Sophie Davies

In the last 8 year as a supervising social worker I have supported/supervised a full case load of foster carers, both mainstream and connected persons.

I have supported them to meet Fostering National Minimum Standards (2011) by supporting them with training and development, understanding the needs of children in care and their various needs as a result of trauma and neglect.

I have undertaken Health & Safety assessments and Family safe caring documents to ensure the care they provide is appropriate, child specific and also ensuring that the environment they are providing is also suitable for that specific child/children.

I have supported a lot of foster carers during the matching process, enabling them to learn more about the needs of children in care, access training/support to develop their skills and knowledge and ensured suitable matching so that the child/children/young person would have their needs met as required.

As part of this role I have also worked alongside a range of professionals including colleagues from Children's Social Care, SCAYT+, Adoption and Education.

I have supported foster carers to support children moving on from their care whether this be back home to family members, onto long term foster care or on to their adoptive families. Likewise, I have also been part of the matching process in supporting Foster carers with permanence matching, as well those undergoing Special Guardianship Assessments.

Each year I complete a review report for each fostering household on their 12 months review period. This requires me gather all information from that year as well as feedback from professionals and children/young people and provide an analysis as well as giving a recommendation for approval status.

I have supported foster carers through some very difficult experiences including allegations, difficult relationships with birth families and also in supporting children with very complex, trauma related behaviours/needs. I have also worked closely with colleagues in Children's Social Care when relationships between the child's social worker and the foster carer has been strained.

I have also supported foster carers through some positive times, such as them being able to support a child/young person in finding their forever family, whoever this may be, by providing that emotional support for the fostering household.

I have been responsible for managing my own diary and effectively my own time in arranging visits, attending relevant meetings, keeping up to date with record keeping and keeping a good level of communication with management and colleagues to ensure multi-agency working.

I worked at the bakery for 5 years as a shop assistant on weekends, covering summer holidays and any other additional shifts throughout the year or busy time periods.

I was responsible for prepping the food, putting food in the oven to cook, ensuring it was at the right temperature once cooked and then preparing it too serve.

This often required working alongside the baking staff and other shop assistants in communicating timings and asking for support with additional stock being needed.

I also served customers in the shop, ensuring high levels of hygiene were maintained with wearing the appropriate equipment such as hair net and gloves.

I bagged/wrapped the items for the customers in a safe and presentable way.

I would handle cash for payments or use the card machines.

I would also take telephone orders, make these and ensure they were ready on time for the delivery drive at the required time.

In the bakery we had a small café so I would also prepare and serve the food to them as requested, as well as making and serving hot drinks.