Kathryn Gowland

I am currently employed as a Support Officer within Fostering Social Work, working remotely to provide dedicated support to an individual Fostering Social Worker. My role primarily involves proofreading and copy-editing reports, ensuring accuracy and clarity, with all amendments agreed collaboratively with the Social Worker. In addition, I manage diary organisation, provide reminders, and occasionally take minutes, notes, or dictation for complex correspondence, enabling the Social Worker to focus effectively on her core responsibilities. This position requires handling highly confidential information with discretion. I work closely alongside the Social Worker to process research data from the system regarding potential foster carers, proofread updated database entries, and, when required, take dictation for complex emails. Through this support, I contribute to the smooth running of fostering processes and the effective delivery of social work practice. 

I am a qualified HLTA with 14 years of experience in secondary education, working in a variety of classroom-based roles including Cover Supervisor, Non-qualified Teacher, and Teaching Assistant across SEND, EAL, and SEMH. In addition, I have taken on responsibilities as a Pastoral Head and Librarian, demonstrating my versatility and ability to adapt to diverse school needs. 

Prior to my career in education, I worked for 17 years within Local Authority services on the Careline system, progressing from Control Centre Operator to Team Leader in an office-based environment. During this time, I also undertook a nine-month secondment to a housing office, gaining valuable experience as a Housing Officer. This breadth of experience has equipped me with a wide range of transferable skills and the ability to thrive in both educational and administrative settings. 

A little more about me… Alongside supporting young people, I am passionate about well-being, art, reading, and holistic therapies. I sing jazz and am learning saxophone and double bass. As a trained Wellbeing Ambassador with the Better Health at Work organisation, I was instrumental in achieving the Bronze Award for BHAW at my school. I am a Reiki Practitioner, Mindfulness and Meditation Instructor, and attend weekly Pilates. Creativity is central to my life—I enjoy philosophy, painting, crafting, and spending time in my art studio. I hold a BSc (Hons) in Biology with Philosophy and have completed advanced courses in mindfulness, compassion, and insight through the University of Aberdeen Masters Program in association with Samye Ling.

Current Role:  Support Officer - Fostering Social Work Together for Children Sunderland 

Providing enabling support to a Fostering Social Worker, who works in the Fostering service to support Foster Carers. Working with highly confidential information, proofreading and copyediting reports, and all written work, such as case notes, minutes, reviews, e-mails etc., dictation, diary management, Teams meetings etc

Support Officer - Fostering Social Work Durham 

April 2021 - July 2024 - Moved to current role with the person I support

Providing enabling support to a Fostering Social Worker, who works in the recruitment service for new Foster Carers. Working with highly confidential information, proofreading and copyediting reports, and all written work, such as case notes, minutes, reviews, e-mails etc., dictation, diary management, Teams meetings etc.

Education Supply - Vision for Education Oct 2020 - Feb 2021 Gateshead

Long term supply from October 5th to 25th Feb, when I was told to shield due to being CEV working in SEND at Cardinal Hume, Gateshead. Working with students with additional needs in the classroom, supporting learning, small groups and one to one intervention. During the lockdown I supervised and supported online lessons for a group of lower ability and SEND Students, as their class teacher and also when there were face to face lessons in school for this year group, I presented the lesson to these students as their class teacher.

Education Supply Secondary Education - Education Network Oct 2019 - Oct 2020 

Day to day supply from October to January - Cover Supervision, Learning support and Inclusion January to Easter, not continued to the end of the summer term due to Covid- Long term Placement at Heworth Grange - EAL Learning Support and Behaviour Management / Inclusion in the SEND area. Easter to end of Summer Term Furloughed.

Education Supply - Vision for Education & Education Network Sep 2019 - Oct 2019

Day to day supply - Cover Supervision and Learning support, Classroom Management, Internal Inclusion Unit and Behaviour Management

Cover Supervisor & Non-Qualified Teacher

WHICKHAM SCHOOL AND SPORTS COLLEGE Sep 2007 - Aug 2019 

Short Term Cover of lessons in the absence of usual teacher. Some periods of extended cover as an unqualified teacher in KS3 and KS4 : Science - several weeks on more than one occasion, health and social care for about 5-6 weeks and a term in History and RS. My strengths lie in Science, English, Humanities, Music and Art, but I possess a good level of education and have a broad range of skills across the curriculum. In this role I have a good overview of the National Curriculum and can support well in most areas, although I am not a linguist, I do well with a dictionary and text book. I have also participated in training for Mental Heath First Aid for Schools and Colleges. During my time at Whickham I also rook on responsibilities as a Pastoral Head of Year covering for an extended period of illness, and also as the Librarian for half a term. At times I was also asked to assist in the school office and reprographics room, to provide support to the school team.

