Beginning my role as a volunteer my role was supporting families through a ten-week mentoring programme offering practical help and emotional support to families experiencing short or long-term social and personal issues from domestic abuse, bereavement, or homelessness. The focus of my role was to provide hands-on support to service users, empowering them to address various challenges, reducing problems and risks and, in some cases, helping to make sure that children can remain with their families. After a few months in this role, I began part-time employment within the organisation to reduce the pressures and referral backlog that occurred due to the impact of the pandemic.

I Established two settings to provide before-school and after-school childcare. I was integral to running the settings as business entities whilst being hands-on in the delivery of high-quality education. I built and developed a team staff through training and mentoring in childcare practices. I captured evidence to produce detailed documentation for wider Special Educational Needs support, including documents for professional panels, and built trusting relationships with parents and children with ‘child in need’ or ‘child protection’ plans. Identified parents and families in crisis to signpost to relevant support services. Embedded and applied safeguarding procedures and policies for all children.I delivered comprehensive care-driven training programmes for many young apprentices to progress into professional childcare practitioners.I successfully managed the induction process for apprentices and students, with ongoing observation and mentoring.I was a key player in the design of three new programmes to support families in crisis, including resources and sourcing external funding, resulting in positive outcomes for families.I built the two businesses from scratch, sourcing funding for each, building and designing settings, and forming community alliances.