Jennifer Walker
Rhuddlan,Denbighshire
Summary
Enthusiastic, creative and passionate carer, with twenty five years experience of working with children and young people from diverse backgrounds and with wide ranging support needs. I am dedicated to creating fun, creative, adaptable, nurturing and supportive environments for children to learn, grow and thrive. The 0-5yr age range has been my primary focus and experience of child development as a foster carer, though I have worked with older children and have two boys; now 16yrs and 13yrs. I am an outgoing and approachable person, conscientious, patient and have strong interpersonal skills.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Foster Carer
Foster Wales Denbighshire
Rhyl, Denbighshire
2008.08 - 2024.04
- Providing a safe, nurturing, clean and healthy environment to support the growth and development of children. Approved for 3 children. Predominantly 0-5yrs, but have had older children.
- Utilising the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework within the fostering environment. Development areas included communication and language, physical, social and emotional, educational; literacy, numeracy and exploring indoor and outdoor environments. Learning within the home; interacting through creative play, role modelling and routines that facilitated acquiring skills through exploring, having fun, sharing, speaking, listening and reading.
- Supervising group activities with children of a variety of ages; ensuring needs are met, risk assessments and safety measures are carried out with guidelines adhered to and the activities enjoyed.
- Types of care; respite, short term and long term placements. Respite included supporting three families with a child diagnosed with Autism and supporting another foster carer with a cuddle service and respite for a child with Cerebral Palsy level 5 with complex needs which included feeding complexities and administering epilepsy management medication.
- Working in teams; liasing, working alongside and networking with Social Workers, Contact Centre staff, parents, family members and connected carers to CLA (Children Looked After), Adoption/Family Link workers, school staff, health professionals, Nursery staff, toddler groups, behavioural support and community agencies/groups.
- Applied strategies and methods from Theraputic Parenting, Positive Parenting and Parenting children with ADHD to support and guide children whilst also strengthening their ability to build resilience through rehearsed coping mechanisms.
- Record keeping and notifying the relevant personnel of any issues or concerns. When within my remit to do so I have highlighted areas of support and services required and assisted processes with documentation required.
Community Project Worker
Rhyl City Strategy
Rhyl, Denbighshire
2007.08 - 2014.06
- Networking and facilitating development with partners with supporting people into work targets and agendas.
- Devised and delivered a training program to support people enter the retail and hospitality industries.
- Organised and facilitated strategy meetings, wrote reports and evidenced the development and achievements of particpants on courses and tailored back to work programmes for funders.
Disabled/Deaf Young People's Arts Development
North West Disability Arts Forum (NWDAF)
Liverpool, Merseyside
2002.10 - 2007.08
- Organising Arts projects with Disabled and Deaf young people aged 5 - 16yrs
- Initiated and developed a Disability Art young peoples award night as part of DADAFest (a Disability and Deaf Arts Festival).
- Developed links and partnerships with Disabled and Deaf artists and art organisations.
- Assisted with Disability Action Training
Youth Worker
Sussex Street Baptist Church
Rhyl, Denbighshire
2000.10 - 2002.06
- Weekly meetings for 5 - 20 teenagers depending on the meeting.
- Primary and Secondary school links. Part of a schools team using puppets to share the messages of Christmas and Easter.
- Organised day trips/weekend and weeks away.
Education
Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care - Children and Young People
City and Guilds
London 2012.04 - 2013.07
Diploma in Community Development - Community Development
Bangor University
Bangor, Gwynedd 2010.10 - 2012.09
Postgraduate Certificate in Community Development - Community Development
Bangor University
Bangor, Gwynedd 2007.09 - 2009.08
PGCE Secondary Education - English and Music
Bangor University
Bangor, Gwynedd 1999.09 - 2000.06
Degree - English Literature
Bangor University
Bangor, Gwynedd 1996.09 - 1999.07
Skills
- Able to work using the EYFS framework to provide a safe, nurturing and healthy environment for the growth and development of children
- Experienced in knowledge of child development
- Effective at networking , organised, a team player and able to work on own initiative and independently
- Creative - Arts; music, puppetry, crafts, outdoor play
Certification
Hold a UK driving licence
Affiliations
- I read; novels and topic literature. I enjoy music and play the violin and piano (both grade 8). I thrive in the outdoors; exploring nature, walking, discovering new places, camping and getting stuck in with a wide range of outdoor activities.
Timeline
Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care - Children and Young People
City and Guilds
2012.04 - 2013.07
Diploma in Community Development - Community Development
Bangor University
2010.10 - 2012.09
Foster Carer
Foster Wales Denbighshire
2008.08 - 2024.04
Postgraduate Certificate in Community Development - Community Development
Bangor University
2007.09 - 2009.08
Community Project Worker
Rhyl City Strategy
2007.08 - 2014.06
Disabled/Deaf Young People's Arts Development
North West Disability Arts Forum (NWDAF)
2002.10 - 2007.08
Youth Worker
Sussex Street Baptist Church
2000.10 - 2002.06
PGCE Secondary Education - English and Music
Bangor University
1999.09 - 2000.06
Degree - English Literature
Bangor University
1996.09 - 1999.07