Susan Erickson
Chicago,IL
Summary
Highly skilled, empathetic, professional Mental Health and Home Care Personal Assistant with over forty years of experience working with children and adults.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Executive Administrative Assistant
Norwood Seniors Network
Chicago, IL
02.2023 - 12.2025
- Answered multi-line phone system, routing calls, delivering messages to staff and greeting visitors.
- Promoted a positive work environment through effective communication skills and fostering professional relationships among colleagues.
- Maintained confidentiality of sensitive information by adhering to strict privacy policies and implementing secure filing systems.
- Improved document organization with thorough file maintenance, archiving outdated records as necessary for efficient retrieval when needed.
- Assisted in onboarding new employees, providing training materials, and coordinating orientation schedules to ensure a smooth integration into the team.
- Delivered excellent customer service through prompt responses to client inquiries, addressing concerns effectively, and building strong relationships.
- Assisted with human resources tasks such as updating employee files or submitting time-off requests per company policy guidelines.
- Maintained inventory of office supplies and placed orders.
- Completed forms, reports, logs, and records to quickly handle all documentation for human resources.
Elderly Caregiver
Norwood Seniors Network
Chicago, IL
03.2021 - 02.2023
- Provided compassionate care and support for daily living activities of elderly clients.
- Coordinated transportation for appointments and social engagements, enhancing mobility.
- Monitored health conditions, reporting changes to healthcare professionals promptly.
- Fostered strong relationships with families, providing updates on client wellbeing and progress.
- Offered companionship and kindness to elderly patients.
- Implemented activities to promote mental and physical engagement among clients.
- Cleaned house, ran errands, managed laundry, and completed weekly grocery shopping.
- Enhanced elderly residents'' quality of life by providing compassionate care and assistance with daily activities.
- Increased client satisfaction by offering companionship and engaging in meaningful conversations throughout the day.
- Assisted disabled clients to support independence and well-being.
- Turned and positioned bedbound patients to prevent bedsores and maintain comfort levels.
- Coordinated closely with family members on updates regarding their loved one's condition while respecting privacy.
- Prepared nutritious meals tailored to individual dietary requirements for elderly clients while considering their preferences.
- Documented daily activities and changes in client condition to enable tracking history and maintain accurate records.
- Ensured timely completion of errands for clients, including grocery shopping, appointments, and personal affairs management.
- Maintained client confidentiality and adhered to HIPAA regulations while documenting and sharing pertinent information with authorized parties.
Personal Assistant
Department of Human Services
Chicago, IL
10.2014 - 08.2022
- Provides 1:1 service to client with severe disabilities and aphasia so he can remain in his home and be as independent as possible.
- Provides transportation to doctor's appointments and other destinations as required.
- Disperses medication and prepares meals.
- Assists client with leg mobility exercises.
- Practices reading out loud and writing with client.
- Engages client in mental activity by working on jigsaw puzzles and playing cards.
- Spends time outside with client when weather permits.
- Provides light housekeeping.
Nanny
Chris and Jori Jennings
Chicago, IL
08.2008 - 10.2014
- Provided constant supervision and recreational activities for two children.
- Provided household maintenance such as cleaning, laundry, running errands and preparing meals.
- Coordinated field trips to local parks, museums, and zoos.
- Worked with parents to develop and implement disciplinary programs to promote positive behavior.
- Taught children everyday skills, including potty training, dressing, tying shoes, and basic math and language skills.
- Played games, worked on puzzles, and read books with the children.
- Involved children in caring for household pets and chores, such as picking up toys, and putting away arts and crafts, etc.
- Picked up children from school and assisted with homework assignments and special projects across different subjects.
Shift Supervisor
Starbucks Coffee
Chicago, IL
05.2006 - 10.2014
- Contributed to Starbucks' success by assisting the store manager in executing operations during scheduled shifts.
- Deployed tasks to partners to create and maintain the Starbucks' experience for customers.
- Involved with cash management, opening and closing the store, and overall supervision of the store during scheduled shifts.
- Ordered supplies weekly and put away upon delivery.
