Wendy Cooke

Experience

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  Stephen Parker & Co

  Jul 1984 - Jan 1986

  Legal Secretary

  Secretary and receptionist to Legal Executive in a firm of Solicitors. Touch typist. Answering telephone and representing the Company. Mainly concerned in dealing with conveyances and typing up Wills, with occasional preparation of documents for cases dealt at Magistrate's Court.

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  Orchard Hill, Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton, Surrey

  Jan 1986 - Mar 1989

  Student Nurse

  Student Nurse for the mentally handicapped (now known as Learning Disability nurse training) - 3 year course based in the hospital and the surrounding community. Experience included working in a nursery school, a school for profound learning disability in Morden, 2 day centres for people with learning disability, work on bungalows in Queen Mary's hospital and St Ebbas hospital. This included working on a unit for challenging behaviour and in a physiotherapy department. Also included in the training, was work in St Helier's hospital on an all male medical ward and the physiotherapy department.On all placements I was required to complete a project which related to the placement and had to achieve a pass in several assessments including - management, medication, education and care plans. Show less

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  Orchard Hill, Queen Mary's Hospital

  Apr 1989 - Sept 1990

  D Grade Nurse (Promoted to E grade Dec 1989)

  After qualifiying as a nurse I worked on 4 Elm Avenue at Orchard Hill. After 3 months the ward sister took early retirement due to health issues and as the most senior nurse on house (2 other nurses who were SEN trained) I was promoted to Acting F grade until a new sister was appointed from another unit (4 months). My role was to manage a small staff team, write the staff Rota and be involved in developing and upgrading the facilities within the house. I supervised the installation of a new bathroom layout. I also helped to improve the level of care and during my time as acting manager, we were awarded the "friendliest" house on site. I was also informed by my line manager, that if we continued to improve, then the house would be considered as a prospective training venue for new student nurses. Show less

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  Blue Arrow

  Sept 1990 - Oct 1990

  Caregiver

  I joined Blue Arrow after leaving Orchard Hill. I registered initially at the Croydon branch, and was offered a job the same day after they received a verbal reference over the phone. One of the staff on duty at Blue Arrow usually worked in the Sutton branch which is my local area and she advised me to register at that branch if I wanted to obtain work nearer to home. I did this the next day. The home I worked in on the first day in Croydon then contacted the branch that day to ask for me again. I worked as a carer for a few days in elderly care homes, then was given full time work in a day centre on Orchard Hill (my former employer) Show less

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  The Children's Trust

  Oct 1990 - Feb 2015

  In 2005, the school for profound education (formerly known as St. Margaret's School) opened a new purpose built residential building. The school had moved from 2 houses to 3 houses, and I was charged with the responsibility of moving children into the new build and amalgamating staff from both houses into one house. I developed all staff and provided specific training to ensure the skill level was appropriate to the needs of the children and the house. I managed a team of 30 staff and supported 11 children and young people). I organised specialised holidays in appropriate holiday accommodation away from The Trust for a week each year, taking into account the individual needs and completing risk assessments to ensure their safety was maintained at all times. My role as manager, included managing a budget, staff rotas, training, attending review meetings and liaising with all members of the multidisciplinary team, parents and external funders, organising transitions for new children and ensuring all their care, education and therapy needs were provided and maintaining high standards of care.As Manual Handling Co-ordinator I provided continuous ongoing staff training, reviewing and monitoring the quality of risk assessments, advising on manual handling issues across the Trust. As a member of the National Back Exchange (NBE) I attended the national conference yearly to ensure I kept up to date with latest developments and networking with colleagues from the NBE locality group. As a member of the Epilepsy Specialist Nurses Association ESNA and I also networked with colleagues from this group and kept up to date reading regular newsletters and journals. Show less I became a Deputy head of house in Woodland House at the school. During my time as deputy, I was involved in writing reports for annual education and social services reviews for the children, writing care programmes and care plans, supervising and appraising staff and liaising with the multi-disciplinary team including doctors, dietitian, therapists and teachers.I qualified as an NVQ assessor and successfully took 2 candidates through their NVQ level 2 in health & social care award and 1 candidate through to completion of her level 3 award. I later supported this candidate to take and successfully complete the NVQ assessor course. I successfully completed the nurse mentorship course to become a qualified nurse mentor.I was the house health & safety rep and liaised very closely with the Trust's health and safety officer who recommended me to provide the site wide training in health & safety,when she resigned until a new health & safety officer was appointed. I provided regular training sessions of all staff in house and the school on manual handling techniques for moving and handling of people and objects. I became a manual handling risk assessor, successfully completing an external 5 day train the trainer course in manual handling.I was the manual handling co-ordinator for The school at The Children's Trust and provided monthly training sessions for the whole of the site on hoisting training, practical manual handling and later on manual handling risk assessor training. Show less I joined St Margaret;s school as I wanted to work in a special school for children with learning disabilities. My role was very varied, working in class and also shift work in the residential accommodation - Oak tree house. I was key worker to one child and was responsible for ensuring all his programmes were up to date. As a nurse, I was also shift leader and dispensing medication. I was asked to apply for a Deputy Head of House post, by my manager, when a position became available in April 1992 Show less

