(00:00) Introduction - Welcome to POD-CACHE, the portable professional development podcast from CACHE Alumni

(00:48) Jenny Phillips - An introduction to Jenny

(02:52) They say never to work with children or animals... Jenny's dream job

(04:52) A love of animals - Bringing animals into the classroom

(05:28) George the Cat - The teaching power of animals

(06:46) Making the unpredictable understandable - The process behind introducing children to animals and animal therapy.

(11:18) We are nature - Jenny's relationship with animals, professional curiosity and the theory behind farm and animal therapy.

(12:57) The micropig experience - Working with teacup pigs and other animals to help children to develop relationships, provide therapeutic intervention in hospitals and experience the 'humanity' of animals.

(16:32) Purring chickens - The physiological impact of animal interactions on mental and emotional health

(17:40) Who says you can't cuddle a snake? - Book recommendations from Jenny and signposting to other resources supporting farm therapy

(19:00) CACHE Alumni signposting

(19:16) Risk assessing animal interactions - Finding the way through controlled exploration

(22:05) Never work with children or animals - Exploring Jenny's passion for animals and education

(24:55) Jenny's advice on finding (or inventing) your own career path through academic research and study

(27:32) Find your passion and unlock your real potential - Mixing and matching career paths to make a perfect career.

(30:00) Overcoming objections and articulating ideas - Jenny explains how she draws her own boundaries and factors in health and safety and costings to her planning

(34:27) 'No' is not the end.  It's a starting point for conversation - Practising professional conversations to construct an argument or business case

(37:24) Jenny's dreams for the future

'Don't let anyone tell you that you can't… you might get there a bit slower, but you'll get where you need to be' - Jenny Phillips is a highly qualified early years and education professional with lots of experience of working with animals to provide the best possible care and support.

Join Dawn as she talks to Jenny about the way that animal and human care intersects, Jenny's passion for care farming and shaping her own career to fulfil her dreams.

Want more?  Find articles about animals in education and care setting written by Jenny Phillips in CACHE Alumni's quarterly member magazine, Aluminate, or listen to another episode of POD-CACHE with Dr Helen Bilton, Professor of Outdoor Learning and Play.

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Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education.  Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.