Wayne McKenna
Bendigo
Summary
Compassionate disability support worker with several years of experience. Well-versed in helping individuals living with disabilities. Knowledgeable about providing daily living support, preparing meals and assisting with personal mobility. Compassionate Disability Support Worker with experience in providing personalized care and assistance to individuals with disabilities. Strengths include strong interpersonal skills, adaptability to diverse situations, and knowledge of various therapeutic techniques. Previous work has shown ability to foster independence among clients while ensuring safety and comfort. Motivated professional trained in mobility assistance, personal hygiene support, and housekeeping. Monitors medical conditions and works with healthcare providers to optimize care. Focuses on comfort and emotional support and meets physical needs.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Disability Support Worker
Self employed
Bendigo, Victoria
04.2022 - Current
- Developed strategies to help individuals cope with their disability.
- Organized recreational and educational activities for clients according to individual needs.
- Maintained organized filing system for client records, providing complete documentation of all interactions.
- Provided assistance in the home environment including meal preparation and light housekeeping.
- Monitored client progress and reported any changes in behavior or health conditions to supervisor.
- Planned and prepared nutritious meals and snacks to meet diabetic, low sodium and high protein diets.
- Assisted individuals in performing wide range of housekeeping functions to develop levels of ability.
- Lifted, moved and adjusted clients to ambulate individuals for diverse needs.
- Assisted clients with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating.
- Coordinated doctor appointments, exercise, recreation, and family visits to maintain schedule.
- Improved resident and staff engagement through group activities.
- Counseled clients or patients individually and in group sessions to assist recovery from illness and to adjust to life.
- Helped disabled persons access community resources such as housing options or job training programs.
- Supervised other workers and caregivers providing services to clients.
- Transported patients safely to social activities and doctors appointments.
- Managed challenging behaviors through positive reinforcement techniques.
- Maintained records of services provided, client progress, and goals achieved.
- Encouraged independence by teaching skills needed for everyday life.
- Maintained daily living standards by assisting clients with personal hygiene needs.
- Participated in team meetings with supervisors, doctors, nurses, therapists.
- Provided emotional support to individuals with physical or mental disabilities.
- Transported clients to appointments, social events, and other activities as needed.
- Assisted clients with activities of daily living such as eating, dressing, and grooming.
Child Protection Worker
Department of Health and Human Services
Bendigo
06.2011 - 02.2021
- Ensured compliance with federal, state and local laws governing child protection practices.
- Liaised between students, schools, courts, protective services and other contacts to help children face problems such as disabilities, abuse or poverty.
- Documented all interactions with clients accurately and timely using a computerized database system.
- Interfaced with local court system, attending court proceedings and working directly with attorneys.
- Maintained accurate case records according to agency policy and procedures.
- Monitored visits between children and their parents or guardians to ensure safety standards were met.
- Worked with community resources to engage youth in pro-social activities and help families access services.
- Participated in multidisciplinary teams to review cases for appropriate service delivery.
- Engaged in ongoing professional development activities related to child welfare topics such as trauma informed care or cultural competency training.
- Worked with care team to assess client needs and discuss collaborative treatment efforts.
- Attended hearings with victims to provide emotional support.
- Supervised visits between children and parents at various sites by setting up age-appropriate activities and maintaining safety of participants.
- Provided support to foster care families through advocacy activities aimed at helping them navigate the system more effectively.
- Facilitated safe exchanges between non-custodial parents and their children during supervised visitation sessions.
- Informed victims about legal processes and timelines.
- Built trust and rapport with victims of violent crimes by remaining calm and compassionate in variety of situations.
- Maintained confidentiality through stringent handling of charts and data.
- Used job-related software to compose or prepare correspondence, case notes and technical reports
- Established positive relationships with clients through consistent contact via home visits, phone calls or emails.
- Supervised visits at various sites by providing children with age-appropriate opportunities for interaction with parents, maintaining safety of participants
- Completed day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Worked successfully with diverse group of coworkers to accomplish goals and address issues related to our products and services.
- Recognized by management for providing exceptional customer service.
- Managed time effectively to ensure tasks were completed on schedule and deadlines were met.
