Sarah Fellows
Alfreton,Derbyshire
Summary
Dedicated professional with a strong foundation in empathetic communication and therapeutic rapport building, complemented by knowledge and experience of medication administration and care planning. Demonstrates resilience under pressure and possesses conflict resolution skills, ensuring effective behaviour management strategies are implemented. Skilled in multidisciplinary teamwork and activity planning, fostering positive encouragement and facilitating family communication. Committed to a child-centred approach with a clear DBS check, aiming to enhance care through innovative record-keeping and communication.
Offering a strong foundation in compassionate care and team collaboration. Knowledgeable about supporting vulnerable individuals, managing daily routines and a positive living environment. Ready to use and develop communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills in the residential childcare worker role.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Senior Residential Childcare Worker
Derby City Council
Derby
2025.12 - Current
- Managed challenging behaviour through effective communication techniques.
- Carried out housekeeping duties for clean and healthy living space.
- Monitored dietary needs; provided balanced meals accordingly.
- Dealt effectively with crisis situations; ensured safety of all involved parties.
- Administered prescribed medication, improving health status of children in care.
- Observed changes in behaviour or health; reported concerns promptly to superiors.
- Provided safe, secure environment with continual supervision to ensure protection of children.
- Coordinated medical appointments, contributing to overall health management for youngsters in care.
- Organised recreational activities; fostered social interactions among residents.
- Assisted in development of individual care plans for better outcomes.
- Fostered positive atmosphere within residential settings; encouraged mutual respect amongst residents.
- Involved young people in decisions affecting them; promoted feelings of empowerment and self-worth.
- Communicated regularly with multidisciplinary teams, ensuring coordinated care provision for each child's needs.
- Ensured adherence to daily routines, promoting stability for young people.
- Complied fully with safeguarding policies and procedures; upheld highest standards of child protection at all times.
- Provided 1:1 support, guiding young people in addressing past and present difficulties.
- Educated young individuals in emotional regulation and coping skills to navigate stressful environments and situations.
- Encouraged community engagement with scheduled activities and access to recreational resources.
- Stayed informed of current legal, professional and administrative practices related to residential childcare.
- Facilitated smooth residence operations, producing and maintaining high-quality records.
- Upheld quality standards, with specific focus on confidentiality and data protection.
- Enforced policies, legislation and children's home regulations to support quality care.
- Advocated for child rights and needs in professional meetings and panels.
- Counselled clients through difficult times using approved and compassionate strategies.
- Provided direction to team members by setting clear objectives and tasks.
- Conducted efficient handovers at shift change; ensured continuity of quality care for all young people.
Senior Residential Care Worker
Prime Nurture Services
Nottingham (Head office)
2025.11 - 2025.12
- Handled crisis situations calmly, ensuring safety and wellbeing of young people and staff.
- Assisted young people in their daily routines, promoting independence and self-reliance.
- Writing logs and accurate records to ensure compliance with regulations.
- Reading care plans and risk assessments and implementing these.
- Establishing rapport with young people.
- Administered medication for maintaining optimal health of young people.
- Upheld rights and dignity of young people.
- Supported young people with activity planning and incentives.
- Supported young people on activities.
- Shift leading and task delegation.
- Safeguarding.
Residential childcare worker
Derby City Council
Derby, Derbyshire
2023.03 - 2025.10
- Involvement in development of child centred care plans for improved outcomes.
- Improved young people's life skills by providing practical development activities. .
- Provided safe, secure environment with appropriate support and supervision to ensure children / young people are safe.
- Managed challenging behaviour through effective communication techniques and encouraging development of conflict resolution where appropriate.
- Communicated regularly with multidisciplinary teams, ensuring coordinated care provision for each child's needs.
- Promoted emotional well-being by implementing therapeutic activities.
- Fostered positive environment within residential home and encouraged mutual respect amongst residents.
- Built strong relationships with children / young people by adopting empathetic approach.
- Meal planning and preparing meals with young people, promoting healthy choices and balanced meals.
- Involved young people in decisions affecting them; promoted feelings of empowerment and self-worth by seeking and encouraging young person's views, wishes and feelings and reflection of these.
- Dealt effectively with crisis situations; ensured safety of all involved parties by following policies and procedures. and raising any safeguarding concerns and following reporting processes.
- Coordinated GP, opticians and dental appointments and other health related appointments contributing to overall health management for children and young people in care.
- Observed changes in behaviour or health; reported concerns promptly to management and to other involved professionals as appropriate.
- Carried out housekeeping duties for clean and healthy living space and ensuring health and safety of residential home.
- Offered practical daily living advice, including budgeting and routines.
- Supported children and young people with rehabilitation and socialisation in community settings and activities.
- Provided emotional support through difficult times using counselling skills and strategies.
- Monitored and reviewed progress, and adapted support to meet changing needs.
- Maintained updated records, ensuring compliance with regulations.
