Jessica Aguero

In my current role as a Behaviour Support Practitioner I provide supports for participants who have a psychosocial disability. While this role is multifaceted, the key objective of this role is to assist the participant to increase their capacity and ability to access their social and physical environment. I am passionate about ensuring that all services are delivered in a person-centred manner, with the participant's preferences at the core of all services. I also deliver all supports within a trauma-informed framework. The key responsibilities I currently complete in my role as a Behaviour Support Practitioner include:

• Maintaining a caseload of 15-20 participants experiencing a range of mental health diagnoses (e.g. Schizophrenia, Mood Disorder with manic episodes, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders and Neurocognitive Disorders).
• Completion of Suicide Risk Assessments and safety planning in collaboration with the participant and their stakeholders.
• Collaboration with the participant to identify and outline goals, using the SMART method; this includes regular review of participant progress toward goals.
• Ongoing individual consultation with the participant, including the implementation of evidence-based strategies and practices.
• Completion of functional behaviour assessments, including the development of assessment reports and recommendations for ongoing supports.
• Completion of standardised assessments, including the Social Skills Improvement System, Developmental Behaviour Checklist (2), Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System (3) and Sensory Profile.
• Development of Behaviour Support Plans, including preventative and responsive strategies tailored for the individual.
• Implementation of NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Regulated Restrictive Practice protocols.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive interventions for optimal participant care, including support throughout hospital admissions, post-discharge and long-term.
• Development and delivery of Behaviour Support Training Packages for the use of formal (NDIS funded), mainstream and informal (e.g. family and friends) supports.
• Development of evidence-based strategies to assist the participant to increase their ability to complete activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living.
• Development and monitoring of data collection tools, including ABC data collection, mental health monitoring checklists and intervention effectiveness.
• Development of easy-read documentation, to ensure accessibility for the participant and their stakeholders; this may include visual stories, routines, or easy-read Behaviour Support Plans.
• Development and implementation of specific strategies or programs tailored for the individual to increase their emotional regulation skills, social skills or sensory regulation skills.
• Ongoing support to the Behaviour and Allied Health Services (BAHS) Team to ensure best practice through the ongoing monitoring of NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Behaviour Support Rules and guidelines, and the reporting of changes to BAHS team members.
• Served as a mentor to new Behaviour Support Practitioners, providing guidance on best practices and clinical skill during weekly mentoring sessions.
• Represented the BAHS team as a member of the organisation's Workplace Health and Safety Committee.

I currently sit as the Chairperson on the Board of Directors at the Oaks Preschool. While this is a volunteer role, I believe that the skills I demonstrate in this role demonstrate my ability to effectively lead a successful executive team, and to facilitate productive and collaborative meetings to ensure that the strategic needs of the preschool are effectively met.

• Chaired monthly board meetings, disseminating information, and fielded questions.
• Provided an annual summary of the preschool's values, goals, finances and future plans as part of the Annual General Meeting.
• Monitored performance of the Preschool Director and all educators, including completion of annual performance reviews.
• Enhanced board communication by streamlining meeting agendas and supporting materials.
• Developed strategic plans for organizational growth, resulting in increased revenue and expanded services.
• Provided guidance on policy development, ensuring compliance with legal and funding requirements as well as with the Early Years Framework.
• Promoted organizational transparency by implementing clear reporting structures and open communication channels.

In my role as a Community Coorections Officer I was responsible for providing community-based supervision and supporting offender rehabilitation during the period of the offenders Community Corrections Order. My key responsibilities included:

• Completion of thorough risk assessments of offenders, including social risk (risk to society, risk of reoffending), individual risks (e.g. homelessness, relapse) and mental health risks (e.g. risk of self-harm or suicide).
• Development of safety planning, including Suicide Safety Planning, Domestic Violence Safety Planning and Relapse Safety Planning.
• Conducted home visits as part of routine monitoring activities, verifying residence information and assessing living environments for potential risks.
• Provided recommendations based on assessments (e.g. the LSRNR) for the level of risk posed by the offender and the level of supervision required while serving their order.
• Enhanced offender accountability by implementing strict monitoring protocols and enforcing compliance with court-ordered conditions.
• Supported offender rehabilitation by identifying individual needs, connecting them to appropriate resources, and tracking progress towards goals.
• Collaborated with community partners to create a network of support services for offenders under supervision, fostering successful rehabilitation while in the community.
• Maintained accurate case records, ensuring timely documentation of all interactions with offenders, service providers, and other relevant parties.
• Served as a liaison between offenders and courts by maintaining open lines of communication regarding case updates and progress reports.
• Developed comprehensive knowledge of local resources and service providers, using this information to make informed referrals for offender support.

In my role as a Community Support Worker I was responsible for supporting individuals with a disability to complete basic living skills. My client list was mostly comprised of war veterans complex mental health diagnoses (e.g. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), as well as age related neurological declines (e.g. dementia). The key responsibilities of this role included:

• Implementation of client care plans, developed by allied health teams, and providing feedback through progress notes about the effectiveness of the plan.
• Assisting the client to access the local community to meet their basic needs, such as attending medical appointments or grocery shopping.
• Assisting the client to access hobbies or community-based activities that provided meaningful socialisation.
• Identifying and reporting declines in the client's capacity, or monitoring for declines in their mental health.
• Assisting the client to co-regulate using evidence-based strategies (including grounding and progressive muscle relaxation skills) when faced with triggers in the community.
• Implemented creative problem-solving techniques for resolving conflicts or challenges faced by clients in their daily lives.
• Maintained professional development through ongoing training courses, staying current on best practices in the field of community support work.
• Provided emotional support to affected residents and victims and assisted in developing long-term recovery plans and goals.
• Supported clients through development of new life skills, obtaining resources and transitioning back to society.