Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Custom
Timeline
Generic

Suzanne MacLeod

Blandford St Mary,Dorset

Summary

I have worked in leadership roles, recruited, and managed staff, time, and caseload. I have been involved in service development, internal and external change, worked within the constraints of organisations and have developed, led, and monitored groups. I have worked in partnership with families and individuals in need of support and guidance, advocacy and opportunity, advice and information. I have experience of working in highly charged situations, and with individuals and families who were reluctant or unable to discuss their situation, or accept help, and were perceived by others as difficult to engage. I have developed and facilitated training packages to parents, carers, and other professionals in relation to individual children, specific disabilities, staff induction and service needs. I have recruited and supported volunteers. I have managed budgets, facilitated change, and addressed dynamics within teams. I have completed child focussed direct work and developed person centred plans with adults. I have effective communication and assessment skills and can use professional judgement appropriately. I can adapt easily in new situations and am an observant and creative worker.

Overview

25
25
years of professional experience
74
74
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Team Lead

Dorset Healthcare NHS Trust
08.2018 - 06.2022
  • This was a specialist multidisciplinary team which assessed and supported children and young people with a diagnosed learning disability and challenging behaviour
  • Most were living at home with their families or in foster care, some were living in specialist residential services
  • I was responsible for monitoring and triaging referrals, allocation to appropriate professional in the team (whilst being mindful of their current caseload and potential pressures), arranging timely assessment to reduce need for waiting list, supervising, and managing staff, organising rota and cover as appropriate, investigating complaints and disagreements between stakeholders
  • Chaired weekly team meetings and dedicated some of that time to promoting individual and team well-being
  • I held a complex clinical caseload which included those children and young people who displayed the most challenging behaviour and associated mental health conditions
  • Their parents/carers required high level of support and were often experiencing their own mental health issues as a consequence
  • Part of Senior Management Team with responsibilities for policy development, budget, recruitment, gathering data and reporting KPIs.

Assessor, Coordinator, and Team Manager

Dorset CCG
12.2015 - 08.2018
  • As an assessor in CHC: I completed evidence-based assessments (in hospital, at home, in care homes and nursing homes) to determine whether a patient had a Primary Health Need
  • This included a clear, concise, and factual summary determining complexity, intensity and unpredictability of health needs and the interventions required to meet the patient needs safely
  • I was buddy to a new starter and supported agency staff in their induction
  • I regularly attended Peer Support sessions to ensure up to date, consistent and equitable standard of work throughout the team
  • As a team manager for CHC and CYPCC: I line managed six members of staff; monitored workload of the wider team to collate KPIs; monitored standards of assessments and would give feedback to staff member and team where necessary, to promote improvement and to celebrate success
  • I reviewed staffing needs on a regular basis in relation to workflows and trends
  • I supported twenty assessors and six team leads in their role and to debrief following difficult conversations or contentious meetings
  • I facilitated training sessions for internal staff and the wider healthcare community
  • I investigated complaints; represented the CCG where Social Care disagreed with a decision; organised panels locally and completed eligibility decisions for Continuing Healthcare
  • Attended Independent Review Panels at NHS England
  • Signed off high-cost packages of care and managed my team budget
  • As part of the Team Management rota, I monitored, approved and/or escalated requests for bespoke high-cost funding as appropriate in relation to budgetary sign off limits, whilst identifying risks and all possible measures to alleviate that risk
  • Responsible for undertaking assessments and reviews of care packages for children and young people in Dorset
  • Presenting to panel for decision making
  • Attended monthly meetings with 'Preferred Provider' and Hospice to ensure packages of care are on track, to monitor contracts and share appropriate information in relation to child's health, safeguarding
  • Devised a training programme to ensure understanding of CYPCC process for parents, carers, and professionals
  • Inducted and trained new members of staff
  • Monitored workload and provide individual supervision to Case Coordinators
  • Developed a robust transition planning process in consultation with all stakeholders to ensure a clear shared pathway.

Project Coordinator

People First Dorset
05.2011 - 04.2014
  • I was responsible for individual projects and specific pieces of work
  • I worked on the Friendship Club, Help Place Scheme, Yellow Health book scheme, and Quality Checkers in both supported living and day services
  • Duties included organising workload, developing projects, sourcing funds, managing budgets, recruiting and managing volunteers, supporting adults with learning disabilities to do their jobs, accurate record keeping, researching current and upcoming policies and legislation, listening to what people had to say, finding out what is important to them and supporting them to speak up
  • Many of the members would ask for advice or support in relation to their everyday life such as moving towards independence, benefits, and relationship issues
  • I was able to support members by talking through issues, signposting them to relevant person and following safeguarding procedures when relevant
  • I collaborated with other People First staff and members to deliver training to adults and young people with learning disabilities, family carers and care providers (local authority and private sector)
  • This included ‘Say no to abuse,’ personal relationships and life skills.

