Stephen Telford
Houghton-Le-Spring,Durham
Summary
I am very interested in applying for this post as a care navigator. In support of my application, I believe I have a great deal of experience and skills transferable to
the post applied for.
Prior to working within the field of mental health, I was employed as a prison custody officer for G4S, which provided me with a lot of experience of dealing with clients who were often challenging and who were experiencing significant stress and adjustment issues. During my time at G4S, I developed a keen interest in mental health, as many of the clients I encountered had mental health difficulties. This led to my application to work within the mental health sector, as a career change, during service redevelopment and associated job insecurity at G4S.
I commenced working in the private sector, with clients with mental health and learning difficulties, in their own homes, promoting independent living and community integration, including helping clients to access community facilities and encourage hobbies and interests. I thoroughly enjoyed this work and felt privileged to play a part in a client's recovery and opportunity to improve their quality of life.
My work experience has promoted my strongly held belief in recovery and hope, and the importance of recovery focused interventions for clients.
Since commencing my career with CNTW NHS Trust, I have had the opportunity to build on and enhance my
interpersonal skills, and I have been able to develop effective therapeutic and respectful relationships with clients, whilst always maintaining professional boundaries.
I feel I am able to communicate effectively, either by phone or face to face, and I believe I have good listening skills.
I am very aware of the importance of ensuring physical health is addressed, and that factors such as sleep, nutrition, substance use, physical illness etc can have a significant impact on a client's wellbeing, and may contribute to mental health crises or re-offending, and would be keen to support clients to promote physical health, access GPs and health screening etc. I have previously supported clients undergoing courses in addressing substance misuse and healthy lifestyles.
I am keen to support clients to maintain independence, after release from custody, by helping and signposting in relation to community facilities and general daily living skills, including support with finances, opening bank accounts, budgeting, dealing with arrears/debts etc. I have a great deal of similar experience from my previous community roles and current role within the psychiatric liaison team.
Having spent over 13 years in the NHS - all of which has been in a 24 hour service with shift work - I have taken the opportunity for voluntary severance in order to develop my career in other areas and hopefully achieve a better work life balance. I would welcome the opportunity to enhance my career in this exciting and rewarding field.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
2
2
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Clinical support assistant
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust
Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
2013.03 - Current
I initially commenced work as a clinical support assistant within Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust (CNTW), within forensic psychiatry, where I worked for 10 years, before transferring to another role within the Trust, again as a clinical support assistant, within the Psychiatric Liaison Team (PLT).
My role in forensic psychiatry involved supporting clients within a forensic rehabilitation ward; duties included developing and maintaining therapeutic relationships with clients, contributing to risk assessment/management,
implementing care in accordance with care plans, participating in care plan and care coordination reviews, completing progress notes, escort duties, security duties, planning activities, promoting client's independence and rehabilitation, supervising visits, liaising with
the multi disciplinary team and other professionals, including probation, police, social workers etc, liaising with families, carrying out observations, helping to
promote and maintain a safe and therapeutic environment etc.
After 10 years in this role, I successfully applied for a post within the Psychiatric Liaison Team, and I have been in this post for 3 years. My duties include undertaking mental health assessments, alongside qualified mental health nurses, for clients in A&E or on the acute wards within a general hospital - Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead - who have mental health difficulties. This includes urgent mental health assessments in A&E for clients who have self harmed or are struggling with significant mental health and social issues, including suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, psychosis, homelessness, drug and alcohol issues etc. I also support clients who have been admitted to the wards due to physical health issues but who also have co-morbid mental health difficulties.
I attend daily clinical reviews with the wider team, including the consultant psychiatrist and specialist nurses, and have my own caseload of clients on wards who need regular input and support. I am also involved with follow up work for clients who have drug and alcohol issues.
I signpost and refer on to other services including talking therapies, drug and alcohol services, community mental health teams, adult social care etc and liaise with GPs and other professionals such as social workers, health visitors, probation officers.
