Melissa Wood

Pilgrim Wood is a dementia and old people's home. The residents need encouragement to move and enjoy their last years of life through outings and activities that are tailored to their individual likes and passions. I have built rapports with the residents and their families in order to find out activities that will excite them as we pride ourselves on being person centered.

Activities Coordinator - Pilgrim Wood Residential care home - Guildford

(2024-04)

Pilgrim Wood is a dementia and old people's home. The residents need encouragement to move and enjoy their last years of life through outings and activities that are tailored to their individual likes and passions. I have built rapports with the residents and their families in order to find out activities that will excite them as we pride ourselves on being person centered.

• Created care plans and activity plans that include a range of activities with various interests
• Delivered activities and encouraged and supported those who may struggle
• Evaluated activities and resident engagement to assess suitability and outcomes
• Provided next steps for those improving their fitness and cognitive abilities

Equine Specialist Therapeutic support worker - Elysian Animal Assisted Therapy and Learning CIC - Guildford

(2020-09 - 2024-03)

Elysian is a school set on a farm with several breeds of animals and over 30 horses, with the aim of facilitating engagement of young people that are unable to access mainstream schools due to their various SEMH needs. Learning is encouraged therapeutically through tailoring the young people's individual plans to their interests and passions among the animals. I was the most senior equine staff member and therefore oversaw the care and organization of the horses, daily routine checks, general care, medication, farrier, vet visits, exercise regimes and relevant paperwork.

And yard staff; organizing staff, meetings, and training sessions.

• Planned an 'Equine Pathway' specific to Elysian which includes different equine centered learning each week with relevant AQAs, resources and mini quizzes
• Planned the riding and in-hand sessions for the young people with plenty of fun obstacles to gain a sense of achievement when completed
• Supported various groups of young people or individuals based on their needs to access the farm and its facilities by building trusting, transparent, boundaried rapports with them

Early Years Practitioner - Barnkids Forest School and Nursery - Chiddingfold

(2020-02 - 2020-09)

• Ensured the care and safety of the pre-school age children whilst at nursery
• Facilitated and enabled their natural learning at Forest School
• Provided support and nurturing alongside monitoring as a key worker

Activity Co-ordinator/ Residential Care Worker - The Mead Residential Care Home - Hook, Hampshire

(2016-04 - 2020-02)

Employed as a residential care worker in a home that provides somewhere to live for up to 5 young people. These young people have been through extremely abusive and traumatic starts to their lives and as a result; present with challenging behaviours.

• Provided support, role modelling, listening to the young person, ensuring all records are kept up to date and all professionals are notified of any changes where required
• Performed key-working duties which include; keeping young people up to date with appointments (medical, therapeutic, CLA reviews, education meetings), encouraging socially acceptable behaviour, advocating for the child, ensuring their basic needs are met so that the child feels cared for, building a relationship with the young people and their families
• As Activity Co-ordinator: ensured the young people are introduced to a varied range of day trips, activities and sports activities
• Encouraged the young people to take safe risks and find an interest that may surprise them, whilst benefitting them both physically, mentally and socially
• Worked as a team to ensure the care of the young person is consistent and fair and the day to day running of the household is maintained
• Worked with multi-agency's such as; YOT, CAMHS, The Willow Team, Speak Easy, Frank, post 16placements, police and many more

Early Years Practitioner - St. Michaels Pre-School - Aldershot

(2011 - 2016)

• Key-working up to ten pre-school age children and ensuring observations are completed on all the children in all areas of the EYFS to establish how the children are developing and support appropriately
• Role modelled, supported and guided the children whilst building a bond with them so they feel able to confidently explore and risk take whilst learning through play
• SENCO - arranged meetings with educational psychologists, speech and language therapists and other professionals as needed
• Ensured the child has the appropriate support both in the form of a statement and the type of resources and support received from staff

Truck Driver - Sequoia Landscapes - Farnham

(2010 - 2011)

• Transporting materials and resources

Stock Administrator - Sainsburys - Farnham

(2004 - 2006)

• Co-ordinated deliveries and stock management
• Answered customer enquiries

General Manager & Licensee - Bojanglez Nightclub - Guildford

(2000 - 2004)

• Staff management i.e. resource management, staff training, invoking and following disciplinary procedures
• Creation and implementation of Health and Safety Policies and Procedures
• Liaising with local authorities i.e. Police, Council Representatives, etc
• Point of escalation for customer complaints
• Financial Accounts management
• Co-ordinating deliveries and stock management

Bar Manager - Bojanglez Nightclub - Guildford

(1992 - 2000)

• Managing cash transactions and till management
• Point of escalation for customer complaints

Client Services Administrator - British Car Auctions - Hindhead

(1998 - 1998)

• Servicing Key Accounts
• Support during vehicle auctions
• Acting as liaison between the client and the auction site

Parts Administrator - Cleveland Cars - Ash, Aldershot

(1988 - 1992)

• Sourcing parts for dealership customers
• Parts Deliveries
• Managing cash transactions
• Stock Management

Groom/Stable Hand - Syon Stud, Waverley Farm - Farnham, Surrey

(1986 - 1988)

• General day to day care of all the horses; mucking out, grooming, exercising, turnout etc
• Preparing the stallion and the brood mares for stud, monitoring the mares following this for signs of being in foal
• Attending births, nurturing the youngsters and socialising them, whilst administering daily checks and general care
• Preparing and plaiting the mares and foals for county shows

Bachelor's - Childhood Studies - Farnborough College of Technology (2008-09 - 2009-06)

Foundation Degree - Early Years Childcare & Education - Farnborough College of Technology (2006-09 - 2008-06)

BTEC National Diploma - Animal Care - Sparsholt Agricultural College (1994-09 - 1997-06)

GCSEs - English, Maths and Science - Heath End Secondary School (1983 - 1987)