics, Sport
St Wilfrid's Academy
GCSEs - including English, Mathematics and Science
St Wilfrid's Academy