Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Certification
Personal Interests
References
Timeline
Generic

Elizabeth Burgess

Over Houlton,Bolton

Summary

Playing a vital role, as the Pastoral, SEND and Safeguarding Practitioner at Sacred Heart Catholic School, my ambition is for children and young people and their families to live safe, healthy and live fulfilling lives. Showing empathy, kindness and compassion whilst assisting them to become more resilient and develop their capabilities to prevent and resolve problems at the earliest opportunity.


Serving as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) it is essential to undertake appropriate training and consistently pursue further CPD opportunities. This ensures I stay up to date with sector developments and best practices.


Occasionally, I have been a professional lead for families with complex and multiple needs or families who have reached out for support. Ensuring attendance from other relevant professionals that support the family are present to review the progress that has been made and to celebrate their strengths. Building strong relationships with both children and their families, I believe they trust me enough to seek additional support if needed. Completing Early Help Assessments to understand the family needs and supporting them to access resources.

Overview

29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work history

Pastoral, SEND and Safeguarding Practitioner.

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
Warrington, Cheshire
01.2023 - 12.2025
  • I report any concerns about pupil wellbeing to relevant external agencies that are listed below when necessary -

Multi-Agency Request for Support (MARS)

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)

Warrington Mental Health Services (WMHS)

  • Establish constructive relationships with parents/carers to facilitate effective communication and partnership between school and home.
  • To promote and reinforce children’s self-esteem and encourage them to maximise their achievement and development.
  • My role requires me to attend meetings such as Team around the Family (TAF) Children in Need (CIN) Child Protection meetings and conferences.
  • Working closely with social workers, I have completed direct work with children to understand their wishes and feelings. These are presented in professional meetings or used for supporting statements.
  • To record safeguarding matters using CPOMS and following correct policies and procedures set by the school and local authority.
  • Participating in internal and multi-agency exchange of information and best practice, ensuring that data protection and child protection policies are adhered to.
  • As an attendance lead, my role encourages me to collaborate with the Local Authority (LA) by keeping track of pupil attendance, especially for our most vulnerable pupils, and report any concerns to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).
  • Trained as Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA), I send referral forms to lead teachers to identify necessary interventions for pupils needing extra support. Developing and employing a range of strategies and resources to support children to manage their own behaviour and feelings. Working closely with the school SENCO and having regular supervision meetings with an Educational Psychologist, we establish children into small groups or for 1-1 sessions depending on their individual needs of the child. Organising fun activities relating to self-esteem, social skills, emotions, bereavement, friendship skills, classroom management and anger management but most of all, finding time to listen is important.
  • Being enthusiastic and having the passion to go above and beyond, I trained as a Healing Together Facilitator. Providing support to children and families affected by domestic abuse. The training has equipped me with necessary skills to deliver trauma enforced programmes effectively.

Teaching assistant

St Luke's Catholic Primary School
Prescot, Knowsley
03.2012 - 12.2022
  • Supported classroom teacher with behaviour management, promoting positive learning environment.
  • Assisted in lesson planning for effective curriculum delivery.
  • Maintained up-to-date records of pupil progress, tracking individual development effectively.
  • Provided additional support to students with special educational needs, ensuring inclusivity.

Accounting Assistant

Park Inn Hotel St. Helens
St Helens, Merseyside
01.2008 - 01.2010
  • Banking reconciliation
  • Credit Control
  • Purchase ledger
  • End of month procedures
  • Updating and maintaining various spreadsheets

Special Events Coordinator

Park Inn Hotel
St Helens
01.2007 - 01.2008
  • Greeted guests and escorted them on show rounds for special events including weddings, party packages and corporate meetings.
  • Collecting daily post and distributing to different departments
  • Successfully delivered on tasks within tight deadlines.
  • Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
  • Worked flexible hours, covering nights, weekends and bank holidays.
  • Offered friendly, efficient customer service and handled challenging situations with ease.
  • Recording and banking payments onto the system.
  • Designing promotional material for local newspapers and websites

Bar/Waitress

Hilton Hotel
St Helens, Merseyside
01.1997 - 01.2007
  • Maintaining safe and secure working environment
  • Assisted in event organisation at the bar, leading to successful evenings.
  • Checked identification for age verification, complying with legal requirements.
  • Demonstrated excellent knowledge of menu items to make recommendations.
  • Resolved customer complaints amicably with tactful communication.
  • Carried out daily opening and closing duties meticulously, maintaining operational readiness.

Education

NCFE Level 4 Advanced Practitioner - Schools and Colleges

St Helens College
Merseyside

NCFE Level 2 - Understanding Children and young people’s mental health

Warrington and Royal Vale College
Cheshire

NCFE Level 2 - Behaviour that challenges

Warrington and Royal Vale College
Cheshire

NCFE Level 2 - Business Administration

Warrington and Royal College
Cheshire

NCFE Level 3 - Supporting Teaching and Learning Schools

St Helens College
Merseyside

NCFE Level 2 - Extended Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools

St Helens College
Merseyside

NVQ Level 3 - Food and Hygiene

City and Guilds
Liverpool

GNVQ - Art and Design

St Helens College
Merseyside

7 GCSE’S - Maths and English

St. Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic School
Knowsley

Skills

  • Familiarity with child safeguarding
  • Knowledge of safeguarding procedures
  • Certified in safeguarding children
  • Understanding child safeguarding policies
  • Calm under pressure
  • Problem-solving
  • Communication skills
  • Time management efficiency
  • Advocacy for families
  • Record-keeping
  • Early Help assessments
  • Think Family Approach
  • Building relationships
  • Trauma-informed care
  • Record keeping accuracy
  • Mental health support techniques

Certification

Certificates gained are available upon request.

Personal Interests

Being quite busy and active is really important to me for my own mental health and wellbeing. I take great pleasure taking part in outdoor activities whether it’s cycling, hiking or camping. 

Taking part in charity events to raise awareness also holds a special place in my heart. 

References

Colleen Harding - Head Teacher

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School

01925 636235

Timeline

Pastoral, SEND and Safeguarding Practitioner.

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
01.2023 - 12.2025

Teaching assistant

St Luke's Catholic Primary School
03.2012 - 12.2022

Accounting Assistant

Park Inn Hotel St. Helens
01.2008 - 01.2010

Special Events Coordinator

Park Inn Hotel
01.2007 - 01.2008

Bar/Waitress

Hilton Hotel
01.1997 - 01.2007

NCFE Level 4 Advanced Practitioner - Schools and Colleges

St Helens College

NCFE Level 2 - Understanding Children and young people’s mental health

Warrington and Royal Vale College

NCFE Level 2 - Behaviour that challenges

Warrington and Royal Vale College

NCFE Level 2 - Business Administration

Warrington and Royal College

NCFE Level 3 - Supporting Teaching and Learning Schools

St Helens College

NCFE Level 2 - Extended Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools

St Helens College

NVQ Level 3 - Food and Hygiene

City and Guilds

GNVQ - Art and Design

St Helens College

7 GCSE’S - Maths and English

St. Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic School
Elizabeth Burgess