Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Membership Of Professional Bodies
Interests Activities Voluntary Work
Other Qualifications
Personal Information
References
Timeline
Generic

Karen Grant

Findhorn,MRY

Summary

I have enjoyed a varied working background. I started of in the leisure industry. I then moved into the care industry in various settings. I then transferred my care to plants and gardens and land care. I have experienced a good variety of working relationships. I have studied theatre, music and nature connection. I have and continue to have my own business in land care, and people care.

Overview

35
35
years of professional experience

Work History

Woodworking Business Owner

Treeka handmade by Karen Grant
01.2012 - Current
  • I have my own woodworking business “Treeka handmade by Karen Grant”
  • I make mirrors and frames from reclaimed wood.

Gardener/Small Business Owner

Self Employed
01.2011 - Current
  • I started as an Assistant Gardener and worked along side Tom in hs business for several years
  • We carried out garden maintenance, drystone walling, fencing, edging, laying lawns hedge trimming and weeding as well as many other jobs
  • I then started my own business and ran that successfully for several years
  • I still on occasion do private client jobs
  • Jobs have included building veg beds, planting, tending to veg beds, bed prep, landscaping, weeding, sorting, tidying, building, repairs.
  • I am an Organic gardener and I am always try to find ways to work with nature and its own intelligence.
  • I have managed 6 acres of land

Care Work

Private Client
10.2023 - 12.2023
  • I assisted an elderly gentleman in end of life care
  • In this post I took care of physical and emotional support needs

Garden Manager

Findhorn Foundation
01.2022 - 01.2023
  • For 16 months I worked as a Garden Manager for the Findhorn Foundation
  • I managed 6 acres of land which I have partly rewilded
  • I held groups in the garden and facilitated work sessions for up to 20 people
  • I did educational tours in the garden about the benefits of biodiversity and organic gardening and nature connection
  • I held volunteers in the garden as well as guests
  • I managed the day to day planning of the work and tasks which included regular garden maintenance
  • We had a good composting system as well as leaf mould and made our own comfrey
  • We also grew some veg for the kitchen from seed and had a herb garden.
  • We had a polytunnel and in it grew some tomatoes grapes and greens
  • We used permaculture principles and had some leafy greens near the back door of the kitchen for ease of access
  • We experimented with making our own seedling compost
  • I worked very closely with this land and became very passionate about rewilding and giving back to nature as much as possible The insect and animal and wild flower biodiversity in the garden made my soul sing
  • I got to know the different habitats for different creatures and supported them to thrive
  • In our other garden we had a market garden which I would regularly help out in
  • This was a successful organic veg growing garden
  • I also took care of of over 100 house plants and propagated plants in our greenhouse and in our propagator
  • I have also used a scythe on some of the grass areas which I really enjoyed as it is far better for the environment and I liked going back to old ways
  • I was responsible for all health and safety and training for volunteers and guests and also the maintenance of the various tools
  • I have learnt a lot and have still much to learn which is very exciting
  • I am passionate about food security and taking care of the environment
  • I really enjoyed helping people to change their thinking and approach to how they work with their own land rather than DO the land I advocated connecting with it and getting to know it and appreciating it and working in partnership with its intelligence
  • I am very passionate about Organic veg and herb growing

Business Owner

Self Employed
01.2021 - 01.2022
  • I had my own Handy Person and gardening jobs business
  • I did a wide variety of jobs and successfully run a very varied business
  • I would do anything from performance work to fixing sheds
  • I basically turned myself into a business.

Support Work

Findhorn Bay Care Farm
01.2019 - 01.2020
  • I worked as a Support Worker at the Findhorn Bay Care Farm
  • Supporting Adults with Special Needs too work in a community organic vegetable garden
  • We also organized creativity sessions with the clients.

Support Work

Private Home
01.2019 - 01.2020
  • I cared for an Elderly lady
  • Visiting her home several times a day.
  • Took care of her physical emotional and social needs on a daily basis
  • Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.

Live in Care

Private Home
01.2018 - 01.2019
  • I worked as a live in carer for an elderly couple for the last 15 months.

