Sheila O'Shaughnessy

Experience

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  Age UK Gateshead

  Mar 2009 - May 2012

  Mental Health Advocate

  Worked as an advocate for a group of mental health survivors of over 60's women and facilitated a peer support group. Worked on a one to one with over 60's with mental health issues, supporting with any personal issues. Liaising on behalf of the service users with councils and or any other services needed to support the service user.

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  Cyrenians

  Sept 2011 - Jul 2012

  Support Worker

  The service provides Housing Related Support to single Young People aged 16-24 years who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness and have a Gateshead connection. Support is provided up to a maximum of 2 years. The support is accommodation-based, enabling Young People who are in housing crisis to gain the skills and appropriate support to move on and establish independent living. As a support worker my duties included:Prevent repeat cycles of homelessness amongst young people Address unmet support needs for young persons Promote social inclusion and assist in providing better outcomes in relation to health, education and well being To reduce and prevent young people from sleeping rough To prevent young people accessing inappropriate accommodation Provide quality accommodation and support for young people when required To enable young people to have the opportunity to access a range of other services in the knowledge they have a secure home to access services from – such as education, training, employment and volunteering To enable young people to be move-on in a planned approach, ensuring the maximum potential for young people to live and plan independent lives To enable young people to access appropriate and secure accommodation Show less

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  South Tyneside College

  May 2012 - Nov 2012

  Associate Lecturer Temporary Assignment

  Lectured in Preparing to Work in Health and Social Care Foundation Degree, Level 2 Challenging Behavior, Level 3 Personal and professional Development and Foundation Degree. One day per week taught at a local comprehensive school in Level 1 Health and Social Care.

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  Gateshead College

  Sept 2012 - Sept 2016

  Trainer / Assessor

  Currently liaising with Job Centres and local companies in care to train unemployed people to a job ready standard. Work as the lead tutor ensuring all barriers of learning are looked at on an individual level and supported to overcome, in order to succeed and achieve within a college environment. A taught course in Employability in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care, as well as Level 2 Emergency First Aid, Moving and Handling and Level 2 Mental Health Awareness. Ensuring the learners have the tools and skills to create a CV, fill in application forms and cover letters as well as being able to look for employment within the Adult Social Care Sector, by recognising their own skills and abilities. Liaise with local employers to arrange interview days and ensure candidates are prepared for interviews of which job success rate is 98%. Show less

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  Shaw Trust

  Jul 2013 - Sept 2013

  Health and Social Care Lecturer temporary cover

  Health and Social care lecturer to a group of disadvantaged or disabled young people studying level 2 and 3 diplomas.

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  Sunderland College

  Jun 2016 - Sept 2017

  Lecturer Health and Social Care

  Working with local colleges and employers by providing essential education to support adults to enter the work place. Guiding adults via encouragement and coaching to ensure they are fully equipped with all the necessary attributes to enter Adult Social Care employment, teaching areas such as Dignity and Safeguarding, Organisational Policies and Procedures, Moving and Handling, Emergency First Aid at Work, Mental Health Awareness, Dementia Awareness, Healthy Eating and Drinking, through taught courses, 1:1 support and assessments. Unemployed adults were taught the fundamental elements of adult social care through teaching and learning, all the while supporting the learners with their own mental health issues, learning and physical disabilities. Advising, guiding and supporting learners to identify and achieve their learning aims, by creating a fit for purpose CV, as well as learning interview skills. Show less

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  Families in Care

  Jan 2018 - Jul 2018

  Advocacy

  Recently completed a placement as a specialist advocate in relation to my degree. Advocating for parents going through processes concerning the removal of children, including fostering and adoption; some with parents who have learning disabilities, drug and alcohol issues, brain injuries and mental health conditions. Supporting birth parents, ensuring partnership approach, following relevant policies and procedures, especially with regards to information sharing, confidentiality, conducting home visits, health and safety and safeguarding children. Alongside this considering safeguarding vulnerable adults’ policy might also apply should the parent be deemed to have additional needs. Working with parents who might have received parenting reports and having the ability to examine the report with the parent, exploring concerns raised in the assessment always considering the needs of the child, whilst supporting the parent. Attended court proceedings as well as local authority concern reviews, care team meetings and core meetings, to support the parent with any areas of concerns to be able to get support with a view to being able to safeguard their children. Show less

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  Derwentside Locality Team

  Jan 2019 - Mar 2022

  Student Social Worker

  Currently working as a student social worker supporting adults living with complex needs as a result of mental ill health, drug and alcohol issues, family breakdown, job loss, financial concerns as well as conditions such as dementia or any other disabilities. Work includes carrying out assessments related to government criteria and legislation to enable the individual to live a fulfilled independent life, whilst promoting health and wellbeing, using a strengths-based approach. All the while ensuring the safety and dignity of service users as well as relatives. To refer, liaise, consult and work effectively with agencies and other professionals in order to meet identified needs. Undertake reviews of support packages as required ensuring the right level of support is delivered only for as long as is needed, as well as advising the person and their carers of alternative services as and when appropriate. Providing written reports and support plans to represent individual and carers needs, ensuring a high level of data quality for all information recorded, ensuring that the information is timely, accurate and complete. Show less

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  Newcastle City Council

  Dec 2019 - Mar 2022

  Social Worker Learning Disabilities and Autism team
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  Gateshead Council

  Sept 2021 - now

  Adult mental health social worker