CURRICULUM VITAE

ANDREW POTTS

DEMENTIA SPECIALIST/TRAINER

Mobile: 07876792040

Email: apfortitude@yahoo.co.uk

CURRENTLY SELF-EMPLOYED AS A FREELANCE DEMENTIA AND BEHAVIOUR SPECIALIST AND TRAINER

I am an intelligent, ambitious, hardworking individual. Working well both as part of a team or independently, I possess excellent communication skills and a high degree of self-discipline. I always endeavour to complete each task to the best of my ability and am always professional in my approach. As well as being a quick learner I am dynamic, resourceful, flexible and proactive.

I am currently self-employed as a freelance Dementia and Behaviour Specialist and Trainer. Although I am situated in Essex I am able and willing to provide training and support across the UK. Within my previous roles I have acquired a wealth of experience within the social and health care field, in the public, private and voluntary sectors. The experience I have gained working with those experiencing dementia and mental health concerns has equipped me with a variety of skills and abilities that has enabled me to succeed in a variety of roles including Management, Training and Development.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

February 2016 – Present

Self-Employed as a Dementia and Behaviour Specialist and TrainerBased in Essex but willing and able to cover anywhere in the UK

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Providing and delivering a variety of dementia related training courses, from half a day introductions to dementia to more in depth two day programmes.

Providing bespoke dementia related raining programmes where requested for the health and social care sector, retail sector and hospitality sector.

Providing training and support to understand and work with individuals experiencing dementia who are distressed and exhibiting behaviours that others may find difficult.

Providing Dementia Care Mapping observation and support as well as other select observational tools to care services and then on-going support and coaching.

Providing training in the subjects of SOVA, MCA and Dols.

April 2012 – February 2016

Care UK, Connaught House, 850 The Crescent, Colchester Business Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 9QBTel: (01206) 752552

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Providing dementia specific support, guidance and services across large areas of the UK (specifically Essex, London and the South and East Anglia)

Assisting in the creation of the Dementia Strategy and being responsible for its’ implementation and monitoring in selected Beacon Sites

Creating and delivering theory and empathy dementia care training packages to all care home staff, managers and Regional/Operational Directors

Creating and delivering behaviour training packages and MCA/DOLS training to all care home staff

Preparing dementia development reports, monitoring KPIs and implementing change within care practices including dementia friendly environments

Carrying out Dementia Care Mapping (DCM), QUIS and other observational frameworks and delivering follow up advice, suggestions and action plans

Crisis intervention on an operational level, supporting managers and staff assisting individuals exhibiting distressed behaviour across all care home services in the South of England

Leading, supporting and managing care teams on the floor Being the company lead for MAYBO disengagement and restraint training Being the company lead for Distressed Behaviour training and support Delivering Dementia Strategy presentations during the induction process of new

care service managers Assisted and led several services to the successful achievement of Beacon Site

Status

Apr 2008 – March 2012

Dementia Specialist (Dementia Development Services), European Care Ltd, 28 Welbeck Street, London, W1G 8EWTel: (020) 70343220

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Providing dementia specific support, guidance and services across the UK

Creating and delivering dementia care training packages to all care home staff Preparing dementia development reports and implementing change within care

practices including dementia friendly environments Carrying out Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) and delivering follow up advice,

suggestions, coaching and action plans Crisis intervention on an operational level, supporting managers and staff Leading and coordinating Dementia Champions across the UK and facilitating

monthly regional meetings Writing and disseminating a monthly Dementia Development Services newsletter

Mar 2007 – Apr 2008

Dementia Services Manager, Age Concern Preston & South Ribble, Arkright House, Stoneygate, Preston, PR1 3XTTel: (01772) 552850

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Management of three teams totalling 12 staff and over 50 volunteers Managing a Citizen Advocacy Team providing advocacy support to people with

memory concerns in care homes Managing a Flexible Outreach Team providing support to people in the early

stages of dementia in the community Managing a Dementia Café and information point, that I was instrumental in

building, creating and running Funding and budgeting of all three projects Recruiting, interviewing, supervision and appraisal of all my staff Made decisions upon the strategic development of Age Concern Preston & South

Ribble Attended workshops and participated in the creation of the National Dementia

Strategy

Oct 2004 – Mar 2007

Dementia Advocacy Manager, Advocacy West Lancs, 4 Church House, Park Road, Ormskirk, West Lancs, L39 3AJTel: (01695) 579666

Delivering advocacy support to the citizens of the borough who presented with memory concerns residing in care homes, their own homes or in a hospital setting

Assisting with issues involving raising and addressing the issue of abuse, assisting people with solicitors and the police, attending care plan reviews, to ascertain if individuals were happy with their care home allocations and addressing issues and concerns within the Health and Social Care arena

Developing and delivering training packages to volunteer advocates Delivering presentations to Social Work Teams and Community Mental Health

Teams Attended both the Mental Health Board and the Older Person’s Board of the NSF