Shop Assistant

Sky Delights
01.2010 - 01.2018
  • Supporting the development of a new business in Nairn
  • The business is focused around the principles of organic vegetarian consumption; being healthy, wholesome and ethical; and sustainability
  • Activities planned within the shop include creating workshops for specific dietary needs and specialist foods
  • Most development is based upon responding to customer feedback and finding creative solutions to expressed health needs.

Support

Private Client
01.2012 - 01.2013
  • I worked as a personal assistant for a local girl who is on the Autistic spectrum.

Music Teacher

01.2009 - 01.2009
  • Self-employed music teacher
  • Provided one-to-one guitar and drum tuition
  • Marketing and promotion skills were honed in order to attract clients
  • Bespoke educational packages were devised in order to align teaching and learning styles for each individual
  • Responding supportively to each student's unique and changing needs involved the ability to work creatively, proactively and to improvise as new challenges arose
  • All learning plans were discussed with each student to ensure a shared approach to learning.

Various Jobs

Various
01.2002 - 01.2004
  • Traveled overseas working in various jobs across New Zealand and Australia including marketing and fundraising for a charitable organization; sales representative for BakPak; supervisory agricultural work within a vineyard; manager of a spiritual retreat; catering assistant for gourmet event specialist
  • These posts were fairly transient in nature and helped develop skills related to effectively adapting to new contexts and developing new working and personal relationships quickly.

Support Worker

Key Housing
01.1998 - 01.2001
  • Support worker- supporting adults with special needs and challenging behaviors to integrate within the community, having previously resided within an institution
  • The ethos of the organization was to empower each individual and promote independence by encouraging and developing his/ her own abilities and self-reliance
  • I was able to demonstrate and develop my skills of therapeutic communication, networking and creating opportunities for social and emotional development
  • During this time I saw service users becoming increasingly included within their communities and develop a sense of purpose, greater choice and freedom
  • Daily tasks for me included medicines management, financial management, activity planning, as well as providing emotional, social and spiritual support
  • Observational and assessment skills were essential in order to detect subtle changes in residents' physical and mental health; particularly when communication was limited.

Care Leader

Leonard Cheshire Foundation
01.1996 - 01.1998
  • Care Leader - Led a team of carers to support adults with physical and emotional needs in sheltered housing
  • Provided supervision to staff members and volunteers
  • This role involved a significant amount of personal care provision, associated assessment and evaluation, as well as medicines management and parenteral feeding
  • My role was also to encourage and enable residents both to participate in existing activities and to develop their own sense of community by establishing their own range of activities, both within and outwith the care context
  • Residents were also supported to seek appropriate employment/volunteer opportunities, necessitating sensitive partnership-working between employers, the care agency and previously disenfranchised individuals
  • This post required a delicate balance of compassion, pragmatism and practicality.

Swimming Instructor

NHS Highland
01.1994 - 01.1998
  • Swimming instructor for children and adults with physical disabilities, learning difficulties and challenging behavior's
  • Specialist communication and teaching skills were employed to enable participants' physical, social and emotional development, as well as a sense of fun within a learning context
  • Health and safety, as well as risk assessment skills, were paramount within this context
  • Advanced training was also provided for a client who was in the British swim team and attended the Special Olympics.

Lifeguard

Fylde Borough and Airdrie Council
01.1991 - 01.1994
  • Lifeguard at public swimming baths
  • Worked with the general public, ensuring their safety at all times
  • Assertiveness, team work and clear communication were essential elements of this role.

Leisure Club Assistant/Activities Co-ordinator

Stakis Hotels
01.1989 - 01.1991
  • Worked within a four-star hotel providing excellent customer service within the leisure complex.
  • Guided and developed leisure activities both within the hotel complex and the surrounding countryside
  • Started to develop interpersonal skills within a professional capacity.

