Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Gaps in working History.
Timeline
Generic

Nicola Dearden

Counsellor
Pontypool,Torfaen County Borough

Summary

A mature and professional individual with a strong commitment to teamwork and individual excellence. Demonstrates exceptional communication skills, a friendly and approachable personality, and a dedication to punctuality, honesty, and trustworthiness.

Possesses good practical skills, the ability to work quickly and methodically, and an understanding of complete confidentiality in handling patient or client information. Highly aware of health and safety protocols, with experience in special needs support. Known for being very patient, understanding, and professional in all interactions. My background as a skilled care professional with fostering has given me a deep understanding of children's additional needs such as a diagnosis of Autism / ADHD ,high functioning Asperger's Syndrome or Trauma. Combined with my Counselling this enables me to provide emotional support required in these areas. Offering strong interpersonal skills, provide strategies and coping mechanisms in place while displaying patience, and empathy.

I am ready to apply my knowledge and convert it into practical experience.

Overview

25
25
years of professional experience

Work history

Foster Carer

Torfaen County Borough
Pontypool, Torfaen
01.2019 - 03.2022
  • Provided 24-hour day to day care of children aged between 0 -12 years in my own home.
  • Met ongoing needs of the child, coordinating with supporting professionals and specialists about effectiveness of attachments and while focusing on the child's individual needs.
  • Facilitated further skill development by providing effective mentoring in life skills, such as appropriate Interaction with others, while introducing a daily routine with boundaries.
  • Advocated for social, emotional and educational stability of child with complex emotional and behavioural needs, such as anger and self harm.
  • Established close relationships with the child, use community resources, such as teachers, health professionals, social workers and GP to consistently meet the Child's development needs.
  • Employed high level of care and responded to behavioural crisis situations, applying the least restrictive intervention methods possible to ensure child safety.
  • Ensured children received a safe stable upbringing, attending local community events and activities to encourage regular interaction.
  • Made sure the child overcame trauma by seeking the right professional help, attended Gp, therapy appointments, promptly implementing reliability and essential to Child's needs.
  • Effectively taught socially acceptable ways to behave and communicate, reinforcing appropriate behaviours through trauma-informed care.
  • Assisted in extra tuition at home by providing the child with a home learning environment conducive to a level of assisted study, to enable the child to improve in the areas that the child had underdeveloped knowledge.
  • Assured the child developed into well-rounded individual building confidence and helping the child open up and express feelings,
  • Communicating and arranging contact with family members.

Residential Support Worker (work experience)

Ty Ceirios
Pontypool, Wales
04.2012 - 06.2012
  • Specialised in care for patients with age related needs. Ensuring best possible safety and welfare at all times in line with nursing home Policies.
  • Supported mealtimes and assisted in feeding.
  • Developed strong rapport with residents' relatives to further understand the patient and build and build good trusting relationship.
  • Updated daily food and fluid intake charts daily to monitor patient health.
  • Enhanced daily patient life through compassionate communication and encouragement to partake in suitable activities for improved sense of purpose.
  • Provided day-to-day care such as personal and holistic for improved quality of life and increased level of dignity.

Care Support Worker

Private employer
Cwmbran
01.2010 - 11.2010
  • Maintained high levels of patient morale, providing guidance and encouragement to patients through physical and emotional support.
  • Coordinated with all levels of medical staff, to ensure all healthcare needs were being addressed.
  • Meticulously following individualised care plans to achieve agreed objectives.
  • Helped support individual to continuously achieve their personal goals and aspirations.
  • Coordinated and planned personal care schedules, supporting one person to lead fulfilling life.
  • Assisted in all aspects of personal care, such as personal hygiene, including bathing and dressing, prioritising patient's dignity, privacy and independence at all times. Encouraging independence and activity appropriate to individual ability.
  • Built relationships and worked in close partnership with families, friends and carers to improve care plan effectiveness.
  • Prepared 3 nutritious meals per day, strictly following dietician orders to enhance therapy given.
  • Supported client in a range of living tasks, including cleaning and pushing wheel chair, shopping observing and respecting the individual's wishes at all times.
  • Support and encourage individual to pursue hobbies and leisure activities, such swimming, bingo and choir activities.

Cook

High Street Chip Shop
Pontypool, Torfaen County Borough
07.2008 - 12.2008
  • Ordered and received products and supplies to maintain well-stocked kitchen areas.
  • Communicated closely with head chef to fully understand special customer orders, including those with allergies and intolerances.
  • Provided courteous and informative customer service in open kitchen format.
  • Diligently enforced proper sanitation practices to prevent spoilage or contamination of foods.
  • Changed and sanitised all cutting boards, benches and surfaces between tasks to avoid cross-contamination.
  • Correctly and safely operated all kitchen equipment in accordance with set guidelines.
  • Received food orders from cashiers, cooking items with accuracy and efficiency for well-timed service.
  • Provided excellent customer service by addressing needs of customers in a timely and effective manner .
  • Followed proper food handling methods and maintained correct temperature of all food products.

Shop Assistant

Co-operative store
Pontypool, Torfaen County Borough
12.2004 - 12.2005
  • Assisted customers with product selection, sales, and returns.
  • Replenished floor stock and processed shipments to provide product availability for customers.
  • Maintained knowledge of current promotions, exchange guidelines, payment policies and security practices.
  • Remained flexible to commit to sick cover and overtime to maintain smooth workflow in busy periods.
  • Completed purchases with cash, credit and debit payment methods.
  • Responsible for opening and closing processes of the shop.

