Miriam, OFSTED childminder in Lewes BN7

I am currently doing an MA in Art Psychotherapy and am looking for a part-time position to sit alongside my studies. I am a warm and approachable person with a proactive and positive nature.
I am now looking to broaden my experience in different care settings, particularly with children.
I have looked after young family members and neighbors on a casual basis in the past and can provide references for this if needed. I am happy to help with cooking, household chores and with homework and I have a keen interest in creative activities (painting, sewing, crafts and story telling), music (I used to learn the piano and cello), animals and can speak some basic French.

CARE WORK EXPERIENCE:
~ Trainee Art Therapist, WLMHT, November 2016 – June 2017
• Working within two inpatient settings at Ealing Hospital and Lakeside MHU
• Co-facilitation of two open studio art therapy groups, sole facilitation of an OPS art therapy group as well as facilitating 1:1 art therapy with an outpatient
• Working with a range of mental health issues across WLMHT adult inpatient services. These include Dementia, Schizophrenia, PTSD, Anxiety, Bipolar disorder, Personality Disorder and Psychosis.
• Attending monthly business and governance meetings with the creative therapy team
• Sitting in on initial patient assessments
• Making and receiving referrals
• Attending ward rounds and CPA reviews
• Liaising with all hospital staff members to ensure that safe and appropriate care can be given to patients
• Using organisational assessment forms to help set out aims for therapy as well as evidencing it's effectiveness
• Recording art therapy sessions and writing up clinical notes on a digitally based system called RiO
• Delivering a psychodynamic therapeutic approach that is adaptable to the patient, incorporation mentalisation based methods as well as directive approaches in certain situations.

~ Trainee Art Therapist, Treetops Therapy, November 2015 – June 2016
• Working within a therapy service based in a mainstream East London primary school
• Co-facilitating a closed art therapy group as well as facilitating three pupils on an individual basis
• Working with a range of issues such as low self-esteem, behavioural problems, struggles with identity, eating disorders, domestic violence and trauma.
• Attending regular staff meetings and liaising with teachers
• Meeting with parents throughout the year to discuss the progression of therapy
• Delivering a psychodynamic model of therapy, as well as incorporating a humanistic approach (Gestalt in particular) within the closed art therapy group
• Recording progress notes on paper forms, which were stored securely within the organisation's filing system.
• Following the correct safe guarding procedures and always being up to date on school policy to keep my patient and myself safe.

~ Creative Befriender, Westminster Arts, March - September 2014
• Facilitating one-to-one creative sessions within people’s own homes
• Accompanying people with dementia and their carers to galleries, concerts and events
• Attending dementia training and conferences
• Attending meetings with fellow befrienders to share experiences and any issues

~ NHS Volunteer, Royal Sussex County Hospital, 2008 – 2010
• Based on the surgical ward
• Volunteering alongside patients with a range of physical and mental health issues such as amputations, paralysis, dementia and depression.
• Practical tasks such as assisting patients at mealtimes and buying items from the hospital shop on request
• Administrative tasks such as filing and addressing envelopes
• Liaising with staff and visitors on the ward

EDUCATION:
~ 2015 – 2018: University of Hertfordshire: MA Art Therapy
~ 2011 – 2014: (UAL) Chelsea College of Arts: BA Hons Textiles
~ 2010 – 2011: (UAL) London College of Fashion: Foundation Diploma Art & Design
~ 2008 – 2010: Varndean College: International Baccalaureate
~ 2003 – 2008: Priory School: 11 GCSEs A* - C