Rita Gentilcore Email & Phone Number

Liverpool, England, United Kingdom

As part of a team, we run a disability support drop-in service within the university. I have supported students in applying for a support plan, obtaining medical evidence, as well as referring on to appropriate services. I have also maintained an active social media and marketing presence in order to broadcast and raise awareness of the new team. I have completed training to assist with student disability support, including: physical needs, mental health, and learning disabilities.

As a BACP accredited counsellor at the counselling centre, I provide face-to-face and online counselling sessions to clients with mild to moderate mental health problems, helping them manage harmful emotions and behaviours in a safe and confidential environment. I ensure client confidentiality is maintained at all times by keeping records of all sessions and activity in line with service protocols, which enables me to write clear reports and letters to different referral agencies. I have been a… Show more As a BACP accredited counsellor at the counselling centre, I provide face-to-face and online counselling sessions to clients with mild to moderate mental health problems, helping them manage harmful emotions and behaviours in a safe and confidential environment. I ensure client confidentiality is maintained at all times by keeping records of all sessions and activity in line with service protocols, which enables me to write clear reports and letters to different referral agencies. I have been a counsellor at this centre since I started my placement during my counselling degree, and I have been able to apply the learning from my training programme into practice. During this period, I learnt skills to manage my own caseload and time for myself, while continuing university educational assessments. I now integrate behavioural and psychodynamic approaches to provide a holistic approach to client care, and clients are contracted for two years. Due to the long-term nature of the therapy, I have gained the skills to develop an excellent therapeutic relationship with clients and can empathize with their issues while challenging them when necessary. This allows me to adhere to an agreed contract relating to client contacts offered and ensure the accessibility of treatment. Client assessments are referred to me for review, and there is constant discussion in supervisory meetings of client suitability. Clients are assigned different levels and matched to an appropriately trained counsellor to ensure that step-up or step-down arrangements are in place. This has provided me with experience of working in a stepped care service for both anxiety and depression, alongside other mental health problems. During my work, I have identified client specific needs and challenges and developed specialized treatment plans that are regularly monitored and adjusted. Show less

Leicester, England, United Kingdom

As a Health Advisor for the NHS 111 Service, my primary responsibility was answering telephone calls from members of the public and health care professionals and making concise patient notes that were stored in the system. Using the NHS Pathways software, I assessed the patient’s needs and symptoms and provided the most appropriate and safest response. Appropriate responses included escalating patient calls to a Clinical advisor, dispatching an ambulance in the case of an emergency, booking an… Show more As a Health Advisor for the NHS 111 Service, my primary responsibility was answering telephone calls from members of the public and health care professionals and making concise patient notes that were stored in the system. Using the NHS Pathways software, I assessed the patient’s needs and symptoms and provided the most appropriate and safest response. Appropriate responses included escalating patient calls to a Clinical advisor, dispatching an ambulance in the case of an emergency, booking an appointment, or referring onto, or providing, information about other available services. To do this, I maintained up to date knowledge of national legislation and local policies in relation to mental health and primary care services. I received training around safeguarding, and I would carry out risk assessments to ensure patient safety, this included being up-to-date with child protection issues and always listening out for concerns over the phone. Often, I was the first person that patients would call for advice regarding mental health options, this was frequently due to the difficulties they would face in contacting a GP. Therefore, I gained knowledge of how anxiety and depression would present in a primary care setting even if not in direct face to face contact with patients. I gained knowledge of all medications used for anxiety and depression, as well as common side effects and contraindications. Service-users would also call during mental health crises and during busy periods I would stay on the phone until the appropriate help arrived (e.g., paramedics) building empathetic rapport and ensuring patient safety. I used good communication skills with an excellent telephone manner, interacting with interpreters where necessary and using my Italian speaking skills to aid in translation. It was essential that I demonstrated excellent computer literacy and was keen to learn new skills as the pathways system was always updating. Show less

Master'S Degree, Psychology (Conversion)

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Integrative Counselling, 2:1

Hnc, Paramedic Science