Petrol Station Salesperson

Pavillion Garage
Pontypool, Torfaen County Borough
06.2004 - 12.2004
  • Opened and closed fuel station, ensuring security measures were in place for enhanced establishment safety.
  • Promoted special offers on retail products, while Providing a warm, friendly welcome to customers, ensuring excellent standards of service and care.
  • Monitored retail stock levels, restocking shelves as appropriate for visually-appealing product displays.
  • Used release pump effectively to allow customers to operate and manage fuel station pumps for customer use.
  • Processed payments effectively and efficiently, ensuring compliance with cash and credit handling regulations.

Front of House Host

Parkway Hotel
Cwmbran, Wales
03.2002 - 09.2003
  • Monitored front entrance for new guests while assisting servers by taking and delivering drink orders.
  • Answered incoming phone calls, accurately inputting reservation requests into computer software.
  • Documented reservations and communicated changes to guest bookings.
  • Resolved guest and employee complaints to maintain complete customer satisfaction and workforce effectiveness.
  • Worked with front of house staff to move tables and adjust seating to accommodate groups with special requests.
  • Swiftly processed payments, Kept detailed payment records throughout shift to complete takings of cash and card payments daily.
  • Ensured front-of-house cleanliness affectively to promote customers positive first impressions.

Pharmacy Assistant

Lloyds Pharmacy
Stoke on Trent
05.2001 - 02.2002
  • Verified order information against computer database.
  • Kept pharmacy counter and related areas clean, neat and organised.
  • Delivered professional advice over the counter, recommending appropriate products and explaining correct application.
  • Diligently provided safe and correct transfer of dispensed items to appropriate patients.
  • Organised deliveries, enabling sufficient, correct supplies and safe, efficient delivery processes.
  • Greeted customers and provided friendly, knowledgeable service
  • Assisted chemist with filling prescriptions for customers on a daily basis.
  • Handled patient queries accurately and appropriately, maintaining continued discretion and confidentiality.
  • Answered telephones and provided information about order status, shop hours and pharmacy procedures.
  • Provided administrative support including, filing, copying and faxing.

Envelope Machine Operative

Envelope Factory
cwmbran, Wales
02.1997 - 03.1998
  • Integrated specialized attachments to machines as needed to complete custom orders and projects.
  • Regulated pressure roll tension, glue temperature and machine component speed by calibrating machine controls and settings.
  • Moved completed products from machines and onto conveyors, transferring to next work area for additional processing.
  • Packing and quality Control duties.

Education

Higher National Diploma - CBT, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Centre of Excellence
Pontypool, Torfaen County Borough

Diploma of Higher Education - NLP ,Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner Course

centre of excellence

Diploma of Higher Education in Counselling - Counselling Skills Diploma.

Centre of Excellence

Diploma of Higher Education - Children with challenging behaviours

Centre of Excellence
04.2021

Diploma of Higher Education - How to be a super learner diploma

Centre of Excellence
04.2021

Diploma of Higher Education - Home Education Diploma

Centre of Excellence
Pontypool, Torfaen County Borough
02.2021

Developmental Trauma, Non Violent resistance, Digital safety & social media

Skills to foster Programmes
12.2020

NOCN Programme Induction Level 2 & 3
2019

Diploma of Higher Education - Health & Social Care

Foundation Degree Community Health and Well Being
09.2014

Higher National Diploma - Public Services

Btec National diploma Public services
Usk, Monmouthshire
07.2005

Skills

I am a responsible individual, that enjoys working with others and individually I thrive on helping others and throughout my working history and experience I have Excellent communication skills, my personality is friendly approachable caring and considerate My principles in life are to be punctual, honest and trustworthy I am a very responsible person that enjoys a challenge

Key Skills

* Good practical skills

* Able to work quickly and methodically

*Excellent Team working Skills

*Able to follow instructions

*Understand Complete confidentiality of patient/client information

*Awareness of Health and Safety

*Special needs support

*Excellent communication skills

*Very patient and understanding

*Professional

  • Problem-solving
  • Calm under pressure
  • Strategic planning
  • Leadership
  • Resourcefulness
  • Quality Assurance

Gaps in working History.

The years that I have not provided any working history, are the times when was a home person and caring for my young children or in Study.

Timeline

Foster Carer

Torfaen County Borough
01.2019 - 03.2022

Residential Support Worker (work experience)

Ty Ceirios
04.2012 - 06.2012

Care Support Worker

Private employer
01.2010 - 11.2010

Cook

High Street Chip Shop
07.2008 - 12.2008

Shop Assistant

Co-operative store
12.2004 - 12.2005

Petrol Station Salesperson

Pavillion Garage
06.2004 - 12.2004

Front of House Host

Parkway Hotel
03.2002 - 09.2003

Pharmacy Assistant

Lloyds Pharmacy
05.2001 - 02.2002

Envelope Machine Operative

Envelope Factory
02.1997 - 03.1998

Higher National Diploma - CBT, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Centre of Excellence

Diploma of Higher Education - NLP ,Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner Course

centre of excellence

Diploma of Higher Education in Counselling - Counselling Skills Diploma.

Centre of Excellence

Diploma of Higher Education - Children with challenging behaviours

Centre of Excellence

Diploma of Higher Education - How to be a super learner diploma

Centre of Excellence

Diploma of Higher Education - Home Education Diploma

Centre of Excellence

Developmental Trauma, Non Violent resistance, Digital safety & social media

Skills to foster Programmes

NOCN Programme Induction Level 2 & 3

Diploma of Higher Education - Health & Social Care

Foundation Degree Community Health and Well Being

Higher National Diploma - Public Services

Btec National diploma Public services

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Nicola DeardenCounsellor