UK Trained
30 Years Experience
UK Social Services Training
During my college years I worked for the Oxfordshire
'Care in the Community' Team,
from 1995 to 2001.
'Care in the Community' Team,
from 1995 to 2001.
I had the privilege of working within my own village, cycling from home to home to give support and care.
We received rigorous training,
jointly between the NHS and Social Services.
jointly between the NHS and Social Services.
I have certified in:
CPR
First Aid at Work - level 3
Food Safety: courses 1 to 4
Moving and Positioning
Using Lifting Apparatus
Dementia Awareness Carer Training
End of Life Care
Stroke Awareness
Diabetes Awareness
First Aid at Work - level 3
Food Safety: courses 1 to 4
Moving and Positioning
Using Lifting Apparatus
Dementia Awareness Carer Training
End of Life Care
Stroke Awareness
Diabetes Awareness
First Aid & CPR
I have always held a
First Aid at Work certificate,
(a four day course)
first with Social Services,
and then as a condition of practice throughout my clinical years,
which in the UK
includes CPR.
By requirement this was updated every 4 years.
I hold a
regularly updated UK background check,
as I have practice privileges
at several hospitals in London
and at the John Radcliffe in Oxford.
First Aid at Work certificate,
(a four day course)
first with Social Services,
and then as a condition of practice throughout my clinical years,
which in the UK
includes CPR.
By requirement this was updated every 4 years.
I hold a
regularly updated UK background check,
as I have practice privileges
at several hospitals in London
and at the John Radcliffe in Oxford.
First Aid Update
In October 2023 I completed
the Canadian Red Cross First Aid & CPR course
including infant CPR.
the Canadian Red Cross First Aid & CPR course
including infant CPR.
Background Check
As a condition of employment at BCC (May '23),
and for the
Ministry of Children and Family Development (Sept 2020),
I have had recent
RCMP Criminal Background Checks.
and for the
Ministry of Children and Family Development (Sept 2020),
I have had recent
RCMP Criminal Background Checks.
Lifts, Hoists, Slings & Vehicles
For many years I did regular
respite care for a woman with
advanced MS (wheelchair-bound)
and have experience with lift machines,
and can load and drive a modified wheelchair van.
respite care for a woman with
advanced MS (wheelchair-bound)
and have experience with lift machines,
and can load and drive a modified wheelchair van.
I have recently worked with a bedridden patient and daily we use her mechanical hoist and sling to transfer to her wheelchair.
I have done lifting certificates with UK Social services.
Primary Carer for My Own Family
|
I cared for my father-in-law for 15 years until the age of 93; I had the privilege of watching him go from old to elderly to ancient. He had Parkinson's and dementia, macular degeneration (legally blind) and deafness. Due to his war injuries he suffered daily pain, and I helped to manage his meds regime, working closely with his GP, and the NHS Pain Clinic. This experience gave me a first hand understanding of supporting someone who was fierce in his unwillingness to lose his autonomy and independence. I was able to help him weather each change and shift, learning to cope with each new level of degeneration of his ability to care for himself, each time moving him towards accepting a new level of advanced care that he could feel comfortable with. |
Anxiety & Depression
Hallmarks in dementia
In my clinical practice I have decades of supporting a client group with high anxiety;
I am very skilled at working with stressed people.
I also worked closely with my father-in-law's descent into the depression that his disabilities engendered.
I am adept at coping with the swings & roundabouts that accompany the mental discomforts of ageing, and the terrible toll that dementia takes on our sense of well being.
* * *
I also have 35 years experience of engaging with people on the spectrum -
our niece and nephew are both autistic, which offered us significant exposure to the challenges of living with autism;
and to the ever evolving understanding of the depths of the spectrum, and the evolving treatments and techniques that were emerging in the 1990's/2000's.
Today's approach to working with neuroatypical people has so significantly improved
compared to what my brother and sister-in-law experienced.
I am now trained as a Behavioural Interventionist and a Special Education Assistant.
I gained extensive experience working with a 5 year old with ASD and ADHD.
I am very skilled at working with stressed people.
I also worked closely with my father-in-law's descent into the depression that his disabilities engendered.
I am adept at coping with the swings & roundabouts that accompany the mental discomforts of ageing, and the terrible toll that dementia takes on our sense of well being.
* * *
I also have 35 years experience of engaging with people on the spectrum -
our niece and nephew are both autistic, which offered us significant exposure to the challenges of living with autism;
and to the ever evolving understanding of the depths of the spectrum, and the evolving treatments and techniques that were emerging in the 1990's/2000's.
Today's approach to working with neuroatypical people has so significantly improved
compared to what my brother and sister-in-law experienced.
I am now trained as a Behavioural Interventionist and a Special Education Assistant.
I gained extensive experience working with a 5 year old with ASD and ADHD.
Alzheimer's
I recently had the opportunity to help out with care for a 75 year old gentleman with Alzheimer's.
This has given me the opportunity to become updated with the BC healthcare systems,
in particular for dementia related services.
in particular for dementia related services.
I was able to recognise the need for updated assessment for this client,
and helped instigate and accompany him for a cognitive exam.
and helped instigate and accompany him for a cognitive exam.
I now have a refreshed understanding of the
MoCA test,
and it's capacity to help structure an appropriate care plan.
MoCA test,
and it's capacity to help structure an appropriate care plan.
I also instigated and registered this client for the
Medic Alert 'Safely Home' Programme
Medic Alert 'Safely Home' Programme
Through this support work I have become familiar with the Alzheimer's Society of BC
and all the carer support and training they offer.
I am very happy to work with Alzheimer's clients.
This experience has also refreshed my ability to speak 'swiss-cheese',
the language of chasing down and finding the forgotten words.
and all the carer support and training they offer.
I am very happy to work with Alzheimer's clients.
This experience has also refreshed my ability to speak 'swiss-cheese',
the language of chasing down and finding the forgotten words.
Carer Duties
My job, working together with the Elder(s) and their family,
is to create a personalised care-plan that exactly meets the needs of the specific situation,
in line with the abilities, safety issues, and needs of the Elder.
is to create a personalised care-plan that exactly meets the needs of the specific situation,
in line with the abilities, safety issues, and needs of the Elder.
From my Heart
It is my genuine pleasure to care for your Elders
as if they were my own,
and to always respectfully honour the family's wishes.
as if they were my own,
and to always respectfully honour the family's wishes.
It is my privilege to help maintain
the most stable and familiar
sense of being HOME
the most stable and familiar
sense of being HOME
