kia Blackwood
Bristol,Bristol
Summary
Dedicated and driven Acting Deputy Manager within an adult mental health service, supporting individuals with their complex diagnosis, including severe physical and mental health conditions. Skilled in leading teams, coordinating care, and managing risk in high-pressure environments.
Demonstrates strong leadership and decision-making abilities, with a clear focus on delivering person-centred support. Proven ability to support staff development, maintain compliance with safeguarding and cqc standards.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Acting Deputy Manager
Milestonestrust
Bristol
11.2025 - 05.2026
- Accountable for the team's development and training, implementing leadership support to the team through oversight of service compliance.
- Oversaw staff training and development, implementing support to enhance skills and performance.
- Coordinating with the service manager to develop high service standards.
- Support with the staff rota, managing staff sickness.
- Monitored staff performance and developed improvement plans.
- Support the team's morale and well-being by developing positivity through team development, individual job satisfaction, and support.
- Support the service management with recruitment, interviews, hired staff, and onboarding requirements to align with trust policies.
- Fostered a culture of continuous improvement.
- Engaging staff to suggest and implement process enhancements. Focusing on the organisation's behaviour norms.
- Monitored inventory levels, placing orders to replenish stock while adhering to budget constraints.
- Conducted performance appraisals, providing constructive feedback and setting goals for team members through supervisions, team days, and 1-1 check-ins with staff.
- Led and supported the safeguarding, risk management, and incident reporting of the service, ensuring compliance with CQC standards and organisational policies.
- Monitored service performance, contributing to audits.
- Maintaining an inclusive environment, responding effectively to PWS who are in crisis, and de-escalating high-risk situations.
- Managed daily service requirements, delegating tasks to team members.
- Supported the team with accurate record-keeping, completing regular audits, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Investigating incidents effectively and implementing changes to the service to mitigate future incidents and accidents from reoccurring.
Service Co ordinator
MilestonesTrust
Bristol, South Glos
08.2024 - 11.2025
- Built and maintained effective working relationships.
- Coordinating care and support for individuals with complex mental health needs within the service.
- Managing relevant assessments and care planning. Maintaining oversight and completion of PWS plans and updating plans to reflect these changes.
- Supporting PWS during periods of crisis and unwellness, monitoring their risk, and coordinating interventions effectively.
- Attending multidisciplinary meetings.
- Managing and supporting staff during complex issues, and supporting staff wellbeing.
- Provide day-to-day guidance to staff.
- Ensure policies and procedures are followed, and the organisation's behaviour norms are enforced.
- Promote a positive, safe working environment through support with training, staff development, and mentoring.
- Accurate record-keeping and leading by example to uphold CQC standards.
- Investigate incident and accident reports.
- Providing additional support to staff during supervisions and 1-1 support to enable staff confience and compliance to organisational standards
ATL
MilestonesTrust
Bristol, South Glos
05.2022 - 09.2024
- Monitored team performance, identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes and support to the PWS.
- Liaised between management and staff, advocating for team and PWS needs.
- Communicated daily tasks clearly with colleagues, aiding timely support and high-quality standards.
- Adapted quickly to changes within the service and ways of working, leading by example.
- Supervised the team to deliver person-centred support.
- Ensured health and safety standards were consistently adhered to.
- Developed open and professional relationships with team members to facilitate effective resolution and support.
- Delivered quality service with friendly and professional demeanour.
Unsupervised Support Worker
MilestonesTrust
Bristol
09.2020 - 05.2022
- Assisted PWS with daily living activities, including personal hygiene, mobility, and promoting independence.
- Provided personalised care and support to individuals with needs, enhancing their quality of life.
- Offered emotional support, reducing feelings of isolation.
- Completed detailed reports to document PWS, concerns, wellness, and progress.
- Encouraged and supported PWS to be independent, supporting them out into the community.
- Developed trusting relationships with service users and advocated on their behalf to the management team.
Education
NVQ Level 3 - NCFE CACHE LEVEL 3 Certificate In Preparing To Work In Adult Social Care Sgs college, Bristol
Filton SGS college
Filton01-2018
Skills
- Team development
- Staff training
- Service compliance
- Performance monitoring
- Risk management
- Leadership skills
- Team motivation
- Organisational skills where i support to manage rotas, staffing levels, and shift support/oversight Prioritising tasks in a fast-paced environment
- Safeguarding and compliance knowledge
- Incident reporting and investigating
- Active listening
- Quality assurance
- Time-management
- Crisis intervention
Timeline
Acting Deputy Manager
Milestonestrust
11.2025 - 05.2026
Service Co ordinator
MilestonesTrust
08.2024 - 11.2025
ATL
MilestonesTrust
05.2022 - 09.2024
Unsupervised Support Worker
MilestonesTrust
09.2020 - 05.2022
NVQ Level 3 - NCFE CACHE LEVEL 3 Certificate In Preparing To Work In Adult Social Care Sgs college, Bristol
Filton SGS college