- Completing medication audits, ordering medication, stock checks and safe disposal, recording and administering of medications in line with policy and procedure.
- Facilitated educational support, enhancing learning opportunities and outcomes for children and young people.
- Promoting and encouraging daily routines, for children and young people's development, stability and outcomes.
- Planned and organised recreational activities; fostered social interactions between children and young people.
- Formed trusting relationships with children, working flexibly to adapt to changing and challenging individual needs.
- Provided 1:1 support, sensitively guiding young people in addressing past and present difficulties at their own pace.
- Supported children and young people to recognise their emotions and to learn and develop coping skills to navigate stressful environments and situations. Encouraging development of emotional regulation skills.
- Encouraged community engagement with scheduled activities and access to recreational resources.
- Stayed informed of current legal, professional and administrative practices related to residential childcare. Attending training, online learning and reading policies, attending meetings and supervision.
- Supported school-aged children and young people in academic and extracurricular activities.
- Reacted to changing social, emotional and mental health needs for responsive child support. Recognising if young person is struggling and offering support. to address this and gaining awareness of any concerns contributing to notable changes.
- Created social and educational opportunities to help children build life skills and develop personal interests.
- Upheld quality standards, with specific focus on confidentiality and data protection.
- Adhered to policies, legislation and children's home regulations to support quality care.
- Writing and maintaining high-quality logs, emails, reports etc and in a timely manner.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of residential childcare policy, practice and legislation to support compliance.
- Supported child health and safety with periodic training in CPR and basic first aid.
- Provided unconditional positive regard to assist children in building self-worth and confidence.
- Advocated for children and young people's rights and needs when in professional meetings.
- Empowered children and young people to self-advocate for their individual needs, feelings and wishes. Promoting choice and autonomy.
- Planned and supervised interventions for children and young people with complex needs, addressing issues and proposing strategies and solutions.
- Reported safeguarding concerns.
- Attended care planning meetings detailing progress, challenges and recommended interventions.
- Maintained compliance with all regulatory and safeguarding procedures.
- Established and maintained relationships with children and young people based on trust and non-judgement.
- Helped children and young people to gain ability to function independently in society.
- Being respectful and encouraging diverse and cultural needs and preferences of children and young people. Supporting with development and choice of personal identity. Promoting fair treatment and equality without discrimination and challenging any behaviours of this nature if this occurs within residential home.
- Collaborated with internal and external support providers to maintain good care continuity.
- Learning and developing own skills and using reflective practice to grow within working role.
- Assisted children and young people to obtain and access community resources.
- Highlighted additional support provisions to maximise growth and personal development opportunities. Risk assessing and researching facilities to reduce risk and potential difficulties, and to promote positive experiences. This has been for both in and out of residential setting.
- Liaised with external and internal professionals to provide holistic support.
Education
Certificate of Higher Education - Children, young people and families practitioner in children's residential care
HM Government through Derby college
Derby 2023.08 - 2025.05
Diploma of Higher Education - Residential Childcare
Derby College
Derby 2023.08 - 2025.04
GCSEs - Maths
Alfreton Adult Education Centre
Alfreton, Derbyshire 2013.09 - 2014.05
Postgraduate Certificate - Psychological Therapies
The University of Nottingham
Nottingham 2009.02 - 2010.02
Bachelor of Arts - Humanistic Counselling Practice
The University of Nottingham
Nottingham 2005.09 - 2008.08
NVQ Level 3 - Promoting Independence
Sherwood NVQ Care Consortium
Mansfield, Nottinghamshire 2001.09 - 2003.08
GCSEs - English
Frederick Gent School
South Normanton, Derbyshire 1993.05 - 1993.06
Skills
- Care reviews and risk assessments
- Conducting service assessments
- Shift leading
- Team leadership and direction
- Developing personalised care plans
- Effective communicator
- Record-keeping
- Resilience under pressure
- Therapeutic rapport building
- Interpersonal sensitivity
- Safeguarding practices
- DBS check clear
Employment History
Details of full employment history provided on request.
References
Referee details provided on request
Timeline
Senior Residential Childcare Worker
Derby City Council
2025.12 - Current
Senior Residential Care Worker
Prime Nurture Services
2025.11 - 2025.12
Certificate of Higher Education - Children, young people and families practitioner in children's residential care
HM Government through Derby college
2023.08 - 2025.05
Diploma of Higher Education - Residential Childcare
Derby College
2023.08 - 2025.04
Residential childcare worker
Derby City Council
2023.03 - 2025.10
GCSEs - Maths
Alfreton Adult Education Centre
2013.09 - 2014.05
Postgraduate Certificate - Psychological Therapies
The University of Nottingham
2009.02 - 2010.02
Bachelor of Arts - Humanistic Counselling Practice
The University of Nottingham
2005.09 - 2008.08
NVQ Level 3 - Promoting Independence
Sherwood NVQ Care Consortium
2001.09 - 2003.08
GCSEs - English
Frederick Gent School
1993.05 - 1993.06