Control Centre Operator / Team Leader Derwentside Careline Sep 1990 - Apr 2007 

Answering calls in an emergency control centre for a community alarm system, Dealing with client queries and out of hours housing repair requests. Liaising with family, doctors, nurses, social services, police etc, to provide a 24 hour, 365 day service to our residents and the general public. I also led my team and assisted with rotas and other administrative aspects of the service. Kept confidential records and updated computer database of resident records. CCTV monitoring and surveillance of suspicious behaviours, reporting to the police for action. As part of this role I spent 9 months on a secondment to the local housing office as a Housing Officer where I learned more about housing services and dealing with the pubic face to face, helping them with benefit forms for housing and council tax,, housing applications, rents, void property management and lettings and during this time I studied for and passed the GFC in housing management, with the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Customer Relations Case Officer - Shearings Holidays Feb 1989 - Mar 1990 

I handled customer complaints regarding holiday experiences through face-to-face meetings, telephone enquiries, and written correspondence. My responsibilities included drafting formal responses to letters and issuing ex-gratia payments where appropriate. In addition, I supported the Customer Services Manager with escalated cases, preparing documentation for court proceedings to ensure accuracy and compliance.

University of Aberdeen - MSc, Studies in Mindfulness 2018 – 2022

Activities and societies: I have been a meditation instructor since 2013 having practised for many years. In 2016 I did the 8 Week MBSR Course and have been a Mindfulness Practitioner since completing this course. As part of a Masters Program I followed the path to become a Mindfulness Teacher for the Mindfulness Based Living Course (MBLC).

2018 - 2019 I completed two Modules: Mindfulness and Compassion and attended a week's retreat on the Holy Isle of Arran to finish off my first year. I then took a year out following a close family bereavement so did not complete my studies. I may return to this at a later date, but I continue with my mindfulness practice, which I feel is very beneficial to life.

The Open University 

BSc Hons 2:2 -Biological Sciences and Philosophy Graduated 2015 

Activities and societies: The Open University Student Association - Residential School Coordinator for Durham - 6 years. OUSA Rep to Examinations and Assessment Committee Student Rep to the North Regional Committee of the Open University

Exams and Assessment Committee and Regional Committee -Experience of Higher Education Committee work. OUSA Residential School Coordinator - Social Event organisation, marketing and stock control at Residential Schools, and accounting for sales, banking and reconciliation of weekly accounts.

The Teaching Agency / Dryden Centre 2012 

Higher Level Teaching Assistant: Status Achieved

Assessment for HLTA. This involved planning and teaching lessons in KS3 and KS4 over a number of months while being mentored by a Teacher and collecting a file of evidence and completing assessments. I had regular observations of my classroom practice and worked to the teaching standards. I was also involved with mentoring students and coaching lower ability science students.

The Open University  2006 – 2008

Certificate in Business Studies, Business Administration, Management and Operation - 60 CAT points at level 4 to achieve a Certificate in Business Studies.

Derwentside College  2006 – 2009

Cache Level 2: Level 2 Teaching Assistant: Distinction 

Cache Level 3 Teaching Assistant: Grade A

Derwentside College  2006 – 2007

City and Guilds Level 2, Adult Numeracy and Adult Literacy: Achieved

Derwentside College 2004 – 2006

NCFE Level 1 & Level 2 Certificate in Creative Craft, Drawing and Painting: Achieved.

Sheffield Hallam University - Diploma, Housing Studies (Unison)  2000 – 2001

This was the Graduate Foundation Course for the Chartered institute of Housing, I completed 3 integrated assignments in Housing Practice: Passed

Selwyn Jones High School & Newton le Willows College of FE - 1978 – 1980

GCSE, GCE A/O levels

GCE A level English Literature O Pass 1983 GCE A/O level Human Biology Grade C 1978 

GCE O level Biology Grade A 1979 GCE O level Sociology Grade B 1980 GCE O level General Science Grade B 1980 GCE O level English Language Grade C 1979 GCE O level History of Nursing Grade D 1980 GCE Geography Grade C 1980 GCE O level Music Grade D 1978 GCE O level Chemistry Grade D 1983 CSE Art and Design Grade Two 1978 CSE Mathematics Grade Three 1978 Certificate in Home Nursing 1980 Distinction Certificate in Community Care 1979 Passed Certificate in Arithmetic 1980 Passed