I frequently encounter clients who are homeless and liaise regularly with local councils/emergency homeless teams etc. I also carry out follow up work with clients, completing Your Voice surveys, and support carers, including referring on to care support services.
I am involved in risk assessment on a daily basis, contributing to biopsychosocial risk assessments and risk management plans. I also liaise with acute trust staff, providing support and advice.
Support worker
Blyth Star Enterprise
Blyth, Northumberland
2012.10 - 2013.03
My role involved supporting clients in their own homes, assisting with daily living activities, cooking, shopping,
promoting healthy lifestyles and independent living, liaising with families and other professionals.
I left this role to take up a post within the NHS for further career development.
Support worker
Percy House
Blyth, Northumberland
2011.10 - 2012.10
My role involved supporting clients with enduring mental health problems in a residential setting.
Duties included; providing support to 18 clients who resided in a residential care home, assisting with daily living skills and promoting independence/community integration. Also supporting other clients in the
community via the outreach service, which entailed regularly visiting clients in their own homes,
supporting them with community activities, such as shopping, leisure activities etc.
I left this position to further my career at Blyth Star Enterprise, which was a larger organisation, providing more opportunities for career development.
Prison custody officer
G4S
Blyth, Northumberland
2004.06 - 2011.10
Duties included: escort duties, taking remand and convicted prisoners and clients in police custody to and from
courts/prisons/police stations, ensuring the prisoner's welfare/safety. Carrying out searches, observations, managing incidents/aggressive behaviours, liaising with other professionals, including police, probation, prison and court staff, report writing, dispatch duties etc.
I left this position due to site closure following the organisation having funding issues/loss of contract.
Education
NVQ Level 3 - Health and Social Care
CNTW NHS Trust
Newcastle upon Tyne 2014.08 - 2015.08
GCSEs - English, Maths, History, RE, Engineering drawing,
Ashington High School
Northumberland 1985.09 - 1986.07
Skills
My work at G4S provided me with experience of dealing with clients who were often challenging and who were experiencing significant stress and adjustment issues, as they progressed through the criminal justice system
Since commencing my career with CNTW NHS Trust, I have had the opportunity to build on and enhance my
interpersonal skills, and I have been able to develop effective therapeutic relationships with clients, whilst always maintaining professional boundaries Past and current experience/roles, which has also included regular bank work in other areas, including acute wards and crisis teams, as well as acting as a response nurse to different wards within the Trust, have allowed me to develop skills in quickly establishing rapport with clients and making rapid assessments of current issues and situations
I have significant experience with clients who have offended and I believe I have a non-judgmental and compassionate attitude, which is reflected in all of my interactions and interventions
I am very interested in promoting independence, and motivating and encouraging structure and meaningful occupation, thereby helping clients achieve their potential,
and I have been involved in organising activities to help achieve these goals I was actively involved in a walking group when working in forensics and also started a furniture upcycling group
I am able to remain calm in difficult/challenging situations and believe I can de-escalate situations effectively I am passionate about helping clients who are vulnerable to achieve goals to help integrate and reduce re-offending
I have a good knowledge of IT and use IT daily for record keeping, accessing patient's records, including GP summaries and I also use dictation in my current role I have good time management skills and am able to prioritise and work flexibly I utilise regular clinical supervision in my current role which I find very beneficial
Affiliations
- DIY, dog walking, gym, music, furniture upcycling
Certification
I have recently completed training in DBT - dialectical behaviour therapy via the Association for Psychological Therapies. This therapy helps people manage intense emotions, reduce self harm, promote self-soothing and problem solving techniques and improve relationships.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
NVQ Level 3 - Health and Social Care
CNTW NHS Trust
2014.08 - 2015.08
Clinical support assistant
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust
2013.03 - Current
Support worker
Blyth Star Enterprise
2012.10 - 2013.03
Support worker
Percy House
2011.10 - 2012.10
Prison custody officer
G4S
2004.06 - 2011.10
GCSEs - English, Maths, History, RE, Engineering drawing,
Ashington High School
1985.09 - 1986.07