Social Worker in Adult Community Learning Disability Team

Borough of Poole
04.2010 - 05.2011
  • I assessed needs in partnership with the individual, recommended packages of care and support, monitored and reviewed as necessary and within statutory requirements
  • The team also operated a duty system which I was part of
  • The work was diverse and included transition to residential/nursing care, support with independent living, maintaining Shared Lives placements, timely intervention, direct work in relation to relationships, moving on and appropriate behaviours
  • I routinely completed Carers Assessments because recognition of carers was part of the assessment process
  • I worked with a variety of adults with learning disabilities, some of whom were experiencing mental health issues, had a diagnosed mental illness, bereavement, Alzheimer's and struggling to cope with living independently
  • I supported individuals to follow their Nursing Plans as part of the CPA, in relation to mindfulness, risk and identifying when they needed Crisis Support
  • I worked with other team members in writing Individual Risk Assessments.

Behaviour Nurse Specialist and Co-ordinator of The SWIFTS

Dorset County Hospital Foundation Trust
11.2003 - 08.2007
  • I was responsible for a caseload of up to thirty children with varying degrees of need, risk, and involvement
  • Additional team members became more involved as the team grew
  • OT, Speech and Language Therapist, Psychology and Psychiatry input were essential elements in providing a service to meet need
  • I provided specialist nursing support, advice and education to individuals and their families, shared carers, foster carers, support networks, education, and residential settings in relation to behaviours that challenge
  • I worked creatively with families and was able to identify appropriate ways of working with the child and their families as individuals
  • I used my knowledge of specific conditions, sensory integration, intensive interaction, total communication, behaviour shaping and fun, to adapt interventions
  • I devised individual behaviour plans with contracts and agreed goals
  • I recruited, trained, and managed a team of 8 Support Workers and the Team Administrator, providing regular supervision and appraisals
  • I coordinated the setting up of this service in consultation with representatives from Health, Education and Social Care
  • This included research and design of renovation of existing building to create an appropriate clinic and assessment environment
  • All policies were written in line with statutory requirements, legislation, and evidence-based practice.

Children and Family Services Manager

The Wessex Autistic Society
02.2003 - 11.2003
  • I directly line managed the House Managers and Community Team Manager, supported them in the management of their own teams, staffing rotas and day to day aspects, through regular supervision
  • I was a member of the Senior Management Team of the Society and regularly contributed to Governance meetings
  • I was part of the Senior Management on-call rota and responded to queries and emergencies out of hours.

Community Sister for Children with Learning Disabilities

Dorset Healthcare NHS Trust
08.2000 - 02.2003
  • During my work with families, I identified a need for siblings to be recognised and have support in their own right
  • Through fund raising and careful budget management, I was able to start the SIBS Group
  • It provided siblings an opportunity to play, meet other siblings and share their worries and experiences in a 'safe' place
  • I was able to provide a lending library of appropriate and age-related material in relation to specific conditions and being a sibling of a person with a disability
  • The group recently celebrated its 21st year.

Social Worker in Child Health and Disability Team

Borough of Poole
04.1999 - 08.2000
  • I worked with approximately thirty-five children and their families
  • A third of the children had been diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder, half were in the Looked After Children system and a third in the process of transition to Adult Services
  • All needed support and guidance, advocacy and opportunity, advice, and information and to be seen and treated as children/young people first.

Social Worker in Learning Disability Team

Borough of Poole
10.1997 - 04.1999
  • I assessed needs in partnership with the individual, recommended packages of care and support, monitored and reviewed as necessary and within statutory requirements
  • The work was diverse and included working with children, young people, and adults with a learning disability
  • I ensured that all relevant information was recorded on IT system, including case notes, assessments, and resource allocation, within relevant timescales
  • All work was carried out in line with statutory requirements and relevant policy and procedures, for example safeguarding, Mental Capacity and individual Rights.

