Transitioning and supporting employees with neurodivergent needs from education to employment

FREE for SOM Members (please log in on the SOM website first). 

Summary:

Transitioning and supporting employees with neurodivergent needs from education to employment  - this will be represented by lead specialist RH nurse practitioner along with an employee of OHC&AT trust who has experienced and can discuss her transition from Student to Employee within the Academy - we will demonstrate the support strategies at OHC&AT and those which have helped Claire achieve her goals to date. 

This webinar will look at SOM's Evaluating and supporting Neurodifferences at work guide. 

Bio - Lisa Watkins–RGN DipHE BSc(Hons) SCPHN Mental Health First Aid & First Aid Instructor, Wellness Coach 

Lisa began her nursing career  since 1988 with continuous service since that date.  She has worked and specialised in paediatrics, orthopaedics, learning disability and currently Occupational Health (OH) and Public Health to Practitioner and Consultancy level . Having been responsible for the creation and development of successful services within these specialities at St Helier Hospital, St Georges Hospital Tooting, Guys and St Thomas’s, Westcroft leisure centre Carshalton and OHC&AT where she is currently the Lead Specialist Nurse OH Practitioner. 

OHC&AT is a large specialist educational needs college and academy trust (2500 employees) starting in 2004 where Lisa was employed as Head of Nursing to create and develop the College Nurse role responsible for supporting  and meeting the complex medical and health needs of students whilst at college  Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust | High quality education providers (ohcat.org).

In 2015  Lisa returned to University to complete a degree in OH and Public Health SCPHN to create develop and lead OHC&AT’s Occupational Health service 2018 onwards. 

Claire Rich's bio is below.

"Hi, I am 27 years old and aspire to become a teacher. During my time in primary education, I was diagnosed with dyslexia, dyspraxia, severe speech and language delays, and affective learning delays. 
I had a 1:1 in primary school,  after graduating from year six, I attended a main stream school with a speech and language unit, but they closed it down before I could begin during the summer.  Year 7 was difficult for me because I was bullied by classmates and did not receive the proper help in class. The deputy head of SEN met with my mum and me six weeks before to the summer break, stating that I would not be able to handle year eight and that I would need to find a new school.   
In Wallington, my mother found a special education school, and I excels there. In year 11, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to accomplish and what came next. When I visited a nearby college, the SEN head stated, "I would not get to a level 2 with my disability." Have I archived a level 2 qualification? "  I attended a different college  and completed three years of childcare.  
I applied for a teaching assistant position because I wanted to complete my level 3 and my childcare instructor said that I would do better doing hands-on work than theoretical work. However, they rejected me since my resume was poorly written. I leaved college in July 2016 
After reviewing my resume for the other job I applied for, Orchard Hill College Academy Trust called me in September 2016 and asked if I would be interested in completing a level 2 apprenticeship qualification in customer service. I had an interview, and they accepted the job and was hired for the apprenticeship position as a receptionist. 
Although I gained new knowledge and skills and had a meaningful experience, it wasn't my ideal career. A year and a half later, I had to consider what I would do and what I should do next. I applied for the learning support assistant (LSA) position after my teacher informed me that it was posted on the internet. I got the job. 
Now I got 3 level 2 qualification, and it's don't stop here  
I had been an LSA for one and a half years when I began the process of obtaining my Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification in 2020 and finish in May 2023. 
In September 2023 I started Dip/ Professional Graduate Cert in Education and Training with a Specialist Pathway Teaching Learners with Special Needs (DETs) course and now in my 2nd year and final year. 
I am currently working  at OHC as a Senior Teaching Aid (STA)."
 

Chair Nancy Doyle

FREE for SOM Members (please log in on the SOM website). You will then be sent the join link.