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Went to Hereward and studied for a BEC General and 'O' Levels.
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Had
a short period of unemployment between July 1980 and October 1980. Although
I have worked ever since, this was quite a stressful time, as I wasn't sure
that I would ever get a job, which was very important to me.
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From
November 1980 to October 1981 I was on a Work Experience Scheme with Avon
Social Services, and spent most of the time helping with the International
Year of Disabled People (IYDP). Whilst looking back at it, this was a good
year for me, I still needed that permanent job. I also considered training
as a Youth Worker or as a Social Worker. |
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After
Avon Social Services I went on another Work Experience Scheme with Wessex
Water, which lead to my first permanent job six months later. I had arrived!
During my four and a half years at Wessex I spent the first two and a half
years doing general office work, and the last two in the Systems Section as
a Computer Programmer of sorts writing ad hoc accounts reports and systems
testing. This is where I got my first experience of computing and did a
part-time 'A' Level in Computer Science.
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I
joined Phab in 1980, and started the South Bristol Phab Club in 1981.
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I
got married in September 1984 to Lesley and brought my first house.
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In
December 1984 I joined the Avon County Council Equal Opportunities Unit,
working on recruitment monitoring. I thought this would be more interesting
and I would be able to use my IT skills. Whilst it was interesting, it was
also an eye opener in terms of reflecting where disabled people are in our
society. Although TDS and Hereward were good, it made me think back to some
of the lessons at TDS and Mr Burke's comments about how hard the 'outside
world' is. How right he was.
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In
January 1986 I joined Avon Social Services again to run their client
computer information system. I was promoted twice in a period of six years,
and by the time I left the Systems Section in December 1992 I was a Systems
Officer. During this time I also studied and attained a BTEC National
Certificate in Public Administration, and a BTEC Higher National Certificate
in Public Administration.
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In
December 1992 I became Consumer Services Manager for Avon Social Services,
preparing for Community Care. I also established a computer based Disability
Information Service with the voluntary sector that is still going today
(2002).
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I
also started part-time youth work in 1993.
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The
Government then decided that Avon as a County Council had out lived its
usefulness and, therefore, in May 1995 I was transferred to Bath to help set
up the new Bath & North East Somerset Council, where I worked as a Adult
Care Planning Officer until November 1999, writing the Community Care Plan
and other planning reports. During this time studies called again and I went
to the University of the West of England (UWE) to gain a Diploma in
Management Studies and started a DipHE in Community and Youth Work,
something I had thought about when I did my first Work Experience Placement
with Avon Social Services.
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In
November 1999 I changed jobs again and joined Bristol Social Services and
Health Department, as a Partnership Co-ordinator, where I currently (2002)
oversee the contract arrangements for the purchase Residential and Day Care
placements, and oversee and monitor voluntary funding to voluntary
organisations. |
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I
completed my DipHE in Community and Youth Work in July 2001, and am a
Nationally Qualified Community and Youth Worker. |
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Having
done all this, I am now (2002) considering doing Social Work training to
further my career in Social Services.
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