Emma Berry
Gold Coast,QLD
Summary
I have a diverse and extensive professional background in working with children, ranging from managing a community-based childcare centre, establishing and operating a home-based childcare network, lecturing in Early Childhood Education, fostering over 70 children, to being a Therapeutic Care Advisor for a foster care NGO. I am highly relational and attuned to the feelings and needs of others and respond effectively to the specific needs of children. I am nurturing and empathic and my approach when working with children comes from a place of calm and kindness. Planning play-based activities that follow the interests of the child/ren and foster a love for learning brings a deep sense of satisfaction to me as an educator. I believe that working in partnership with parents to achieve best outcomes for their precious children is a priority and something I do naturally.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
After Hours Support
Open Home Foundation (Foster Care NGO)
12.2023 - Current
- Provide over the phone support to foster parents who are experiencing challenges related to fostering.
- Arrange staff cover when there are staff changes within OHF residential/disability homes.
- Collaborate with On-Duty Social Workers to find emergency placements for children uplifted by CPS (Child Protection Service)
- Find solutions for any issues related to children, families, staff outside of Open Home Foundation office hours
Therapeutic Care Advisor
Open Home Foundation (Foster Care NGO)
10.2021 - 12.2023
- Provided support to foster parents, biological parents, and social workers, by bringing an understanding of children's trauma-based behaviours and suggesting therapeutic parenting strategies to support children's needs in a holistic way.
- Developed Behaviour Support Plans for children.
- Facilitated trauma-informed, attachment-based training for new foster parents and social workers.
- Regularly involved in Professional Consultations for children in foster care placements and was able to influence child-centric decisions through a child development, trauma-informed, attachment-based lens.
- In 2022, I was involved in supporting the House Parent and Support Workers in Teen Parent Home. This involved staff training and the development of a reflective-learning approach for teen parents.
Lead House Parent (Therapeutic Residential Home)
Open Home Foundation (Foster Care NGO)
02.2019 - 01.2021
- Facilitated transitions for children and young people who were placed in Home by CPS.
- Built relational safety with children and young people who entered Home.
- Led team of support workers by role-modelling therapeutic approaches to children's trauma-based behaviours.
- Provided safe and therapeutic care to all children and young people who stayed at Home.
- Worked collaboratively with social workers, schools, medical staff to develop plans that would achieve best outcomes for children.
- Advocated for children to ensure their needs were met and not overlooked.
- Wrote up incident reports, and other relevant documentation as required.
- Established positive work culture among fellow house parents, social workers and support workers through honouring and celebrating each other as part of the team, collaboration, open communication channels, having fun together.
- Identified potential issues and proactively and collaboratively worked with the team to solve problems before they became issues.
ECE Teacher in Infant/Toddler Room
Small Fries Childcare
05.2018 - 12.2018
- Developed strong relationships with parents through regular communication, involving them in their child's learning and development.
- Set up age-appropriate provocations to extend interests and learning for infants on the move.
- Formed relational safety with infants and toddlers through nurturing and responsive interactions.
- Collaborated with colleagues to develop an environment that was respectful to biological and emotional needs of all infants and toddlers.
- Supported other staff/teachers to ensure everyone felt valued in their roles.
- Introduced other staff to RIE approach.
- Supported infants and toddlers by meeting their needs in a calm and timely manner.
- Participated in professional development opportunities to stay current on educational trends and enhance teaching skills continually.
Home-based Childcare Managing Director
Self-employed
07.2008 - 02.2016
- Established home-based childcare network for ECE trained teachers to provide childcare at home.
- Set up and operated home-based childcare service.
- Built up full rolls in my home-based childcare (4 children/Mon-Fri).
- Provided quality home-based education for numerous children - extending on their interests through outings and provision of quality play-based resources.
- Documented their learning through individual portfolios.
- Established effective and meaningful parent-teacher partnerships with all families (I am still in contact with most families/children who attended).
- Brought on and supported 6 other ECE teachers to establish their own home-based childcare services.
