Profile
Carl Atherton
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About Me:
Hello,
my name is Carl and i am a 31 year old male. I live at home with my son, Callum (7). I am also a foster carer for my niece so she also lives with us currently.
I love attending the gym and doing Thai boxing lessons, which i have done for 11 years now. I love the outdoors and my favorite place to visit is the lake district.
I also love music.
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The reason i like exercise so much is because i thinks it’s important to look after your physical and mental health. I love different forms of exercise such as walking, hiking, swimming and boxing.
I love attending concerts watching bands who are not very well known, to bands such as James Bay and Robbie Williams.
I also encourage my son to try my hobbies but also develop his own. He also loves Thai boxing but his main interest is fortnight, roblocks and Minecraft…
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My pronouns are:
Him.
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My Work:
I am currently a Cognitive behavioural therapist and a social worker in a mental health service for children (CAMHS).
I am also a foster carer.
I am also currently in the process of opening a residential children’s home. -
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As a therapist, i work with children and young people struggling with their own mental health. This can be when someone is feeling really sad for a long period of time or it can be when someone gets really anxious in social situations. I work closely with the young person and family to ensure these difficulties do not impact upon the young persons life. I really do try and get to know the young person who i work with and build a relationship up so that they can trust me.
I also work along side with professionals such as the police, schools, GP and other services. This is very important in my job so that no information is missed.
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My Typical Day:
9am – team meeting
10am – Session
10-10:30am – Notes
10:30am – Session
10:30-11am – Notes
11am – Professional meeting
12am – lunch
1pm – covering phone calls from parents and young people.
2pm – session
3:00- 3:30pm – Notes
3:30pm – meeting
4pm – session or catching up with emails/notes.
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A typical day would be starting with a team meeting. In this team meeting we discuss any young person that we are concerned about or when we need advice.
Following the meeting, i would usually have my first appointment with my young people. I would usually see from 3-6 young people each day depending on if i have the availability.
Throughout the day i would also attend meetings with other professionals and parents.
I also offer supervision to other people in my team.
My day is 9am-5am but i do sometimes start at 8am if needed.
I will squeezes in a lunch in between sessions.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
i’m open to ideas for you all.
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Education:
High school – failed all my GCSE’s
College (i did not know what i wanted to do) – Gym and coaching qualifications. I worked in a bar along side college.
Nursey nurse job – i started working with children in a nursey. This is where i realised working with children is my passion. However, i knew i could work with children in more of complex way.
Returned back to college to complete a [Access to health] course as i did not have the qualification to go university to complete a social work degree.
Started university doing a social work degree (BA). Three years long. Did placements in a homeless shelter and fostering agency.
Finished university and started work with complex adults and then a family support worker.
I then started a trainee CBT post in Children’s and mental health team. When i finished the trainee degree, i stayed with the children’s and mental health team and this is where i am now.
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Qualifications:
Failed GCSE’S – E’s F’s
Social work (BA)
Cognitive behavioural therapist – Post grad.
Supervision – post grad.
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Work History:
Glass collector
Nursery nurse
Play center – party host
Wearhouse worker
Placements in university – Homeless shelter and fostering agency.
Support worker for complex adults
Family support worker
CBT trainee
CBT therapist/social worker/ senior mental health practitioner. – current.
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Current Job:
CAMHS
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Employer:
NHS – CAMHS
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Active therapist fun
What did you want to be after you left school?
I did not have a clue what i wanted to be after leaving school.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Sometimes but not a lot.
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I thought about being a firefighter
Who is your favourite singer or band?
I could not possible choose but i love 90s so anything 90s. I also love bands like mumford and sons, cold play etc.
What's your favourite food?
Anything chicken related.
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
To have a house in the country side which had lots of land. Unlimited money. Cure for cancer.
Tell us a joke.
What do you call a robber in Macdonald's...... Hamburglar
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