Nicola ( Nikki ) Mcneill
Dartford,Kent
Summary
I love caring for people of all back grounds.
ive looked after my own family while holding down a full time job in john lewis bluewater for about 17 years had to give this job up when the 3 children came to live with me in 2015 and they were my whole life working along side social services, early help, imago and the court system, i worked very hard as the 2 eldest children have special needs.
i went back to work when the eldest child left home and i needed to get myself in to a good place for when they all leave as i only have a 15 year old at home now and he does not have any problems.
I started at Lookahead and loved working with my clients but the company was not really their for the clients it was all about the money.
I stayed and started looking for something else that i knew i would love and enjoy then the job came up with ( KEAH) kent enablement at home though KCC.
I absolutely love this job, i love and enjoy the clients and their stories and trying to support them to live independently again.
The ladies and gentleman i work along side are amazing we all get on great.
I love when we get to meet up to do double handed calls and have our staff catch ups so we all get to meet new staff members.
My reason for change is definitely not the job its because i never get time off shift to finish my NVQ or do refreshers on my e-learning.
The daily rotas are done by a different team and they are so bad,
There is no work life balance, i do work full time and im happy to travel but the calls could be put into a better order and we are ringing into the office all the time to swap calls around to save money and time.
I would like to continue to work full time as i do really enjoy my clients but would also love to have a better balance between home and work and to finish my learning as everytime i go back to it ive forgotten what ive already learnt.
I love chatting, im kind,caring and polite and always happy to support where i can.
I get great comments from supervisors about the feedback i send in though my emails and always ready and happy to learn new skills.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Enablement support worker
KCC
Dartford, Kent
05.2024 - Current
- Increased comfort levels with personal care duties such as bathing and dressing.
- Contributed feedback on patient progress leading to adjustments in personalised care plans.
- Implemented care plans set out by healthcare professionals leading to improved patient well-being.
- Actively listened to client concerns thus creating a comforting environment.
- Prepared nutritious meals that met special dietary needs of clients.
- Completed housekeeping tasks resulting in a clean, safe home environment.
- Assured safety measures were met to prevent falls or accidents.
- Helped achieve patient independence through guided tasks and activities.
- Supported daily living skills training which increased client self-sufficiency.
- Participated in regular team meetings, enhancing quality of care provided.
- Enhanced wellbeing of patients by providing emotional support and companionship.
- Assisted in maintaining a clean environment for improved client health.
- Maintained detailed records of patient behaviour changes for healthcare team reference.
- Administered medication according to schedule, promoting optimal health outcomes.
- Assisted with mobility issues enabling easier movement around the home.
- Assisted with personal care activities such as washing and dressing, consistently promoting positive health and hygiene.
- Used excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage and interact with individuals in need.
- Built strong patient relationships through compassionate care and friendly rapport building.
Kinship foster carer
KCC
Northfleet, Gravesend, Kent
03.2015 - Current
- Facilitated open lines of communication with social workers, leading to more effective care plans.
- Attended training courses on child psychology to better understand and address unique needs of foster children.
- Coordinated with school staff regarding child's progress, enhancing academic performance.
- Navigated complex emotional situations with empathy and patience, aiding in conflict resolution.
- Arranged social activities to boost confidence levels and encourage interaction with peers.
- Assisted children with homework assignments; supporting their academic endeavours.
- Built strong relationships with birth families where appropriate, strengthening family ties.
- Supported the transition of children into new homes, easing their adaptation process.
- Fostered resilience in children through regular counselling sessions, boosting emotional strength.
- Worked closely with other professionals involved in child's welfare; improving collaborative efforts towards child’s wellbeing.
- Maintained a safe and nurturing living environment, promoting a sense of security.
- Managed medical appointments and health needs of children, ensuring proper physical health.
- Organised weekly educational activities for enhanced learning and development.
- Tracked and recorded child's progress for review by social services team, contributing to overall care strategy.
- Provided around-the-clock support during emergencies or crises; offering immediate help when needed.
- Encouraged positive behaviours through structured routine and clear boundaries, fostering personal growth.
- Delivered consistent care whilst managing challenging behaviour to ensure stability within the household.
- Adhered strictly to safeguarding protocols; ensuring safety at all times.
- Comforted children during times of crisis to provide security and safety measures.
- Encouraged children to express views and opinions to increase confidence and openess.
- Advocated for social, emotional and educational stability of children with complex emotional and behavioural needs.
- Set fair boundaries with appropriate levels and methods of discipline.
- Remembered children's life history by saving mementos, keepsakes and photographs.
Learning disability support worker
Lookahead care,support, and housing
Northfleet, Gravesend, kent
05.2023 - 05.2024
- Prepared nutritious meals according to dietary requirements, promoting healthy eating habits amongst clients.
- Encouraged self-reliance through daily living skills training sessions.
- Coordinated recreational activities to enhance social interaction among clients.
- Supported the implementation of behaviour management plans, promoting positive behaviours amongst clients.
- Enhanced understanding of disability issues through regular staff training sessions.
- Administered medications according to prescribed schedules, maintaining optimal health conditions of clients.
- Provided physical support to clients, improving mobility and strength.
- Provided emotional support during challenging times, enhancing mental wellbeing of clients.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships for improved service delivery.
- Promoted independent living by providing personalised support to individuals with disabilities.
- Assisted disabled clients to participate in community activities.
- Facilitated communication, fostering stronger relationships between clients and their families.
- Improved quality of life with tailored care plans, focused on individual needs.
- Maintained client dignity by implementing sensitive personal care strategies.
- Ensured safety standards were met by conducting regular risk assessments in the home environment..
- Monitored health conditions, ensuring appropriate medical attention when necessary.
- Met needs of clients with learning difficulties and handled challenging behaviours.
- Kept detailed daily logs with care actions, patient behaviours and all incidents.
- Assisted clients with bathing and personal grooming to maintain self-esteem and general wellness.
- Maintained daily safety by keeping tidy, clean and hazard-free home environments.
- Provided safe mobility support to help patients move around personal and public spaces.
Education
GCSEs - English and Maths
Picardy secondary school
Erith, Bexley 09.1980 - 07.1986
Skills
- Infection control knowledge
- Professional boundaries understanding
- reliable and trustworthy
- resilience in difficult situation
- Dementia care knowledge a little as some of our clients have Dementia
- Empathy for clients
- Personal care assistance
- Activities of Daily Living
- Medication Administration
- Meal preparation
- Food Hygiene Certification
- Medical appointment management
For fostering i had to do lots of e-learning and face to face courses and sit with a social worker over 3 weeks to tell my life history to get though foster panel to become a foster carer
For learning disabilities i had to do lots of e-learning and shadowing other staff members, and face to face courses for first aid,
I also completed my care certificates with lookahead so did not have to redo them when joining Kcc
And for Kcc enablement support ive done all my e-learning upto date
Im also at 66% on my NVQ2 with Kcc
- Autism Spectrum Disorder support
- Safeguarding policies
- Learning disabilities support
- Disability awareness
- Clean driving record
- Assertiveness
- Safeguarding protocols
- Outdoor activities organisation
- Elderly care knowledge
- Time efficiency
- Initiative taking
- Respect for diversity
- Record keeping accuracy
- Client-Centred approach
- Resilience under pressure
- Professional boundaries maintenance
- Communication skills
Timeline
Enablement support worker
KCC
05.2024 - Current
Learning disability support worker
Lookahead care,support, and housing
05.2023 - 05.2024
Kinship foster carer
KCC
03.2015 - Current
GCSEs - English and Maths
Picardy secondary school
09.1980 - 07.1986