Education

Diploma in Social Work -

University of Portsmouth and School of Health Studies
01.1994 - 04.1997

Registered Nurse (Part 14) - undefined

University of Portsmouth and School of Health Studies
01.1994 - 04.1997

Diploma of Higher Education in Health and Social Care - undefined

University of Portsmouth and School of Health Studies
01.1994 - 04.1997

NEBS Introductory Certificate in Management, Level 3 - undefined

The Bournemouth and Poole College
02.2000 - undefined

ENB 956, Coping with Violence and Aggression Stage 1, Level 3 - undefined

Bournemouth University
01.2000 - 04.2020

ENB 998, Teaching and Assessing in Clinical Practice, Level 3 - undefined

Bournemouth University
01.2000 - 04.2020

ENB 759, Coping with Violence and Aggression, Stage 2, Level 3 - undefined

Bournemouth University
01.2000 - 04.2020

Return to Nursing - Learning Disabilities - undefined

Bournemouth University
01.2020 - undefined

Liberating Life Choices - Promoting the positive sexuality of people with learning disabilities. - undefined

Staffordshire University in association with Family Planning Association
01.2012 - 04.2013

Delivering Sex and Relationships Work with People with Learning Disabilities - Practical Approaches - undefined

Staffordshire University in association with Family Planning Association
01.2012 - 04.2013

Skills

  • Person centred approach and acknowledgement that everyone’s experience is different
  • Excellent communication and networking skills, whether virtually or in person, individually or in a group
  • Excellent assessment and planning skills
  • Have successfully tailored, developed, and delivered training
  • Positive track record and success rate for collaborating with people who others say are difficult to engage
  • Ability to advocate and promote self-advocacy and empowerment
  • Work competently within professional and personal boundaries
  • Respect individual confidentiality, follow GDPR and only sharing information on a need-to-know basis
  • Ability to assess and recognise potential safeguarding or ill health issues
  • Work well independently, as part of a team, and in partnership with others
  • Active listener and able to offer reassurance, guidance, and support at the individuals’ pace
  • Recognise the need for, and promote self-care by example
  • Use of professional judgement to evaluate situational, individual, and personal risk
  • Prioritise work and negotiate compromise where appropriate
  • Proficient use of all Microsoft packages and record keeping software in Social Care and Dorset Health

Custom

True, True, True

Timeline

Return to Nursing - Learning Disabilities - undefined

Bournemouth University
01.2020 - undefined

Team Lead

Dorset Healthcare NHS Trust
08.2018 - 06.2022

Assessor, Coordinator, and Team Manager

Dorset CCG
12.2015 - 08.2018

Liberating Life Choices - Promoting the positive sexuality of people with learning disabilities. - undefined

Staffordshire University in association with Family Planning Association
01.2012 - 04.2013

Delivering Sex and Relationships Work with People with Learning Disabilities - Practical Approaches - undefined

Staffordshire University in association with Family Planning Association
01.2012 - 04.2013

Project Coordinator

People First Dorset
05.2011 - 04.2014

Social Worker in Adult Community Learning Disability Team

Borough of Poole
04.2010 - 05.2011

Behaviour Nurse Specialist and Co-ordinator of The SWIFTS

Dorset County Hospital Foundation Trust
11.2003 - 08.2007

Children and Family Services Manager

The Wessex Autistic Society
02.2003 - 11.2003

Community Sister for Children with Learning Disabilities

Dorset Healthcare NHS Trust
08.2000 - 02.2003

NEBS Introductory Certificate in Management, Level 3 - undefined

The Bournemouth and Poole College
02.2000 - undefined

ENB 956, Coping with Violence and Aggression Stage 1, Level 3 - undefined

Bournemouth University
01.2000 - 04.2020

ENB 998, Teaching and Assessing in Clinical Practice, Level 3 - undefined

Bournemouth University
01.2000 - 04.2020

ENB 759, Coping with Violence and Aggression, Stage 2, Level 3 - undefined

Bournemouth University
01.2000 - 04.2020

Social Worker in Child Health and Disability Team

Borough of Poole
04.1999 - 08.2000

Social Worker in Learning Disability Team

Borough of Poole
10.1997 - 04.1999

Diploma in Social Work -

University of Portsmouth and School of Health Studies
01.1994 - 04.1997

Registered Nurse (Part 14) - undefined

University of Portsmouth and School of Health Studies
01.1994 - 04.1997

Diploma of Higher Education in Health and Social Care - undefined

University of Portsmouth and School of Health Studies
01.1994 - 04.1997

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