Keren Tait

In my current role, I am dedicated to improving young people's attendance. I manage the daily attendance register and maintain regular contact with parents through phone calls and home visits to discuss strategies for improvement. I have learned that for young people to succeed, they must understand the importance of their education. This understanding must also extend to their families.

I frequently assist families with financial advice and refer them to specialized agencies for further support. Additionally, I provide families with food and hygiene parcels. Through this role, I have realized that school attainment can be challenging for young people due to various reasons. Each case is unique and requires a tailored approach to effectively address the issues.

I am comfortable working both independently and as part of a team.

I always Achieve high quality standards with meticulous attention to detail.

I played a key role in developing transition events for young carers in Dundee, helping them move from primary to high school. I also facilitated previous years' transition days. During the Harris transition day, we met at Menziehill Community Centre and played games to foster relationship-building. We then took a bus to Harris, demonstrating invaluable skills to the young carers to help them feel comfortable after the holidays. Due to COVID restrictions, we had an outdoor tour of Harris. I also organized an informative scavenger hunt along Perth Road, asking questions like, "Which side of the road would you get the bus home?" and "Where is the closest appropriate crossing in the morning?" The children loved it, and we ended the day with ice cream at the V&A.

Additionally, I was actively involved in the rollout of transition events for two other high schools last year. I ran a well-attended parent carer group in the Strathmartine area of Dundee, playing an integral role in its creation. I also developed two more parent carer groups in partnership with school and family development workers. Through this job, I realized my passion for helping and protecting children to achieve their goals. I understand that this can only be achieved by building trust and making individuals feel comfortable.

My responsibilities included managing my own schedule and covering six towns in Angus. I worked independently for most of the week, adapting to ensure I was always organized for support sessions. This role required meticulous organization, as support sessions were often held in doctors' surgeries or social work offices rather than my own office, enhancing my ability to work well alone.

Handling a large caseload across various areas in Angus significantly improved my time management skills and ability to work under pressure. Despite being based in the community, I regularly attended team meetings and development days at the hub where my colleagues were based.

I frequently participated in multi-agency meetings, collaborating with police, social work, health, and housing professionals to ensure the needs of women and young people were met. These meetings focused on risk and safety, and I also attended adult protection meetings to assess and implement measures for vulnerable individuals.

In both my previous and current roles, I have understood the importance of confidentiality and data protection legislation. I have been involved in regular care inspectorate audits, ensuring all paperwork is up to date and completed correctly.