- Provided excellent service and attention to customers when face-to-face or through phone conversations.
- Updated and maintained databases with current information.
- Worked effectively in team environments to make the workplace more productive.
- Utilized various software and tools to streamline processes and optimize performance.
Primary Carer/Coordinator
Horizon House
Bendigo
09.2008 - 06.2011
- Aided with mobility and independence for disabled individuals and continually monitored safety.
- Supported bathing, dressing and personal care needs.
- Observed patients for changes in physical, emotional, mental or behavioral condition and injuries.
- Recorded client status progress and challenges in logbooks and reports.
- Maintained accurate records of services provided, changes in client's condition, progress notes.
- Organized recreational activities to promote physical and mental wellbeing of the clients.
- Encouraged residents to participate in activities of daily living to enhance personal dignity.
- Contributed to case reviews of client status and progress.
- Accompanied clients on outdoor activities when necessary.
- Helped clients get in and out of beds and wheelchairs.
- Contacted medical providers on behalf of clients to follow up on appointments.
- Helped clients communicate with loved ones by typing written messages and relaying verbal messages.
- Worked closely with clinical staff to support therapeutic and behavioral plans.
- Maintained cleanliness of clients' environment by cleaning surfaces and washing clothes or dishes.
- Performed household tasks such as laundry, cleaning, shopping, meal preparation.
- Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills while interacting with clients, family members, physicians or other healthcare professionals.
- Built strong and trusting rapport with clients and loved ones.
- Encouraged clients to participate in social activities within their community.
- Adhered to strict confidentiality guidelines while handling sensitive information related to clients' health conditions or personal matters.
- Maintained detailed records of services performed on clients.
Direct Care Worker
Sandhurst Centre
Bendigo
08.1994 - 09.2008
- Maintained daily living standards by assisting clients with personal hygiene needs.
- Transported clients to doctor's appointments and errands.
- Helped clients with personal needs from exercise to bathing and personal grooming.
- Respected cultural diversity when interacting with individuals from different backgrounds.
- Established trusting relationships with clients by being a reliable source of support.
- Provided personal care to clients, such as bathing, grooming and toileting.
- Assisted clients with maintaining good personal hygiene.
- Assisted with planning and coordination of activities and outings based on individual needs.
- Participated in team meetings to discuss best practices for providing quality care.
- Built strong and trusting rapport with clients and loved ones.
- Assisted clients with daily activities, including meal preparation and medication administration.
- Performed basic first aid procedures when necessary.
- Drove clients to doctors' appointments and social outings.
- Contacted medical providers on behalf of clients to follow up on appointments.
- Followed care plan and directions to administer medications.
- Provided direct care to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, fostering activities of daily living.
- Provided emotional support to clients experiencing difficult life transitions or crises.
- Developed strong and trusting rapport with patients to facilitate smooth, quality care.
- Advocated for disabled individuals to foster communication and self-expression and achieve goals.
- Cultivated relationships with residents to support happiness and emotional well-being.
- Assisted individuals in learning and developing new skills.
Education
Diploma of Counselling Psychology - Counselling Psychology
Ampersand Australia
Vic01-2010
Certificate IV Community Services (youth) - Community Services (youth)
BRIT
Bendigo, VIC01-2010
Certificate IV in Community Services Disability - Community Services Disability
BRIT
Bendigo, VIC01-1999
Skills
- Client assessment
- Care plan development
- Record keeping
- Behavior management
- Nutritional planning
- Community resource access
- Excellent communication
- Healthcare resource support
- Personal growth support
- Documentation and recordkeeping
- Counseling
- Compassionate care
- Time management abilities
- Vocational support
- Transportation assistance
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Disability Support Worker
Self employed
04.2022 - Current
Child Protection Worker
Department of Health and Human Services
06.2011 - 02.2021
Primary Carer/Coordinator
Horizon House
09.2008 - 06.2011
Direct Care Worker
Sandhurst Centre
08.1994 - 09.2008
Diploma of Counselling Psychology - Counselling Psychology
Ampersand Australia
Certificate IV Community Services (youth) - Community Services (youth)
BRIT
Certificate IV in Community Services Disability - Community Services Disability
BRIT
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