- Received excellent ERO report from ECE auditor.
Lecturer/Tutor
New Zealand Tertiary College
01.2005 - 05.2006
- Family and Community Strand of studies
- Designed lesson plans and curriculum to meet academic objectives.
- Delivered 3-hour lectures that were engaging and aligned with course learning goals for Year 1 students.
- Marked and graded assignments for Year 1 and Year 2 students. Evaluated student progress through regular assessments, providing detailed feedback for improvement and growth.
- Developed strong relationships with colleagues, collaborating on curriculum development and sharing best practices in teaching strategies.
Preschool Lead Teacher in Community-based Centre
Orakei Play Day
10.1997 - 07.2001
- Re-established community-based childcare service that was about to close down due to poor quality teaching.
- Promoted positive classroom environment, fostering respect, empathy, and providing calm and nurturing relational safety for all.
- Provided open and loving environment where child-led learning was promoted.
- Worked with teaching staff to evaluate individual progress and recommend appropriate learning plans. Involved Special Education Service when needed for children with specific needs.
- Served as mentor for new teachers.
- Applied play-based environment to provide diverse approaches to learning.
- Gave one-on-one attention to children to establish meaningful relationships with all children.
- Organized field trips to relevant educational destinations, based on common interests of children attending centre. Parental involvement was encouraged so children could learn alongside their parent. These outings also extended children's knowledge in real-world contexts.
- Completed documentation on individual children for recordkeeping.
- Built strong and trusting relationships with parents, by ongoing informal communication and showing genuine care about each and every child.
- Addressed concerns promptly and always strove for positive outcomes.
- Built roll-number from 3 children to 25 children (full rolls) within 6 months.
Education
Diploma in Child Protection - Child Protection
Child Matters
Hamilton, NZ12.2015
Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) - Early Childhood Education
Palmerston North College of Education (Massey Uni)
Palmerston North, NZ12.1994
Skills
- Over 30 years' experience working directly and indirectly with children (birth-16 years) and parents
- Provides relational safety when working with children and adults to build meaningful relationships
- Extensive knowledge of infant and child development
- Understanding and working knowledge of diverse range of pedagogical approaches used across ECE services
- Uses respectful and relational approach to positively guide children's behaviour
- Deep understanding of trauma-based and brain-based behaviours and attachment-related issues
- Uses therapeutic approach when working with children who have trauma histories to create healing and positive long-term outcomes
- Effective team-player with ability to take the lead when required Adaptable and inclusive Able to bring out best in others
- Motivated learner - reads to learn and is able to grasp theoretical concepts and apply to practice
Accomplishments
Facilitated the reunification of our foster daughter back to her biological family (2023)
Designed and delivered a workshop on the topic of Attachment for CPS sites/social workers
Co-led the Therapeutic Team in establishing a Therapeutic Residential Home under the Open Home Foundation (2019)
Recipient of the Excellence in Foster Care Award (2016)
Co-founded a therapeutic foster care NGO (2015)
Established a home-based childcare network for qualified ECE teachers (2008)
PORSE Coach of the Year Award (2008)
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
After Hours Support
Open Home Foundation (Foster Care NGO)
12.2023 - Current
Therapeutic Care Advisor
Open Home Foundation (Foster Care NGO)
10.2021 - 12.2023
Lead House Parent (Therapeutic Residential Home)
Open Home Foundation (Foster Care NGO)
02.2019 - 01.2021
ECE Teacher in Infant/Toddler Room
Small Fries Childcare
05.2018 - 12.2018
Home-based Childcare Managing Director
Self-employed
07.2008 - 02.2016
Lecturer/Tutor
New Zealand Tertiary College
01.2005 - 05.2006
Preschool Lead Teacher in Community-based Centre
Orakei Play Day
10.1997 - 07.2001
Diploma in Child Protection - Child Protection
Child Matters
Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) - Early Childhood Education
Palmerston North College of Education (Massey Uni)
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