Abey Varghese
Hamilton
Summary
A highly skilled, compassionate, empathetic and solution oriented social worker with more than10 years of experience dedicated to providing exceptional care and implementing treatment plans for families and individuals. Effective communicator, motivator and advocate with inherent ability to manage all types of personalities, diffuse stressful situations, proactively resolve issues and achieve challenging goals and objectives. Effective at multi-tasking while maintaining a sharp focus on the end objective. Innate ability to build relationship, rapport and trust with individuals. Effective in verbal and written communications. Team oriented, consistently recognized for ability to establish and maintain solid relationship with co-workers and administration.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Community Mental Health Social Worker
Adult Community Mental Health Services –Waikato District Health Board
12.2021 - Current
- Conduct Mental Health Assessment and Psychosocial Assessment including intake and providing a rapid response for clients and family experiencing acute mental health distress.
- Managing and key working a caseload, completing assessments, risk management, and recovery-focused treatment planning.
- Using treatment models like evidence based, strength-based therapy, validations therapies with clients to develop skills, coping strategies, positive outcomes and goals in their life.
- Contributing disciple specific knowledge to the Multi- Disciplinary Team (MDT) with Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Registered Nurses, Occupational Therapists and Peer Support Workers to manage a broad-based generic caseload, utilising mental health experience to provide excellent service delivery.
- Undertaking duties under the Mental Health Act like preparing and presenting Second Health Professional Report in the court for Community Treatment Order (CTO) recommendations of Clients in front of a Judge with Psychiatrist and other professionals.
- Coordination with various Non-profit organizations (NGO’S) to support clients in the community to organize specialized care, support and funding for their wellbeing and recovery.
- Focusses to provide strengths-based, trauma-informed and recovery focused approach, using advanced therapy and evidence based holistic interventions.
- Liaison with Police, Pharmacists, Solicitors, local GPs (General Practitioners) and nurse practitioners to meet the needs of clients and family from service entry to transition to the community.
- Formulating complex management plans for clients who have complex mental health issues and physical issues.
- Build therapeutic relationships and rapports with clients, family and support agencies.
- Facilitating referral documentation to various organisations in the community to cater the needs of clients which are based on various assessments and recommendations of the treatment team.
- Professional experience approx. 4 years
Community Support Worker
Geneva Healthcare, Hamilton
07.2019 - 12.2021
- Liaison with Trans-Disciplinary team to improve the quality of life of clients.
- Assessing the clients’ needs through PCP documentation tool.
- Advocacy for Clients and families- resolving family’s issues and difficulties.
- Facilitating the clients for various therapies like sensory modulations, physical rehabilitation and other training sessions.
- Documentation and Report writing.
- Health and safety trainings and documentations to ensure the safety of clients in the organizations.
- Liaisons with government agencies, Gp’s and other organizations to support clients in the community.
- Professional experience- 2years and 5 months
Medical Social Worker
Waikato Hospital, Stroke Ward –Olderpatient Rehabilitation
01.2019 - 07.2019
- Psycho Social Assessment of patients in the ward.
- Discharging planning with Service user and Families
- Advocacy and resource connections – supports clients to access financial assistance and other social benefits
- Networking with various Ngo’s, Government organizations and Old age homes.
- Providing Psycho educations and awareness to families and Clients regarding various health conditions and preventions of such health occurrence.
- Care Coordination with the team, facilitating communication among the team members and conducting family meeting along with other multi-disciplinary team members.
- Professional experience -7 months
Rehabilitation coach and key worker
Good Wood Park Health Care, Auckland
05.2016 - 01.2019
- Work with Multidisciplinary team to assess the client’s abilities and developments
- SNAP (Support Needs Assessment Plan)
- Attending Crisis and de-escalation situations with complex clients in the organizations.
- Provide Rehabilitations interventions and complete tasks within a given timeframe.
- Advocate for clients and arrangement of appointment with community support services.
- Evaluate client’s progress towards their SNAP goals and effectiveness of the service engaged.
- Works with Clinical Coordinator for the funding applications on behalf of the clients.
- Facilitates discussions of options and choices of interventions/treatments with clients.
- Contributes to the development and implementation of the internal audit programme.
- Documents and maintains records according to legislations and GPHC policies.
- A Mental Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Organization, Auckland
- Professional experience -2 Years and 8 months
Community support worker
Salvation Army, Auckland
08.2015 - 05.2016
- Observes, Monitors and reports clients mental, emotional, spiritual and physical well being of Clients.
