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Advice and information, Arts including music, drama, craft and art, Education, training and learning, Food and drink, Gardening and horticulture, Health and wellbeing including therapies, Help in the home or garden, Hobbies and interests, Planning and representation including advocacy and Support Planning, Socialising, companionship and friendship, Sport and active pursuits, Support to manage money, User led, Work or volunteering,

Providing personalised, neuroaffirming support to autistic and ADHD adults in their homes and the community

Providing 1:1 self employed carer support promoting the health, wellbeing and happiness of  autistic adults living within 10 miles of the Chester Zoo area. Introductory visits can be made to autistic clients living outside of this area, with ongoing support via teams, email or text messaging.

Emotional support:

• exploring your communication preferences
• building ‘pen pictures’ to help others understand you
• learning about your health needs
• understanding your sensory needs
• learning about how your personal history and experiences have impacted you
• understanding your relationships and support networks
• exploring your strengths and needs
• supporting you to think about your goals and making plans about how to achieve them
• help to understand and put in place boundaries
• help to build self care and networks of support
• using grounding techniques to return to baseline after overwhelm
• help to understand and recover from Autistic Burnout

Practical support:

• accompanying you to appointments
• completing housing, PIP, benefit or other applications with you
• learning skills to do the practical things that are important to you
• help to find you carers with other support needs such as cleaning and shopping
• developing strategies and life hacks that make life easier for neurodivergent people
• exploring and applying to community services for support
• budgeting and managing your finances alongside you
• help to carry out health advice such as physio, diet, sleep and exercise
• support to declutter or organise your home in a respectful and trauma-informed way

General advocacy:

• skills and knowledge of 20+ years experience of working as a social worker in multi disciplinary team environments alongside social care, health, criminal justice, and housing sectors
• practical working knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, The Care Act 2014, The Equality Act 2010, the Autism Act 2009, and the Human Rights act 1998 and the ability to use legislation to advocate for your rights
• helping professionals understand your neurodivergent identity and perspectives
• providing independent representation of your views, wishes and feelings at multi disciplinary meetings
• providing advocacy support during social care, health and other assessments including CHC assessments for health funding
• supporting you to learn to self advocate for your needs and rights
• writing letters on your behalf, advocating for your legal, civil and human rights
• challenging autism stereotypes and harmful cultural assumptions in order to obtain the correct support for you
• supporting you in advocating for reasonable adjustments with your employer

Capacity work:

• Enquiries are welcome from local authorities, health providers, supported living providers and care agencies regarding bespoke packages of work involving assessing and supporting mental capacity for Autistic adults
• I am experienced and knowledgeable in providing information to autistic adults in a way that maximises their ability to make informed decisions
• Experienced and many years experience of carrying out best interest meetings
• Willing to travel throughout the UK for reimbursement of mileage at agreed rate
• Contact me directly for a discussion of your client’s needs and a quotation

A bit about me

Professional experience:

I have worked for over 20 years in social care and am a qualified and progressed social worker.  I hold professional registration with Social Care England and NACAS.  Through Thrive Divergent, I work as an independent social worker and qualified best interest assessor on a self employed basis.  I am based in Chester and have experience in co-ordinating the care and support of disabled and neurodivergent adults and children  in local authorities in both Wales and England. 

I have experience of working in Transition Teams, Adult Learning Disability Teams, Looked After Children’s Teams, Child Protection and Supporting Families Teams.  I regularly undertake MCA and DOLS assessments as a qualified best interest assessor. I implement the BASW Addendum to the Code of Ethics for Independent Social Workers adhering to confidentiality, informed consent and data protection principles.

Lived experience:

I have lived experience of supporting neurodivergent family members through transition to young adulthood, in navigating SEN education, EHCP processes and health systems.  I am later-life diagnosed as autistic and ADHD and   identify and connect with neurodivergent communities.

Training and Education

I have training in low-demand approaches, neurodiversity-affirming practice, sensory integration, communication differences, and safeguarding.  I am trained in safeguarding adults and children and keep up to  date with practice developments.  I obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Social work in 2003 and a Post Graduate Certificate in Management in 1998.  I am a qualified Best Interest Assessor.

I have a Masters degree in Critical Autism Studies (distinction) and am working towards a Doctorate in Professional Health and Social Care studies with Autism as my focus for research.  

Personal

I am mum to a Jack Russell terrier and a not very imaginatively named  calico cat called ‘Puss’.  I have an allotment and love to grow vegetables and flowers.  I have 13 houseplants and a tiny wildlife pond in an almost equally tiny back yard.  I am a keen runner (although not very fast) and enjoy trips away in my camper van.  I like to ride my bike (I have a carrier on the back for my little dog) and go to the gym.  I enjoy walking, open water swimming, arts and crafts, watching wildlife, foraging for wild-grown foods, watching nature and real life crime documentaries.  I am a compassionate and empathetic human being with a strong sense of social justice.

Areas: Chester, Broughton, Malpas, Lache, Waverton, Chester, Deeside, Ellesmere Port, Frodsham, Neston, Saughall, Helsby, Blacon, Willaston, Bunbury, Connahs Quay, Saltney, Ince, Elton, Eastham, Mickle Trafford, Ashton Hayes, Kellsal, Heswall, Waverton, Tarporley, Rowton, Tattenhall, Christleton, Tarvin, Shotton, Guilden Sutton, Farndon,

Languages: English

Last Updated: 4th February, 2025