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Simon Lock

102 Addington Road, Reading, Berks, RG1 5PX

0118 9660228, 07779 081353, caryofort@virginmedia.com

Personal statement Experienced local authority social services employee with excellent multimedia communication skills gained in previous customer facing roles and currently via working with vulnerable adult and younger customers and professionals in community and office based situations alongside management, directors, Councillors and the public all with equal confidence Excellent organisation and analytical skills including arranging multi organisation meetings, own workload and researching for complex NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding applications Delivering high quality and best value services to both the tax payer and customer equally

Client groups/settings worked with Homeless hostel – Sanctuary Housing Agency work with homeless, looked after children + respite for parents in the community, mental health Residential & respite learning disability children & adults – Slough Borough Council, Ravenswood Thames Valley Probation male only hostel Youth offending team – agency contract Occupational therapy assistant – Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) identifying & fitting equipment Social work assistant – assessing, setting up care, reviewing, duty officer – WBC Brokerage, assessing, reviewing - Optalis & WBC Private funder brokerage, assessing, reviewing - Optalis Short break organiser (respite) – Optalis Continuing Healthcare Assessor (CHC) – WBC. Check listing, MDT attendance, applying, appealing Priors Court school, Newbury. Monksbarn, Reading. Priors Close, Slough Young people, physical disability, learning disability, elderly, community

Skills Working with customers, their relatives and professionals to communicate complex information and to handle difficult situations tactfully and sensitively Articulate, passionate, focused, considerate and innovative Ability to lead and give direction to work colleagues and in voluntary capacities as and when appropriate Adaptable, willing and thriving on new experiences and challenges Confident in public environments including regular exhibition stand attendance and conferences for Optalis and delivering training and information to colleagues and groups about CHC and Mental Health act funding Positive attitude towards change and flexible in attitude to work and life Able to absorb complex work quickly Adept at gathering information and organising appropriately, analytical and detailed work Ability to read and digest information and inform others of priority or need; Part of my previous role with Optalis included checking daily contract alerts and advising management of their new business potential

Planning, organising Took on position of Independent Broker for Optalis Ltd as the posts first incumbent and turned the idea into reality and successfully assisted hundreds of people in Berkshire to secure, manage and change their desired care options. Combination of local authority funded (free to end user) and privately purchasing customers Ability to manage workload independently and within team structure for the good of the team and customers. Keen to participate in supervision, able to prioritise work according to demands Confident to seek advice and guidance from senior staff as and when necessary Excellent time keeper

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Teamwork Member of the Core Values group within Optalis which designed and implemented Core Values for the new company, participated in employee focus groups Reliable, consistent and eager to share knowledge and experience. Often consulted by colleagues due to experience of social care in Berkshire and its processes in Wokingham Strong & resilient team player who recognises that despite time pressures and limited resources it is essential that common sense and a calm approach prevail

I.T Able to work remotely via secure connections and mobile technology Recently assisted with installation of assistive technology (tele-healthcare) and associated setting up of e-mail accounts and reporting levels Participated in focus group to select and implement a new customer I. T database for social services in Wokingham and assisted to implement the system as a Super user Frameworki, Swift, EDRMS, Excel, Outlook - calendar, tasks & e-mail, PowerPoint, Word, My Learning,

Wiser

Education and career qualifications Many local authority courses including: Safeguarding level 2, Equality & Diversity, Data Protection Act, Confidentiality, Freedom of Information Act Extensive Care Act training 2014/15 Document Marking 2014/15 EdExcel Adult Numeracy Level 2 qualification Health & Safety Assessor NVQ 2 Health & Social Care Makaton sign language levels 1 – 9 Completed the new Introduction to Brokerage Short Course at Bucks New University in 2011 Five O Levels, Six CSE’s, one CEE 1985 & 1986

Employment 2004 – 2011 Assistant Care Manager, Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) 2011 – 2014 Broker & Support Worker/Adult Care Reviewer/Private Customer Independent Broker, Optalis Ltd (Optalis is a company owned by WBC) 2014 – 2015, Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Specialist Assessor, Wokingham Borough Council

Identifying and pursuing potential cases resulting in fair outcomes and significant savings for the local authority and private funders Able to investigate and construct robust and well-argued cases to present at Multi-Disciplinary meetings Established, credible and respected profile facilitates effective working relationships with internal colleagues, NHS staff and independent providers and ability to engage with NHS staff in a clear and constructive way both orally and in writing and to all colleagues to understand and complete CHC applications and Mental Health act s117 applications and medication-only calls funding Experience working with young people in residential settings and schools, young people with learning disabilities, including Autism and severe challenging behaviours, a Youth Offending Service and adult Probation service. Adults in the Community and Supported Living, home care, respite and carer services

Ability to provide brokerage services, assess and review all services including homecare, residential and nursing placements; housing, funding streams, day care and to provide equipment and adaptations in order to assist all customers to remain independent in their own homes and active within the community. Follow up on any identified areas of need, amend care plans, implement or change Personal Budgets and direct payments Experience of Safeguarding and Deprivation of Liberty cases. Taking proactive remedial action, as appropriate; forming part of a continuous improvement framework

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Participate in the busy and demanding ‘Duty Desk’ - the first point of contact for many people and for many emergencies. Dealing with extreme time pressure and emotionally charged situations whilst remaining cool and level headed at all times As Short Break Coordinator for WBC I sourced, negotiated and arranged planned breaks and emergency or temporary placements for customers from the initial phone call and assessment though to invoicing. Liaised daily with informal carers, providers and colleagues. Developed an on-line respite bed availability service 2002 – 2004 Assistant Hostel Warden Thames Valley Probation Service

Male only Probation Service hostel, working 24 hour shifts Tasks included key working, rent collection, sentence enforcement. Induction and supervision of residents. Organising daily work projects, liaising with Police, health services, the Multi Agency Public Protection Panel, Sex Offenders Treatment Project, housing providers, courts and solicitors. 2001 – 2002 Youth Offending Team Worker Hillingdon Youth Offending Team

Pre-Sentence Report writer and Reparation organiser Facilitated introductions to local schools; youth clubs etc where reparation activities could be completed. Duty officer and court duty involvement. Visited young offenders in HMYOI’s and assisted with group work programmes. Interviewing & Pre-Sentence Reports writing 1997 – 2002 Senior Care Officer Sanctuary Housing Housing Officer in a hostel for young homeless people (part time) for Sanctuary Housing Association 1993 – 1997 Residential Social Worker Ravenswood/Norwood

Specialist care provider offering accommodation, leisure and education facilities to children and adults with learning and physical disabilities 1986 – 1992 Customer Services/Sales Co-ordinator/retail Citizen Watches (UK) Ltd/Lanier (UK) Ltd/independent photographic retailers

Customer Services/Sales co-ordinator. Handling enquiries from the public, the sales team and retailers concerning orders and repairs of watches and clocks throughout the United Kingdom. Photographic equipment retail, repairs and film processing

Additional information Two children, 12 and 20 Nationality: British Full clean driving licence Section Leader at Beaver Scout Colony Enhanced DBS check Interests include running, cycling, music, films, reading

Referees Mr S R Day Revd R. Weston Birch Cottage Park United Reformed Church 7 Waltham Road Palmer Park Avenue Twyford Reading Berks Berks RG10 9EA RG6 1DN

Minister & fellow Scout leader