  • Head of Jasmine House

    Nov 2005 - Feb 2015

  • Deptuty head of house

    Apr 1992 - Nov 2005

  • School Assistant

    Oct 1990 - Apr 1992
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  Sussex Health Care

  Feb 2015 - Jan 2016

  Registered Manager

  Managed 3 nursing and care homes with a capacity of 10 beds per home catering for the needs of people aged 18 to 65 years, with cognitive and physical disabilities and health care needs. Facilitated and organised respite stays for up to 12 other service users. Successfully completed the pre-assessment, fee agreement and transition for 4 service users into full time placement at the Centre, and carried out further assessments for service users for future placement; both at Beechcroft and in other care homes with Sussex Health Care. Managed a team of nurses, care assistants, activity staff, domestics, kitchen staff, and maintenance/drivers; and to some extent physiotherapists. Carried out supervisions and appraisals with staff and organized appropriate training for all staff specific to their roles and responsibilities. Sign off nurse mentor for a student nurse on placement at the Centre who successfully completed her requirements for the placement.Managed a budget, carried out inspections of the property and authorised maintenance and repair to meet health and safety requirements. Audited care plans and clinical notes to ensure high standards were maintained at all times and care plans regularly reviewed to meet the changing needs of the service users. Monitored the quality of risk assessments and provided advice and guidance on writing risk assessments and care plans. Re-organized staffing across all 3 houses and set up regular staff meetings to review practices and improve communication. Set up secure in house computer network sites for the nurses to ensure confidentiality and information governance adhered to at all times. Wrote guidelines relating to documentation and review report writing for nursing and care staff. Show less

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  Independence Homes Ltd

  Apr 2016 - Sept 2016

  Service Manager

  Managed home with initially 7 service users. The home has the capacity for 8 service users.  Lead facilitator and organizer for the transition of another service user with complex health needs who moved into the home on 1st September 2016. Provided training, supervision and support for care staff in delivering care for the new young person with a gastrostomy (including the administration of medication, decompression, care of stoma and gastrostomy button and use of Flocare Infinity pump for continuous feed). Supported staff in the care of the service user with regard to postural management and moving and handling guidelines. Created person centred care plan, daily and monthly delivery plans for new service user, including risk assessment and behaviour management, mental capacity assessment and application for DOLs.  Provided training, supervision and support to care staff in delivering care for another service user who had deteriorating health needs and required the use of suction, nebulizers, oxygen and oxygen saturation monitoring. This service user also recently had an Entristar gastrostomy operation and I provided training, support and supervision to staff with regard to administration of medication and bolus feeds via his gastrostomy and care of stoma site. Show less

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  Orchard Hill

  Jan 2017 - Feb 2022

  Bank College Nurse

  Working 2 days per week supporting students with learning disabilities within the college setting. Administering feeds via GT, regular and as required medication. Providing advice and first aid when needed. Supporting and mentoring student nurses and college staff - providing training and guidance on nursing care needs. Maintaining accurate record keeping.

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  Surrey Downs CCG

  Jan 2017 - Feb 2022

  Case Coordinator

  Visiting people in their own home or in residential and nursing care homes for the purpose of assessing their health care needs. Completing DST assessments and Checklists and making recommendations regarding healthcare funding. Assisting people who are eligible for CHC funding to manage a personal health care budget and writing care plans.

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  NHS Surrey Heartlands CCG

  Jan 2022 - now

  Learning Disability Specialist Lead