Lou O'Connell MBE

Experience

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  Army Cadets UK | Official

  Feb 1995 - Mar 1996

  Adult instructor

  The Army Cadet Force (ACF) is one of the UK’s largest voluntary youth organisations. Adult volunteers help to lead, guide and inspire cadets between 13 & 18 years of age.

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  British Army

  Apr 1996 - now

  Some of the issues I have supported service personnel and/or their families with include: Domestic Abuse, Child & Adult Safeguarding, Bereavement, Relationship Difficulties, Stress & Anxiety Management, Emotional Wellbeing, Signposting. As a manager for the latter part of my career, I supervised staff with varying levels of experience to ensure they delivered safe and effective welfare support. In addition to time spent delivering the core business of the AWS, I have also spent time at the Royal Centre of Defence Medicine in Birmingham, supporting service personnel and their family following injury in Afghanistan and other operational theatres. I also spent 2 years training and mentoring aspiring welfare workers as the Training Officer for the AWS. This role included overseeing the rewriting of an 8 month course for aspiring Army and Navy welfare workers. Show less

  • Army Reservist

    Apr 2018 - now

  • Defence Specialist Welfare Worker

    Feb 2004 - Apr 2018

  • Royal Military Police

    Apr 1996 - Feb 2004
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  The Mental Wealth Mentor

  Jun 2015 - now

  I offer: * 1:1 and group coaching/mentoring packages for individuals looking to make positive changes in their lives.Additional training in: HypnotherapyHeartMath Coaching & MentoringAdult ADHD CoachingMental Fitness CoachingLeadership/management coaching and mentoringProviding face to face and online training/facilitation in:* Bespoke Mental Health courses in the workplace * Bespoke webinars related to Mental Health and Mental Well-being. * Leadership and management training. * Levels 1, 2 & 3 awards in First Aid for Mental Health (RQF)* Level 2 Award in First Aid for Youth Mental Health (RQF)* Bereavement and loss Show less

  • LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator

    Jan 2023 - now

  • Coach, Mentor, Consultant and Trainer

    Oct 2012 - now

  • Group and Individual Sound Therapist

    Jun 2015 - Feb 2024
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  MHFA England®

  Jan 2017 - Mar 2022

  Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor

  Facilitator for the internationally recognised Youth and Higher Education Mental Health First Aid courses.Courses I can facilitate: 2 Day YMHFA 1 Day YMHFA 1 Day Higher Education MHFA

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  WALX & Nordic Walking UK

  Jul 2017 - Mar 2018

  Nordic Walking Instructor

  Nordic Walking Instructor trained by Nordic Walking UK. Qualifications: Exercise Anywhere Diploma in Fitness & Nordic Walking (including YMCA Awards Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Walking)Advanced Nordic Walking Instructors Diploma

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  Nuco Training Ltd

  Mar 2018 - now

  Qualified to teach the UK’s only OFQUAL Regulated mental health first aid courses. Courses range from Level 1 to 3 and can be delivered in person and/or online. Adult Mental Health FAA Level 1 Award in Awareness of First Aid for Mental Health (RQF)FAA Level 2 Award in First Aid for Mental Health (RQF)FAA Level 3 Award in Supervising First Aid for Mental Health (RQF)Youth Mental Health FAA Level 2 Award in First Aid for Youth Mental Health (RQF) Facilitator for the Ofqual regulated, Level 1 Award in Awareness of Safeguarding (RQF) and Level 3 in Award in Principles of Safeguarding Children, Young People or Vulnerable Adults.