Education

Some College (No Degree) - Shamanism

Embracing Shamanism
Inverness

Some College (No Degree) - Life Coaching

Expert Coach Training
Online

Shamanic Practitioner Course -

01.2022

HNC Acting and Performance - Acting

Inverness College UHI
Inverness, HLD
01.2018

NC Acting and Performance - Acting

Moray College UHI
Elgin
01.2017

First semester of Mental Health nurse education programme - Nursing

University of Stirling, Highland Campus
Inverness
01.2010

Bachelor of Science (Nursing) - Palliative Care

University of Stirling, Highland Campus
01.2009

National Qualification Health and Social Care -

Inverness College
01.2006

National Certificate Music Performance - Music

Thurso College
Thurso, HLD
01.2001

Standard/ O-Grades - High School

Alness Academy
Alness
01.1989

Skills

  • Cultural Awareness
  • Data Management
  • Relationship Building
  • PPE use
  • Friendly, Positive Attitude
  • Written Communication
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Excellent Communication
  • Attention to Detail
  • Calm Under Pressure
  • Organization and Time Management
  • Data Entry
  • Analytical and Critical Thinking
  • Multitasking Abilities
  • Active Listening
  • Using Hand Tools
  • Problem Solving
  • Grounds and House Maintenance
  • Driving

Membership Of Professional Bodies

Member of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) 2006-2010

Interests Activities Voluntary Work

  • Performer
  • Shamanism
  • Nature Connection
  • Veg Growing
  • Healing Practitioner
  • Wildlife
  • Musician
  • Art
  • Kayaking
  • Camping
  • Birdwatching
  • DIY
  • Cooking and Healthy Food
  • Environmental Studies
  • Leadership
  • Natural Medicine
  • Self Improvement
  • Theatre
  • Woodwork
  • Yoga


Other Qualifications

  • Nature Intelligence Dreaming of the Earth
  • Shamanic Practitioner Training
  • Alchemist Healing Circle Training
  • Laughter Yoga Training
  • Vogels Herbal Workbook
  • Group Discovery Games
  • The Butterfly Effect
  • The Artists Way
  • Food Safety for Retail certificate
  • Registered Nurse (Adult)
  • Immediate Life Support (Resuscitation Council)
  • Skills-based Training on Risk Management for suicide prevention (University of Stirling)
  • Getting it Right Together (Learning Disability education package, University of Stirling)
  • Therapeutic responses to the management of violence and aggression (University of Stirling)
  • Moving and Handling (University of Stirling)
  • Introduction to Counseling Skills (University of Aberdeen)
  • Food Hygiene and Safety Certificate (Highland Council)
  • Introduction to Sign Language (RNID)
  • Lifeguard Training (Royal Life Saving Society UK)
  • Swimming Instructor (People with special needs)

Personal Information

Date of Birth: 01/19/73

References

  • Julia Kinnair, Garden Manager (Lead), 07393354176
  • Karen Collins, Business Owner @ Naturally Useful, 07926809521

Timeline

Care Work

Private Client
10.2023 - 12.2023

Garden Manager

Findhorn Foundation
01.2022 - 01.2023

Business Owner

Self Employed
01.2021 - 01.2022

Support Work

Findhorn Bay Care Farm
01.2019 - 01.2020

Support Work

Private Home
01.2019 - 01.2020

Live in Care

Private Home
01.2018 - 01.2019

Woodworking Business Owner

Treeka handmade by Karen Grant
01.2012 - Current

Support

Private Client
01.2012 - 01.2013

Gardener/Small Business Owner

Self Employed
01.2011 - Current

Shop Assistant

Sky Delights
01.2010 - 01.2018

Music Teacher

01.2009 - 01.2009

Various Jobs

Various
01.2002 - 01.2004

Support Worker

Key Housing
01.1998 - 01.2001

Care Leader

Leonard Cheshire Foundation
01.1996 - 01.1998

Swimming Instructor

NHS Highland
01.1994 - 01.1998

Lifeguard

Fylde Borough and Airdrie Council
01.1991 - 01.1994

Leisure Club Assistant/Activities Co-ordinator

Stakis Hotels
01.1989 - 01.1991

Some College (No Degree) - Shamanism

Embracing Shamanism

Some College (No Degree) - Life Coaching

Expert Coach Training

Shamanic Practitioner Course -

HNC Acting and Performance - Acting

Inverness College UHI

NC Acting and Performance - Acting

Moray College UHI

First semester of Mental Health nurse education programme - Nursing

University of Stirling, Highland Campus

Bachelor of Science (Nursing) - Palliative Care

University of Stirling, Highland Campus

National Qualification Health and Social Care -

Inverness College

National Certificate Music Performance - Music

Thurso College

Standard/ O-Grades - High School

Alness Academy

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Karen Grant