(National Strategic Framework) and was instrumental in their strategic deliveries I was also instrumental in the strategic delivery of the IMCA service throughout

Lancashire

Mar 2004 – Oct 2004

Knowsley Mental Health Advocacy Project Manager, Knowsley CVS, Nutgrove Villa, Huyton, Knowsley, Merseyside, L36 6NATel: (0151) 4891222

This was my second episode within this position as the manager had left and the organisation needed someone for six months to manage the project through the tendering process (please see below)

Managing the Mental Health Advocacy Project covering Knowsley to those experiencing mental health issues

Providing information, advice and support as well as acting on people’s behalf liaising constantly with mental health professionals, solicitors, the police and any other relevant agencies as a mediator and negotiator

Providing one to one support via regular drop-ins and home visits at the request of partners

In my work I constantly referred to the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Human Rights Act 1998. The majority of my workload consisted of helping individuals to access housing, benefit applications, debt management, accessing legal advice, representation at tribunals and providing information regarding the Mental Health Act and medications

Jan 2002 – Mar 2004

Communication and Development Officer, Knowsley Carers Centre, Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby, Knowsley, Merseyside, L32 8SETel: - (0151) 5491412

Providing services such as information, support and respite directly to carers Designing and delivering Carer’s Awareness Training to health and social care

professionals such as G.Ps, nurses, social workers etc Delivering presentations at health day events and social services team meetings Designing and editing all advertising material regarding the Centre including our

information pack, leaflets, flyers, the Carer’s Directory and our quarterly newsletter

Serving carers on a one to one basis in person and via the telephone

Being the organisation’s representative on many local forums relating to health, including the Local Strategic Partnership that planned the future of Knowsley

Contributed to both Knowsley’s Mental Health Strategy and Knowsley’s Carers Strategy

Dec 2001 – Jan 2002

Assistant Manager, Making Space, 46 Allen Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA2 7JBTel: - (01925) 571680

Management of a unit within a care home for older people experiencing functional mental health issues

Responsible for the supervision and appraisal of staff Administering medication Creating reports and planning budgets Creating Individualised Care Plans

July 2001 – Dec 2001

Knowsley Mental Health Advocacy Project Manager, Knowsley CVS, Nutgrove Villa, Huyton, Knowsley, Merseyside, L36 6NATel: (0151) 4891222

In my first episode in this post I fulfilled all of the duties as above during my second period of employment. This post was a six month post to cover maternity leave.

April 1999 - May 2001

Community Support Worker, MACA (Mental After-Care Association), 23 Queens Road, Barnsley, South YorkshireTel: (01226) 770895

As a Community Support Worker, assisting and supporting individuals with mental health issues in the community

Escorting individuals to medical appointments, supervising with medication and helping them with tasks they may have been unmotivated to perform such as decorating, cooking, gardening and other domestic duties

July 1996 - July 2001

Community Ancillary, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Social Services (Health, Home & Care), Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S75 2AHTel: (01226) 730433

As a Community Support Worker, assisting and supporting individuals with mental health issues in the community

Assisting in the day centre kitchen preparing meals one day a week Facilitating a men’s support and self-empowerment group, a sports group, a

swimming group and a hiking group Counselling clients and liaising with relevant authorities such as GPs, social

workers and psychiatric nurses, on their behalf Escorting individuals to medical appointments, supervising with medication and

helping them with tasks they may have been unmotivated to perform such as decorating, cooking, gardening and other domestic duties

WORK RELATED TRAINING

IMCACare PlanningStrategic Development and Project PlanningLearning Disabilities and DementiaLife Story WorkHealth and SafetyManagement and LeadershipNeuro-Linguistic ProgrammingAnti-Discriminatory Practice Huntington's DiseaseAnger ManagementFinding SolutionsHomicide & SuicideHIV & Aids AwarenessAssertivenessRisk AssessmentBritish Expeditionary Leadership AwardEmergency First AidManagers Legislation UpdateMental Health and LeisureHomicide & SuicideFundraisingPQASSORisk Assessment and Management for Voluntary OrganisationsLSP’s (Local Strategic Partnerships)ESF & ERDF Funding (European Social Fund & European Regional Development Fund)Media Relations within the Voluntary Sector

Negotiating SkillsConflict Management and ResolutionLeadership SkillsTraining for Trainers CertificateAlzheimer’s Society Facilitators CourseBehaviour That We May Find ChallengingDementia Care and Theories of Cognitive DeclineDementia Care Mapping QualificationMedia Training with Electric AirwavesCoaching and Facilitation Training

HOBBIES & INTERESTS

I have practised the Korean martial art of Taekwondo since January 1991, hold a black belt and have instructed across the UK. I practice strength training regularly. I love to travel and have an intense passion for nature and the environment. I also hold the Scuba diving qualification of PADI Rescue Diver.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

I possess a full driving licence and am extremely IT literate. I am currently learning to speak Norwegian.

REFERENCES

Comprehensive references are available upon request.