Em Cookson-Williams Email & Phone Number

Swansea, Wales, Gb

- Represent network and advocate for LGBTQ+ staff at relevant committees and working groups, such as Equality Committee, and contribute to the development of strategic equality plans for the University, implementing and monitoring action plans for LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality.- Working in partnership with other teams and stakeholders, develop LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and guidance, including ‘Guidance on supporting Trans and Non-Binary Employees’ and ‘LGBTQ+ Student Inclusion and Support Policy’. - Liaise with Senior Leadership Team to update on relevant network activity and drive forward SLT engagement with LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and practice at a broader institutional level.- Lead on network activities and events, including developing activities for awareness days and contributing to annual Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and implementing feedback from annual WEI submission.

Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom

- Within this role I lead the welfare and wellbeing support provision for students in the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science. I lead on the escalation routes for cases of concern and lead on high risk and complex cases, including chairing a weekly risk management meeting to ensure efficient case management of cases within the faculty. - Using a person-centre approach, I provide support to students, both face-to-face and remotely, utilising the empowerment model to enable individuals to make informed choices on support needed.- I regularly deputise for Faculty Designated Safeguarding Officer, assessing possible safeguarding cases, attending case conferences and review meetings and liaising with relevant teams internally and externally to manage and refer safeguarding cases.- In collaboration with the time, I contribute to service development, including creating and reviewing relevant processes and procedures, ensuring service provision aligns with wider University policy and delivering training to support the upskilling and development of staff. - I regularly work in partnership with internal and external teams and departments to deliver wellbeing-based projects and initiatives, including partnership working with health boards to support health care and medical students on placement. - I am responsible for keeping accurate records on student cases/referrals, in line with University policies and GDPR. I monitor and report data on numbers of student referrals and engagement with wellbeing activities to stakeholders such as Health Education Improvement Wales. - I currently line managing a number of staff members within team and provide coaching and support for professional and personal development, including conducting annual PDR’s and interim PDR reviews.

- Contribute to development of strategic plans for the organisation and monitoring the progress of strategic plan in meeting the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.- Attend quarterly Director’s meetings and contribute to overseeing the effective running and strategic development of the organisation. - Scrutinise organisational accounts and ensure organisation is meeting its legal responsibilities with regards to finance and accounts and funding responsibilities.- Contribute to and feedback on organisational policies and procedures, e.g. risk registers and HR policies.

- Contributing to and feeding back on the development of LGBTQ+ inclusive policies, including ‘Trans, Non-Binary and Intersex Inclusion Policy’ for staff and students. - Develop and deliver training for professional service staff on supporting LGBTQ+ students, including the development of training resources and guidance. - Represent network on various working groups including working group for the development of ‘Report and Support’ platform and initiating working group for ‘Queering the Curriculum’ project to increase LGBTQ+ inclusivity and representation in programme curriculums. - Lead on network activities and events, including contributing to annual Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and implementing feedback from annual WEI submission.

London, United Kingdom

- I managed a varied and high-risk caseload and provided support, advice and advocacy of students with welfare and wellbeing related issues, including but not limited to suicidal ideation, domestic abuse, sexual violence, homelessness and drug and alcohol abuse.- I signposted and made referrals to internal and external support services e.g. University Counselling Service, Sexual Assault Referral Centres and Citizens Advice etc. - I was responsible for assessing safety and risk of cases to make appropriate referrals and safety planning, e.g. possible safeguarding referrals, arranging emergency accommodation, liaising with emergency services etc. - I worked with agencies such as Local Authorities, NHS and Mental Health Services, Police, Victim Support and violence/abuse survivor organisations to ensure safeguarding and safety of students. - Maintained accurate records on student cases/referrals, in line with University policies and GDPR. Analysed referral data to understand themes and patterns of student welfare related needs and develop appropriate tailored services, including developing an LGBTQ+ student drop-in. - Within this role I developed and delivered training for staff on a range of topics including handling student disclosures and implementing policies such as Fitness to Study.- I also developed and delivered proactive wellbeing initiatives, including designing and facilitating workshops on wellbeing and resilience and creating online resources as follow on support.- I was the Lead of the ‘Bystander Intervention Project’, a project to tackle sexual misconduct on campus, raise awareness and educate about consent. I designed an ‘active bystander’ training course for students, both in person and digitally; coaching student-staff employed on the project and developing training for wider university staff on project.

Wandsworth

- Led youth club sessions, facilitating a safe and welcoming environment for young people and supporting volunteer youth workers to connect with young people and deliver engagement activities. - Created and delivered workshops for young people in line with Youth Work Curriculum and the needs of LGBTQ+ young people, including but not limited to positive relationships, mental health and wellbeing and youth leadership. - Responsible for reporting and escalating any safeguarding concerns raised or identified during the session and ensuring volunteers had all relevant information for the escalation routes for safeguarding concerns. - Provided initial support where young people disclose issues or challenges and refer onwards to additional Free2be Alliance services. - Managing team of volunteers, including coaching volunteers to support development of youth work skills and contributing to training needs analysis and training implementation for volunteer youth workers.

Various Across Borough Of Lambeth

- Led on the delivery of the ‘Prince’s Trust Team Program’, including planning and delivering lessons and workshops on a range of personal development skills and topics. - Engaged and supported young people aged 16-25 through the 12-week personal development course, providing continual education and welfare support through 1-2-1’s and group work. - Liaised with Social Services, Job Centre’s, Youth Offending Services, Probation Services and other youth provisions to recruit suitable young people for the program. - Worked in collaboration with relevant agencies to support young people and ensure safety and wellbeing throughout the program, including escalating any safeguarding concerns, making appropriate referrals to internal and external services and feedback to agencies. - Maintained positive working relationship with Prince’s Trust partners, including attending program update meetings, required training and providing data on programme outcomes. - Coached a range of external professionals seconded to ‘Team Program’ as part of their professional development, including trainee social workers, ex-military personnel and Police Officers in varying ranks from the Met Police.

Southall, United Kingdom

- Provide 1-2-1 mentoring support for learners who are disengaged or struggling to overcome barriers to learning with the college environment. - Design and deliver bespoke 45 minute mentoring sessions to enable young people to develop problem-solving solutions to barriers and develop skills to achieve within college.- Run tutorial workshops tailored to meet the needs of the learners and develop personal and professional development skills. Engage young people in enrichment and citizenship events and projects

Various Across Borough Of Islington

- Working with elected Student Union students to develop a programme of enrichment and learner voice activities and projects. Encourage other learners to engage in Student Union activities and promote opportunities.- Design and deliver a programme of wellbeing campaigns to support the positive wellbeing of learners at the college. Liaising with internal departments and external organisations to develop a range of development opportunities for all learners.

Preparation For Teaching In The Lifelong Learning Sector (Pttls)

Master Of Arts (Ma), Drama (Applied Theatre), Merit

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Drama And Theatre Studies, 2:1

Activities and Societies: Community Outreach Officer in SURHUL Drama Society (08/09) Student Development and Volunteering Officer.