TPM - Training Plus merseyside

News

30/06/11

Jonathan Carmichael is a Positive male role model for childcare

Jonathan Carmichael, a 19 year old Apprentice is hell bent on challenging the negative stereotypes that exist about young dads and about making a positive contribution to good childcare. Talking to Director Brian Quinn recently, Jon described his passion and enjoyment of his work, explaining how he had spoken at an FSID conference (Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths), and on local radio about his volunteering and work and experience with the Young Father’s Network.

A young father himself, Jonathan has a 3 year old daughter and another child on the way and has always wanted to work with children since he left school. A serious and fun young man, he has ‘finally embarked on the right career path’ he says, by undertaking his Apprenticeship with tpm and working full time at Kensington Children’s Centre as a childcare practitioner.

Apart from his Apprenticeship studies and full-time work Jonathan takes every opportunity to develop his knowledge and understanding around his passion for children and has attended course after programme after conference on the subject.

Jon attended The Fatherhood Institute’s ‘Hit the Ground Crawling’ Programme. A group based course developed specifically for fathers. The content is staged and includes information around pregnancy up to the delivery suite; baby’s first arrival (including mother’s emotions and how to care for the baby) with safety issues being covered in the final session.

As a member of the Supporting Young Fathers Network Jon has been involved with the ‘City Site Project’: a diverse group of young dads, sharing their personal experiences and values about childcare and wanting to challenge the many negative stereotypes that exist about young fatherhood and it has to be said Jon is making a very positive ‘male role model’ for the childcare sector.

Read more about Jon’s Apprenticeship experience here..

Find us on..