Stephanie, foreign au pair in Brimington

I have spent the last 5 years and more supporting children in education, residential care and in the community providing outstanding service. I have worked across many different settings and prefer to work in a fast-paced environment that keeps me on my toes.

At university I jumped at the chance to become a student ambassador where I discovered my ability to lead young people, communicating my knowledge about the benefits of education and community work to an audience of children from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Parents positive feedback led me to be promoted to a student leader. It was in this role that I received the award Outstanding Contribution to Outreach Services 2013. The Line Manager for this role quoted, “she is an excellent team member who gives a great deal of time and effort to her role." Whilst in this role I decided to take on extra training, enabling me to work with students with autism, this eventually led to another employment opportunity as a disability support adviser. I supported students with disabilities through weekly meetings to help organise their educational and social life. This was very fulfilling as I saw them grow, starting as vulnerable students and becoming more independent as I gained their trust.

My knowledge and interest in people with special education needs continued after leaving university as I gained a position in an “outstanding” SEN unit. I worked with young people with different types of learning disabilities and behavioural issues. My duties included carrying out assessments alongside designing and implementing interventions to assess the child’s initial needs, set targets, and progress. I then monitored these interventions, moved pupils forward when targets were met and reviewed targets if there was a need. I was responsible for managing my own caseloads to ensure all information was up to date maintaining regular contact with parents, schools and social workers was essential to ensuring the young person was receiving the best support for his/her development. The experience I gained during this role was invaluable; I was met with challenging and sometimes confrontational behaviour which allowed me to become very skilled in diffusing these sorts of situations ensuring the safety of myself my team and other young people. I have undertaken a vast amount of training as part of this role and the skills relating to compiling 6 monthly analytical reports regarding the child’s progression. My manager quotes in her reference that I was a “dedicated and valued member of the team who took pride in her work, professional relationships and self-presentation I would not hesitate to recommend her to a future employer”.

As the Pastoral Manager at a Derbyshire school where I was the students, staff, parents and multi-agency team’s first point of call for pupils. Working at the frontline of behaviour management and intervention, enabling both vulnerable and challenging students to make progress and ensuring the right support is in place. I have supported the year through transition and over the last 2 years I have developed a strong relationships with the students and parents who now turned to me regularly for a range of support.

I led meetings with parents and professionals, offering advice, strategies and acted on the student’s behalf. Supported at parents evening, running my own pastoral meetings as well as providing feedback for any anxious parents. I have supported families through relationship breakdowns including marital as well as being there for families from start to finish as their child has suffered with mental health issues or break downs. As well as supporting parents I have supported students who are worried about a real range pf personal issues. Being a mediator for friendship issues, and help support build new friendships. I have also support bullying issues, fights and putting in place the correct strategies to prevent further issues.

I have supported students who have struggled with whole school engagement through home visits. I have also supported teachers to develop better relationships with pupils, vice-versa this has enabled better subject engagement. As well as teachers I have also worked closely with form tutors to dissolve any issues or support any students as a team, communicating and meeting regular to use a joint approach.

Finally I have developed confidence, independence and happiness through out my year. Though out my day my office is also busy full of students who seek comfort in the relaxed and positive environment I have created. This has being recognised by being nominated by staff and students for the schools kindness award both years I have worked at the school, positive emails and comments from parents and students, including a group of children who said “ I was the best thing to happen to this school "