  • Independent First Aid for Mental Health Instructor

    Sept 2020 - now

  • Independent Safeguarding Trainer

    Mar 2018 - Feb 2024
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  NHS Professionals

  Feb 2019 - Jul 2021

  Band 3 Bank Clinical Support Worker

  Band 3 Bank Clinical Support Worker working within the Norfolk and Suffolk Mental Health Foundation Trust (NSFT). Duties included: Care for the patient’s physical, psychological, social, spiritual, cultural and recreational needs within a defined programme of healthcare ensuring that the patient’s dignity is maintained at all times.Observe, report and record any changes, which may indicate an alteration in the patient’s wellbeing as well as any routine observations required.Communicate with patients, relatives and carers ensuring that professional boundaries are observed at all times.Escort patients within and outside the hospital grounds, reporting verbally and when necessary in writing on observations while escorting.Provide support to service users within the community as outlined in the risk assessment, guided by the Registered Practitioner.Maintain a general knowledge of current ward, service and trust arrangements, operational policies, clinical objectives, procedures, overall philosophy and work in accordance with these.Ensure good working relationships with all grades and disciplines, contributing to the effective running of the service by engaging in discussions and attending appropriate meetings.A duty and responsibility to maintain security (internal and external), reporting to the person responsible for the area concerned or the Registered Practitioner Show less

• 

  Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

  May 2020 - Aug 2020

  Band 3 Clinical Support Worker - Secure Services

  This was a 3 month fixed term contract as part of the Covid-19 Student Nurse Opt-in placements. Duties included:Care for the patient’s physical, psychological, social, spiritual, cultural and recreational needs within a defined programme of healthcare ensuring that the patient’s dignity is maintained at all times.Observe, report and record any changes, which may indicate an alteration in the patient’s wellbeing as well as any routine observations required.Communicate with patients, relatives and carers ensuring that professional boundaries are observed at all times.Escort patients within and outside the hospital grounds, reporting verbally and when necessary in writing on observations while escorting.Provide support to service users within the community as outlined in the risk assessment, guided by the Registered Practitioner.Maintain a general knowledge of current ward, service and trust arrangements, operational policies, clinical objectives, procedures, overall philosophy and work in accordance with these.Ensure good working relationships with all grades and disciplines, contributing to the effective running of the service by engaging in discussions and attending appropriate meetings.A duty and responsibility to maintain security (internal and external), reporting to the person responsible for the area concerned or the Registered PractitionerParticipate in receiving clinical and managerial supervision. Show less

• 

  Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

  Feb 2021 - Apr 2021

  Band 4 - Assistant Practitioner - Acute Mental Health Inpatients

  3 month fixed term contract as part of the Covid-19 Student nurse Opt in placements. Duties included: A range of duties related to patient care. Care for the patient’s physical, psychological, social, spiritual, cultural and recreational needs within a defined programme of healthcare ensuring that the patient’s dignity is maintained at all times.Observe, report and record any changes, which may indicate an alteration in the patient’s wellbeing as well as any routine observations required.Communicate with patients, relatives and carers ensuring that professional boundaries are observed at all times.Escort patients within and outside the hospital grounds, reporting verbally and when necessary in writing on observations while escorting.Provide support to service users within the community as outlined in the risk assessment, guided by the Registered Practitioner.Maintain a general knowledge of current ward, service and trust arrangements, operational policies, clinical objectives, procedures, overall philosophy and work in accordance with these.Ensure good working relationships with all grades and disciplines, contributing to the effective running of the service by engaging in discussions and attending appropriate meetings.A duty and responsibility to maintain security (internal and external), reporting to the person responsible for the area concerned or the Registered PractitionerParticipate in receiving clinical and managerial supervision. Show less

• 

  Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

  Aug 2021 - Jan 2022

  Band 5 - Core Skills Trainer

  This was a 6 month fixed term contract, working within a team of mental health nurses providing AVERTS (Approaches to Violence through Effective Recognition and Training for Staff) training for clinical staff working within the range of inpatient mental health facilities in the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust.

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  Birmingham City University

  Jan 2022 - now

  Responsible for providing assessments, wellbeing interventions, advice, guidance and support for students experiencing medium to long-term /enduring and/or complex mental health difficulties to enable them to succeed at university. Responsible for providing assessments, wellbeing interventions, advice, guidance and support for students experiencing medium to long-term /enduring and/or complex mental health difficulties to enable them to succeed at university.

  • Mental Health Advisor

    Apr 2024 - now

  • Mental health advisor

    Jan 2022 - Apr 2024
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  The Mental Wealth Mentor

  Jan 2024 - now

  Business Owner