Amy Lou Owen MA Ba (Hons) HCPC

Experience

• 

  Springsteen Care Home

  Mar 2014 - Jul 2015

  Trainee Dramatherapist

  Clients had a variety of conditions, some of which have quite clear diagnosis such as Dementia, Parkinson’s, Brain Injury and Charles Bonnet Syndrome. Others conditions are not as clear and definable. The First Group had mild to moderate conditions although most are progressive in their nature the second were in a High Dependency Unit. Mobility and Speech and Language abilities varied greatly amongst the groups. The main focus of the work was to support clients in creative work, involving the use drama specifically movement, music, ritual and storytelling. Providing opportunities for self-awareness as well as a chance to explore and reflect on feelings and relationships, allowing spontaneous exploration of personal issues. Show less

• 

  Treloars School

  Oct 2014 - Feb 2016

  Student Support Assistant

  • To guide students towards independence finding ways to adapt the environment/ equipment in order to achieve this.• To help implement and document individual care plans• Assisting teachers and therapists • Working with small groups of students or one to one to• To support the Trust in safeguarding and protecting the welfare of all students• To maintain and develop own professional knowledge and awareness.

• 

  College Hall Pupil Referral Unit

  Mar 2015 - Jul 2016

  Trainee Dramatherapist

  Clients were referred to the PRU as they were unable to attend mainstream school or needed extra support in their placement at a mainstream school because of their complex and often disaffected behaviour, mental health or medical needs. Clients often had difficult personal circumstances some with a referral to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services for conditions such as anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Asperger’s, autism and psychopathic tendencies. Others have also been involved with the youth offending services and social services.I worked on a weekly basis with a group of key stage three male students (year eight and nine) and an individual in key stage four (year ten) on a weekly basis. The focus of the work was on encouraging and supporting clients in creative drama and theatre work using techniques such as improvisation, storytelling, play, role-play and neuro –dramatic play. Encouraging self-awareness, exploration and reflection on feelings and relationships initiating spontaneous exploration of personal issues. Enabling clients to experiment with new ways of thinking and behaving. Show less

• 

  The Challenge

  Jun 2016 - now

  Provide effective leadership for the delivery and quality of the NCS programmes, building a strong team which is well-bonded and clearly directed.Support, develop and directly manage a team of Programme Leaders, Social Action Managers, Community Logistics Managers and Administrators.Indirectly support, develop and manage a range of pastoral support staff including, Team Mentors, Learning & Behaviour Specialists, Youth Inclusion Mentors and Support Workers.Manage the operational delivery of NCS programmes in a defined area making decisions on behavioural, safeguarding and staff management issues in a high pressure environment.Ensure and monitor compliance with Challenge policies and procedures throughout my team with a particular focus on health and safety, safeguarding and finance management.Provide logistical direction and management on areas including transport, venues and residential accommodation, ensuring that these are carried out as cost effectively as possible.Provide out-of-hours on-call cover nationally as part of a rota through delivery periods.Act as the Designated Safeguarding Officer for Slough taking responsibility for managing and reporting concerns about young people and for putting into place procedures to safeguard young people in Slough. Show less Main Duties : Working as part of a fast-paced field sales team, to inspire young people to sign up to the National Citizen Service (NCS) I present at over 200 schools, sixth forms and colleges across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire delivering high quality, engaging presentations and PSHE lessons to young people. I also train, sign off and quality asses other members of the team, on boarding new starters and mentoring them to improve performance. To insure we are hitting target I input on local operational strategy tracking the performance of the team and implementing strategies to raise performance, specifically looking at event quality, conversion and retention of young people. This includes working closely with the Accounts Management Team who hold school relationships to ensure we are tailoring and adapting our approach appropriately and to identify new opportunities for recruitment. Additional Duties : I am also the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Rep for our zone meaning that I held all of the relationships with SEN School Accounts and have overseen these being handed over to our Accounts Management Team. I also train the team locally and in other zones on running SEN events as well as broader training covering different types of SEN and SEN schools. Locally I take a lead on delivery on our SEN events. Show less • To provide vital support and advice to the Programme Leader, Senior Mentors, Support Workers, Personal Coaches and Participants.• Be an inclusion specialist and share knowledge. • Support specific participants with additional needs• Support the Programme Leader in managing the wave. • Support all staff and particularly Support Workers and Personal Coaches. • To support Mentors to support their teams. Acting as a resource by giving advice and suggesting interventions to the Mentors to support their teams. • Lead on behaviour management and inclusion. Help staff to support all participants but particularly those with additional needs or who display challenging behaviour. • Helping the Mentors identify and solve problems.• Working with participants and staff to develop strategies. Show less

  • Delivery Programme Manager

    Jun 2019 - now

  • Sales Associate

    Nov 2017 - Jun 2019

  • Engagement Coordinator

    Oct 2016 - Nov 2017

  • Assistant Programme Leader

    Jun 2016 - Oct 2016
• 

  Guildford College Group

  Mar 2017 - Jul 2018

  Trainee Dramatherapist

  I worked with clients for an hour a week initially for 10 sessions however in some cases this was extended. There were a variety of diagnosis among the clients I worked with including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety, Psychosis, Depression and Eating Disorders. Some clients had a history of or were presently using drugs, alcohol and self-harm as coping strategies. The focus of the work varied but involved assessing and monitoring clients’ needs planning and providing appropriate treatment as well as liaising with and referring to other services. Helping clients to understand and address inner conflicts through dramatic processes such as role-play, storytelling, ritual and projective work. Show less

• 

  Omáda CIC

  Oct 2019 - Aug 2023

  Director

  Oversee the activities of the company. Manage resources as well as establishing strategic goals and formulating plans to ensure those goals are met. Maintains budgets for the company and monitor cost against budget.Make key decisions for Omada CICResearch and analyse industry, market, and competitors to make informed strategy decisions, including identifying and pursuing funding opportunities.To deliver Omádas Wellbeing and Dramatherapy programmes, acting as their lead Dramatherapist.To oversee and lead Sales to other organisations, researching and finding new opportunities, and to proactively sell Omádas programmes. Show less

• 

  Amy Lou Creative Psychotherapy

  Aug 2023 - now

  Director Lead Psychotherapist
• 

  Support U

  Jan 2024 - now

  Interim CEO