- Administers medication and other treatment plans of clients.
- Develops therapeutic relationship with clients and family
- Advocating for the clients and arrangements of appointments with other community support services.
- Provide Psycho educations to Clients and Families in the community.
- Professional experience- one year
Community Social Worker (District coordinator), Kerala Social Security Mission
- Advocating for the socially privileged people in the community- Old aged Population and Children.
- Liaison officer of various Government departments and with other non-government organizations (NGO).
- Providing Counseling sessions/Awareness classes for Youths, school children for their social and psychological development.
- Working with multi-disciplinary team in the community for community development- Police, Ministry of health and Local Government.
- Conducting webinars and seminars for young people to develop coping strategies to overcome alcohol and drug addictions.
- A Charitable Society by Social Justice, Department, Government of Kerala, India
- Work Experience - 4 years
Mental Health Social Worker, Medico Pastoral Association
- Developing the Clients Service delivery Plan.
- Provides Rehabilitation interventions for Children, Adolescent, Old age.
- Making clients to take their own decisions and live functionally.
- Support clients to maintain family contacts as part of the rehabilitation
- Work closely with the multidisciplinary team.
- Formulating recovery and wellness plan for clients to manage crisis situations.
- Provide Psychoeducation and awareness sessions for clients and families.
- A Rehabilitation Organization for mental health
- Work Experience - 1 year
Education
Post Graduate Certificate in Health Science - Mental Health and Addictions
Auckland University of Technology
New Zealand12.2024
Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Practice - Social Practice
Unitec Institute of Technology
Auckland, New Zealand02.2016
Master of Social Work - Medical and Psychiatry
GRD College of Science, Bharathiar University
India07.2008
Post Graduate Certificate in Counseling Psychology - undefined
Christian Counseling Centre, Institute for Human Relation, Counseling and Psychotherapy
India05.2009
Bachelor’s in commerce - undefined
Nirmala College, Muvattupuzha ,Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University
India07.2002
Skills
- Excellent communication skills with caring and listening skills
- A welcoming person, and family -led approach
- Timely access to service in the community
- Team Working Skills
- Good Time Management
- Awareness of professional boundaries and ethics
- Maintaining accurate clinical documentation and data security
- Supporting culturally safe and inclusive care for families and all service users
- Competence using electronic health systems and clinical documentation platforms
Accomplishments
- Completed De-escalation Training
- Attended Recovery in Practice.
- Completed Borderline Personality Disorder workshop
-Completed Family Inclusive Practice.
Training and Webinars
- Community De-escalation- Emphasis on trauma, effective communication, de-escalation- how to say and how to do during cycle of mental health crisis and escalations
- Recovery in Practice -focuses on recovery-oriented service of Clients in the community.
- Borderline Personality Disorder Workshop.
- Outcomes Stars Training- Identifies personal strengths, needs and progress, evidence based and person center practice.
- Family inclusive practice – Role of family in recovery of mentally ill clients and how to support the clients in the community.
Affiliations
- New Zealand Social Work Registration Board (SWRB)
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Malayalam
Native or Bilingual
Hindi
Limited Working
Tamil
Full Professional
Interests
Music
Teaching
Adventures
Cricket
Football
Driving
Timeline
Community Mental Health Social Worker
Adult Community Mental Health Services –Waikato District Health Board
12.2021 - Current
Community Support Worker
Geneva Healthcare, Hamilton
07.2019 - 12.2021
Medical Social Worker
Waikato Hospital, Stroke Ward –Olderpatient Rehabilitation
01.2019 - 07.2019
Rehabilitation coach and key worker
Good Wood Park Health Care, Auckland
05.2016 - 01.2019
Community support worker
Salvation Army, Auckland
08.2015 - 05.2016
Community Social Worker (District coordinator), Kerala Social Security Mission
Mental Health Social Worker, Medico Pastoral Association
Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Practice - Social Practice
Unitec Institute of Technology
Master of Social Work - Medical and Psychiatry
GRD College of Science, Bharathiar University
Post Graduate Certificate in Counseling Psychology - undefined
Christian Counseling Centre, Institute for Human Relation, Counseling and Psychotherapy
Bachelor’s in commerce - undefined
Nirmala College, Muvattupuzha ,Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University
Post Graduate Certificate in Health Science - Mental Health and Addictions
Auckland University of Technology