As a self-confessed early-bird I like to get up and enjoy a 6am cup of coffee before my children wake up and the chaos of preparation for the school run begins!

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By 8.30am I am home again and I log onto the computer to join the clinical team for our weekly ‘Breakfast Club’ meeting. If any families have asked to me get in touch the team let me know and I make appointments to see the families at a time to suit them. We also share news of new families joining the programme.

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At 9.30am I link up with Frances, one of our AV clinical leads, for an initial visit with a family who have just registered onto the programme. As we complete some of the paperwork together, I learn more about their family and what they enjoy doing outside of the sessions and we start to get to know each other. We discuss their hopes and aspirations for their child and the programme at AVUK and I reassure them that their therapist and I will be there alongside them for the journey.

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By 11.00am it’s time for a quick catch up with the Comms team. We are planning a couple of events for families this term which is really exciting! It is really important to us that families get opportunities to connect with each other and that families have a voice about the support they need whilst they are on the programme. It’s funny to think I have never met any of the team in person as everyone is still working remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic, but we are all looking forward to being in the office together soon!

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Lunchtime! I have always worked with young children and families so an early lunch is key to a successful day. I have a quick bite to eat before the afternoon starts. I endeavour to take my dogs on a quick walk around the block but they refuse to go out in the rain. I can’t blame them!

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After lunch I call one of our families who have recently graduated from the programme to see if they would like to buddy the family I met this morning. They are delighted to be asked, so I arrange to put them in touch.  It’s always a relief to speak to someone who has been in your shoes and the families support one another in way that no one else can. Just as I put the phone down another family rings me, they are having a difficult day and wondered if I had time for a chat. Of course I do. Families always come first.

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Later on that afternoon I have a call with a family who I am supporting to find funding so they can join the programme. We have a bursary scheme for all families resident living in the UK but my role is to find other funding we can tap into as well. Together we have found an organisation linked to Mum’s old employer. We all celebrate the news and I contact the organisation to find out the next steps.

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At the end of the day I reply to emails and organise my diary, making sure I send Zoom links to the families I am meeting tomorrow.

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Before I know it, it’s time to get the children again so off I dash. I’m already looking forward to what tomorrow will bring!

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