Katie Grota

I have worked in a SEMH Children's Residential Home within Solent Childcare for 3 years. Progressing from a Support Worker to a Senior Support Worker, a Deputy Manager, Trainee Manager, Peripatetic Manager to my current role as a Registered Manager.

Within my role, I have complete oversight of the home. Managing a team of 7 adults and 2 children. Completing managerial tasks such as rotas, supervisions, inductions, probations etc. Ensuring the home is working within regulation and applying any feedback received from Reg 44 and Ofsted inspectors.

I attend all professionals meetings such as LAC/CIC reviews, PEP and EHCP reviews, contact planning meetings etc. Continually advocating for the children's best interests and ensuring they have access to all services they need. Addressing any safeguarding concerns which arise and ensure there is protocols in place to make safe practice. In addition, ensuring all documents within the home are up-to-date and shared accordingly.

Within this role I completed Care Act Assessments, Mental Capacity Assessments and Risk assessments. I have worked within the Care Act framework to identify eligible needs which can be met through social care support and community resources.

The duties I had included providing statutory support to adults with care and support needs and their carers/families, which includes information and advice, assessment, support planning and safeguarding. Complying within legal frameworks for social care in line with personalisation principles, which aim to put individuals, families and communities at the heart of care and wellbeing; and in doing so strengthens relationships between members of that community and builds social capital. Operate within defined budgets for social care. Working in partnership and liaison with partners including primary, secondary and tertiary health care, private providers, voluntary sector organisations and others to provide coordinated support for customers and/or carers. To provide support to individuals and their families during crisis to help prevent carer breakdown and hospital admissions

Within this role I carried out statutory adult social care duties commissioned by Bath and North East Somerset Council. During my time on placement I developed a great insight into working with adults with complex health needs as well as their carers/family members.

Carrying out an array of different assessments, coordinating multi-disciplinary meetings and effectively working with other professionals and agencies. Whilst on this placement, I developed an understanding of how to gain insight around a service users needs, understanding how their needs can impact their quality of life.

At Curo, I was placed within a supported housing accommodation made up of 30 ex-homeless young people aged between 17 to 25. within the Work Wise team. The purpose of the Work Wise team was to provide employment opportunities and training, facilitating a support role helping to build the confidence of the residents to stabilise them within employment/education settings.

In doing this, I developed experience managing and supporting those with challenging behaviour, building relationships with those who have a history if disengagement with services as well as providing practical support e.g CV, job searching etc. I had to find creative ways to alleviate the economic barriers and pressures on the young people within the accommodation.