Petra Pavlovic

I am a Childhood and Youth Studies graduate with previous experience in hospitality, sales, healthcare and education. I have worked as a supervisor and a manager, but also as an assistant within both small and big teams. I am a reliable staff member with a very positive attitude and motivation to make a difference. I have strong organisational skills and work well under pressure and in high-stress environments. My strengths are flexibility, open mind approach and a love for learning new skills. I work well independently and as a part of a team, and I believe my purpose is to help others.

Youth Participation Practitioner

Ngage with Aquarius - NorthamptonMarch 2025 to Present

As a Youth Participation Practitioner within the NGAGE drug and alcohol service, I focus on ensuring young people's voices are heard in the design and delivery of drug and alcohol support services. This role involves promoting young people's voice in NGAGE, including the Evolve youth group, and ensuring they have a say in how the service operates. My main responsibility is to ensure that young people are actively involved in shaping the service by offering information, education, advice, and support related to drug and alcohol use and engaging them in group activities. Alongside participation, I am a volunteer coordinator within the service, I perform welfare checks and support outreaching events.

Senior Residential Support Worker

The Banyan Tree - NorthamptonFebruary 2023 to Present

Residential support worker across two Ofsted homes and one CQC home offering therapeutic services  for “looked after” children and young people presenting with a range of mental health difficulties. As a residential support worker here, I have been a role model for children and YP and responsible for their day to day care. My role varies from direct care using attachment aware and therapeutic principles, promoting and participating in the activities, liaising effectively with managers, other professionals, agencies and families, carrying out administrative duties, and general running of the home. Some other duties include:

• Providing  appropriate guidance and support to the young people using therapeutic principles and attachment aware practice
• Planning shifts, doing on calls and supporting the manager
• Providing direct care and support of children and young people
• Promoting and participating in activities for all children and young people
• Participate in the running and management of the homes
• Providing support across all sites when required
• Keyworker role and responsibilities
• Administrative tasks

Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Northgate arts college via Teaching Personnel - NorthamptonMay 2024 to August 2024

As a high level teaching assistant, some of my responsibilities in the college include preparation of classrooms for lessons, working 1:1 with students presenting with challenging behaviours, sourcing materials for students and teaching classes unassisted as well as under the direction of lead teacher. Preparing and delivering learning activities with individual pupils, groups and classes, recording and reporting on pupils’ progress et cetera. My approach in this role is student and person centred. Considering that problem solving skills are essential within the team, and as our students are known to mirror behaviours,  my teaching style consists of confident delivery, proactive approach, and respectful attitude.

Youth Mentor

UX2 - DevonJune 2022 to July 2022

Working with young people aged 16 and 17 in a summer camp - collaboration with NCS and UX2. My duties in this job were mainly instructing on water sports (paddle boarding, rafting and river crossing), however other responsibilities ranged from doing administration work to mental health first aid, assisting with different range of activities and safeguarding. I was mentoring young people on team work, problem solving skills and communication skills.

High Level Teaching Assistant

Northampton International Academy - NorthamptonApril 2022 to June 2022

Teaching assistant in EYFS, assisting teachers in two classrooms in all learning and learning through play activities, doing 1:1 and group interventions in maths, handwriting, phonics and PSHD. Supporting teachers in managing class behaviour, listening to children read and reading to them.

Cover Supervisor

Northampton International Academy - NorthamptonFebruary 2022 to June 2022

Supplying and supervising cover lessons in secondary school years 7 to 11. Main role is to cover lessons in teacher's absence using provided and set materials, to manage classrooms and improvise activities - all while ensuring that students are safe and remaining on their tasks.

Occupational Therapy Assistant

St Andrew's Healthcare - NorthamptonFebruary 2021 to September 2021

As a mental health clinician of three years, I have now specialised in working with young people with complex mental health needs and severe emotional and behavioural difficulties. Specifically, those that have experienced developmental trauma and difficulties within their early relationships. I am supporting individuals with self-harm, suicidal, and maladaptive coping strategies on a daily basis, and I'm using my skills and knowledge to help them build a life worth living. My role consists of working within Multi-disciplinary team to help young people gain skills such as cooking, community life skills, leisure and self care, sensory, music, art, physical activities etc. I'm using variety of models to asses young people and I write reports such as CPA and ward-round notes on a daily basis. I use trauma informed care and person centred approach in my work.

Youth Support Worker

Well being cafe - The Lowdown - NorthamptonNovember 2020 to June 2021

Working within a charity with young people in Northampton and providing free and confidential counselling, emotional wellbeing support, sexual health and LGBTQ support services for 11-25 year olds. I am working within a small team of counsellors in a caring environment where young people are supported on their journey towards positive emotional health and wellbeing. Providing safe space for young people in sessions and openly talking about sexual health, body positivity, pandemic anxiety and interpersonal relationships.

Healthcare Assistant

St. Andrew's Healthcare - NorthamptonApril 2019 to February 2021

I have worked on various wards around the hospital with patients that are critically unwell and those who are being rehabilitated back into community living. I have worked with different age groups and patient profiles but mostly focusing on working with children and young adults. Working within different divisions provided me with confidence to help resolve conflicts by improving my deescalation techniques. I improved in assessing the potential risks and remaining calm in a high-stress environment and managing challenging behaviour. I have been awarded staff member of the week and I have received positive feedback numerous times from the nursing team as well as different organisations for the input with patients and the care I provide.

Youth Support Worker

Outdoor Learning Organisation - AdventureWays - NorthamptonOctober 2018 to April 2019

Working in a creative educational program outside the classroom for disaffected and disengaged young people. This included outdoor adventurous activities with an element of knowledge and skills from national curriculum subjects to develop knowledge, confidence, self-esteem, social intelligence and life skills. Working in an alternate educational provision provided me with new skills and made me more resilient and creative. Some activities examples: rowing, climbing, archery, canoeing, cycling, paddle-boarding, team games and many more.

Teaching Assistant Placement

Special Educational Needs school Kingsthorpe Grove - NorthamptonDecember 2017 to July 2018

Assisting teachers with everyday activities and with planning schedules, working with children of various age range and conditions. Everyday duties included supporting the teachers and children's learning, as well as coordinating activities and doing admin work.

Youth Worker Trainee

Duston Youth Club - NorthamptonNovember 2016 to July 2017

Organising children activities such as sports, arts and crafts, charity events, forest school, cooking days etc. Coaching, mentoring and managing variety of projects with children while working within a small team. Working with children with ADHD and ASD. Attending workshops and team building meetings within the company.

Diploma in Sound therapy

British Academy of Sound Therapy - ChichesterDecember 2023 to Present

BA in Childhood and Youth Studies

Northampton UniversitySeptember 2016 to July 2019

A-Level or equivalent in Grammar Linguistic School

Metkovic, Croatia