Karen Thomas

Maintaining high levels of client support to Alabaré residents in North and South Wales. Enabling clients to become confident in their social mobility into independent living. Remove barriers to financial stability with increase understanding of personal finances and budgeting. Improve long term health & wellbeing via increased understanding of nutrition, personal health care & self-help techniques. Focusing on real world/achievable habits and NHS recognised 5 Ways to Wellbeing techniques. Present options and accompany in attending community groups and events that help beneficiaries build their own community. Provide support plans for clients to be able to become financially stable, through creating direct links between them and places of employment. Identify possible work placements for client’s, either through apprentices, volunteer/training or direct work. Organised regular practice sessions for honing skills and techniques. Build strong internal relationships with operational departments within Alabaré, ensuring Alabaré service users are aware of opportunities available from ‘Boots on the Ground’ initiative attending veterans camps and participating in outdoor activities such as Archery and helping with logging, cooking and all aspects of camping. Maintaining good working relationships with homes and services, including Veterans’ Self Build. Guiding them to other services to compliment long term change. Offer beneficiaries a calculated and a personalised agenda for change. Maintain good internal and multi-agency communication in relation to beneficiary support plan. Identify and collaborate with a broad range of referral pathways. Keeping an accurate & conclusive case notes onto a secure portal in a timely manner. Recognise and incorporate other support measures being delivered by Alabaré staff and external agencies. Collect evaluation and key performance data required in line with Operation Fortitude funding. Write case studies that reflect beneficiary journey and outcomes. Assist beneficiaries in applications for referrals and general correspondence. Gather and record distance travelled metrics for each client. Write safeguarding reports if necessary. Submit monthly reporting documents. Work in collaboration with colleagues to develop excellent relationships with stakeholders such as local and regional businesses, other charities, and voluntary sector groups. Interviewing and disciplinary of staff when required.

Working as part of the support team identifying veterans' needs in rural areas of Wales offering support for former members of the Armed Forces and Emergency Services and their families within isolation. Identify a referral by listening and passing on to other organisations such as local authorities, health, housing and employment where the aim will be to support our veterans and their families to our best ability. In collaboration with other support groups breakfast club hub’s and prisons, to widen the support in each area, also participating in home visits complying Developed and implemented policies and procedures to enhance operational efficiency. Conducted interviews and led training for volunteers to optimise engagement. Identified research opportunities to support veterans and families, promoting social interaction. Assisting with administrative needs such as letter writing and form filling, support given with Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance. Support given to complete a Mandatory Reconsideration if claim not awarded. Ensuring the veteran is given the best chance by compiling more information, next stage is the appeal stage if rejected, support is given to attend. Individuals are kept up to date with the progress of support at all times. All information is recorded on a log and kept confidential between the support team and individual concerned. Welfare checks completed. Reports are compiled for outcomes. Networking with other organisations or agencies.

Implemented individual personal support plans to ensure that service users are supported in developing their own skills to their full potential. Preparing individual weekly meal planner to ensure a nutritional diet. Be responsible for ensuring care and support to the highest standard in-line with contracts, support plans best practice and having regard to legislation and regulation. Provide support including practical active emotional support to service users, to recognise and deal with adult protection issues and duty of care and comply with policy and procedures for safeguarding of vulnerable adults. To maintain accurate and factual records at all times. Observe and report mental, emotional, and physical well-being at all times. Assist, support and encourage service users to become integrated members of their local community such as:- educational, occupational, social and leisure. General housekeeping duties, cooking, shopping, domestic duties and helping service users to maintain all aspects of their domestic lives. Managing and recording of service user’s monies. Compiling a weekly planner of activities and housework . Drive company vehicles to ensure service users maintain quality of life such as:- shopping, leisure facilities, days out, cinema, concerts, holiday, doctors/dentist appointments, which also entails planning of route to destinations covering most of Wales. General car checks in-line with policies.

Facilitated face-to-face and telephone interactions with members to provide assistance and guidance. Conducted saving interviews by appointment, determining requirements through relevant questioning. Executed transactions including withdrawals, deposits, bank transfers, and CHAPS payments efficiently. Updated member information including ID, bereavement details, address changes, and name alterations. Addressed banking queries while maintaining confidentiality and adhering to data protection regulations. Ensured compliance with terms, conditions, and security protocols during all transactions. Managed ongoing E-learning assessments to stay updated on industry practices. Served as key holder for branch operations, overseeing MATS and PRM enquiries.

Contributed innovative ideas to advance business and team objectives. Ensured security of stock and cash through relevant processes and policies. Complied with legislation, health, and food safety responsibilities during training. Engaged in implementation of company sales strategy. Adhered strictly to cash and stock control policies. Maintained confidentiality of employee and organisational information per Data Protection Act. Demonstrated commitment to principles of equality and diversity. Delivered customer service aligned with POL agency minimum service standards. Coordinated mail sorting, resulting in improved delivery times. Maintained up-to-date knowledge on postal regulations and products, delivering accurate information to clients. Training of staff. Monthly and Quarterly reports compiled.