I am a qualified social worker with over 30 years experience, having worked across many fields – children and families, older people, adult mental health and learning disabilities. As I developed an interest in dementia, I became passionate about wanting to improve the care and treatment that people receive. I am no longer working as a social worker although I continue to be registered.
Throughout my career, I have always been involved in training and project development in social care issues. I have developed innovative and highly appreciated and award winning training courses and projects specialising in dementia care and sight loss issues. I have been a trainer for RNIB, developing their work with older people and there developed training and projects in relation to dementia and sight loss. I am an Associate with Life Story Network.
I am a qualified trainer and Project Manager. I have undertaken PRINCE2 training and have been involved in a wide range of community projects and service development over the years. I’ve also been involved in developing strategies and practice for ensuring that older people with mental health difficulties and/or dementia have their voice heard.
In the 1990s I took a break from social work and did something completely different. I trained in Educational guidance for adults, where I specialised in career change for women. This work helped me develop my toolkit and thinking about the important issues in people’s lives. I am currently utilising this interest and knowledge in undertaking a project to support people with dementia manage difficult transitions. I am exploring the meaning of ‘home’ to people with dementia.
Throughout my life, my strong ethical principles have influenced both my personal life, from active involvement in the peace movement to my professional practice. Equality, fairness, empowerment and increasing opportunities for people to achieve their potential underpins my person-centred approach.
Virtually all my work now is dementia-related and I enjoy taking on new challenges whether it’s training or project development. However, I can’t leave social work behind yet, so continent be involved in social worker education and development through supervision and action learning.
I am also a Skills for Seeing Trainer for the Macular Society.