- Assisted with new partner training.
- Followed health, safety and sanitation guidelines for all products.
Mental Health Professional
Children’s Home & Aid Society of Illinois
Chicago, IL
04.1994 - 04.2006
- Documented client progress in confidential files.
- Evaluated patients and implemented comprehensive treatment plans to enhance mental health.
- Encouraged clients to express feelings and discuss what was happening in day-to-day life to help each person develop insight into personal experiences and relationships.
- Performed client assessments and developed treatment plans.
- Handled packing and dispensing medications to clients throughout the facility.
- Assisted in the school crisis room with difficult clients.
- Community liaison for clients.
- Office management on the unit.
- Transported and supervised clients on home visits.
Mental Health Professional
Children’s Home & Aid Society of Illinois
Chicago, IL
04.1994 - 04.2006
- Documented client progress in confidential files.
- Evaluated patients and implemented comprehensive treatment plans to enhance mental health.
- Encouraged clients to express feelings and discuss what was happening in day-to-day life to help each person develop insight into personal experiences and relationships.
- Performed client assessments and developed treatment plans.
- Handled packing and dispensing medications to clients throughout the facility.
- Assisted in the school crisis room with difficult clients.
- Community liaison for clients.
- Office management on the unit.
- Transported and supervised clients on home visits.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Social Work
Loyola University
Chicago, IL01-1994
Associate - General Studies, Social Work
North Iowa Area Community College
Mason City, IA01-1987
Skills
- Strong client relations
- Life skill counseling
- Disperse medication
- Cash management
- Communication skills
- Counseling
- CPR Certified
- Creative problem solver
- Quick learner
- Compassionate care
- Daily living assistance
- Transportation coordination
- Emotional support
- Relationship building
- Personal hygiene assistance
- Health documentation
- Medication management
- Meal preparation
- Client confidentiality adherence
- Activity implementation
- Time management
- Problem-solving skills
- Record-keeping efficiency
- Customer service excellence
- Employee onboarding support
- Respectful and compassionate
- Elderly care
- Problem-solving
- Dependable and responsible
- Multitasking and organization
- Basic housekeeping
- Strong ethics
- Verbal and written communication skills
- Flexible schedule and availability
- Patient companionship
- Dementia care
- Alzheimer's care
- Documentation
- COVID-19 safety policies
- Client documentation
- ADL assistance
- Client transportation
- End-of-life care
- Hoyer lifting equipment
- Care plan adherence
- Transportation services
- Reliability and punctuality
Certification
Relias online training 2021-current
First aid & CPR 2019
Stacy training 1997-1999
Circle of Courage Training 1998
Childcare Methods I-VI 1994-1996
Social Work Intern 1992-1993
Homework Assistance Program Volunteer 1992
Food Service Sanitation Training yearly 2005-2014
Attended Several on-the-job seminars
Training
- First Aid & CPR Training, 2019-01-01
- SACY Training, 1997-01-01 to 1999-01-01
- Circle of Courage Training, 1998-01-01
- Childcare Methods I-VI, 1994-01-01 to 1996-01-01
- Social Work Intern, 1992-01-01 to 1993-01-01
- Homework Assistance Program Volunteer, 1992-01-01
- Food Service Sanitation Training, 2005-01-01 to 2014-01-01
- Attended several on-the-job seminars
Timeline
Executive Administrative Assistant
Norwood Seniors Network
02.2023 - 12.2025
Elderly Caregiver
Norwood Seniors Network
03.2021 - 02.2023
Personal Assistant
Department of Human Services
10.2014 - 08.2022
Nanny
Chris and Jori Jennings
08.2008 - 10.2014
Shift Supervisor
Starbucks Coffee
05.2006 - 10.2014
Mental Health Professional
Children’s Home & Aid Society of Illinois
04.1994 - 04.2006
Mental Health Professional
Children’s Home & Aid Society of Illinois
04.1994 - 04.2006
Bachelor of Science - Social Work
Loyola University
Associate - General Studies, Social Work
North Iowa Area Community College