Lucia Vosataki
Auckland,New Zealand
Summary
I am a registered Social Worker of Fijian descent. Been living in New Zealand for close to 20 years. I have a current APC and 15+ years of experience as a social worker working across government agencies and an NGO. I am currently working in a leadership position and counselling role and understand the complexities of balancing operational and clinical needs and am passionate about prioritising client needs and clinical best practice above all. I can effectively maintain and develop positive working relationships with clients, staff, senior management, and stakeholders. I have excellent supervisory skills and performance working under pressure.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Mind Health Practitioner Lead
The Fono
Current
- Provide information and advice to the Manager – on Relevant developments within the position’s scope of activities and interests
- Identify risks that may have an influence on The Fono’s and the LagiOla-Mind Health Service and Whanau Ora Service’s ability to meet its goals in Mind Health Practitioner Leadership
- Management and support for the MHP team including coaching for Mind Health Practitioner staff team members which include RN’s, OT’s, Mental Health Social Workers, Counsellors or DAPAANZ registered members
- Training requirements and performance management Service delivery Provided counselling support for individuals and families and worked systematically, innovatively, and creatively towards meeting their mental health needs in relation to challenges such as: Stress, anxiety, grief, or relationship issues; Mental health conditions including depression, Addictions, sleep issues, parenting, children’s behaviour, and trauma issues
- Undertook suitable actions directly and by referral including working within the LagiOla – Mind Health Service to ensure that families can access psychological, mental health and well-being support through psychiatry, psychology, health coaching or community support
- Applied cultural skills in Talanoa and relationship-based methodologies using the Ngalu Fanifo model in: Managing referrals and case management Assessments Influencing behaviour change Individual family and group involvement Reporting, Facilitating, and building capacities and capabilities of families across the Fono integrated services to better manage mental, social, educational, and general health at the family home level
- Up-skilling and training families to be self-reliant and be champions within their own networks and community groups
- With reference to the specific contract requirements as issued by the LagiOla – Mind Health Service and Whanau Ora Service manage and personally carry out all provisions.
Intern Social Worker
Tupu Services - Pacific Island Drug and Alcohol Service
01.2013
Alcohol and Drug Clinician
CADS Henderson
11.2021 - 04.2023
- Group facilitation
- Triaging clients through different referral pathways i.e., self-referral, Whiteboard referral, GP referral etc
- Conduct AOD assessments for clients affected by substances and formulating treatment pathways with them
- Conduct assessments on family members affected by AOD and ensuring that family members are also supported
- Provide on-going support for clients while under CADS, by assessing for risk and safety
- Liaising with external services if an acute risk is identified
- Provide AOD counselling support for clients that prefer 1:1 support
- Provide brief interventions utilising evidence-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Provide interventions that are sensitive and appropriate to differing cultural values and diversity
- Participate in weekly multi-Disciplinary reviews to discuss complex cases or high-risk clients
- Refer appropriately, when clients present with issues that are long-term, out-of-scope of Counselling
- Participate in regular professional supervision with an appropriately qualified and approved supervisor.
Social Worker/Case Manager
Isalei - Pacific Adult Mental Health/Service
11.2018 - 01.2021
- Care coordinating and management of client caseloads
- Working within the recovery model of practice ensuring the clients can be directly involved in their treatment plan
- Triaging referrals received through duty contact, ensuring all relevant information are collected
- Completing all WDHB online mandatory forms in a timely manner and ensuring that clients are seen by the psychiatrist in line with the required timeframe of the service, or when a risk is identified
- Presenting cases through weekly multi-Disciplinary client review, identifying any imminent risks, putting in place appropriate interventions to minimise any potential harm to self or others
- Providing psychoeducation on mental health diagnosis and symptoms the importance of medication compliance to minimize risk of a relapse
- Providing psychoeducation on sleep hygiene, mindfulness exercises, DBT and CBT especially for clients who are sleep deprived
- Responding to crisis, conducting a risk assessment, and implementing a safety plan to keep clients safe
- Liaising and working collaboratively with other Stakeholders, gathering collateral information, with the goal of ensuring that the clients receive the best care possible
- Advocate for clients, instilling hope and empowering them through their recovery journey
- Finding accommodation for clients who need accommodation, including refuge centres for domestic violence cases
- Putting referrals through community agencies for CSW support, Peer Support, and budgeting support.
Casual Psychiatric Assistant
Mason Clinic
01.2004 - 01.2019
- Intervene and problem solve in crisis situations and able to de-escalate MH client safely
- Supervise patients to ensure safety and well-being are maintained
- Observe patient behaviour and record any significant behaviour in their mental state
- Support patients in Rehabilitation wards through their recovery journey by providing psychoeducation and empowering them by teaching them, life skills so they can integrate safely back into the community.
Care and Protection Social Worker
Child Youth and Family
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Information gathering and analysis at intake and investigation phases
- Completing case managements
- Creating interventions
- Planning, implementation, and review of appropriate interventions, in conjunction with the supervisor, and where appropriate, an assigned co-worker
- Preparing reports as required, based on extensive and accurate information gathering and analysis
- Using existing professional practice tools and those which may from time to time be introduced by the Service
- Providing appropriate information to clients, professionals, colleagues, and others to maximise good decision-making processes
- Participating in the processes of the Family Group Conference (FGC) and those tasks which follow an FGC
- Completing tasks associated with the Family and Youth Court, including preparing and presenting a range of reports for Court
- Providing case management in conjunction with the supervisor and other relevant parties
- Keeping factual and timely formal records using computer based and other information systems
- Co-operating with any agreed quality assurance process operated by the Service
- Providing counselling and support services to children and parents
- Referring children and families to other services if necessary
- Placing children in foster care if the safety of the child is in imminent danger
- Provide advocacy and support for parents.
Education
Post Grad Cert in Mental Health And Addiction. - Social Work
Unitec, Henderson.
Henderson, NZ11.2008
Skills
- Effective organisation skills
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Cultural sensitivity
- Respectful leadership
- Collaboration
- Training and presentations
- Effective communication
- Line management
Personal Information
- Residency: NZ citizen
- Registration Number: 10763
- Driving License: DH931549
Educationtraining
- Bachelor’s degree in social Practice, Majoring in Social Work at Unitec.
- Post graduate diploma in Applied business – Leadership Major – Unitec.
- Post Graduate Certificate in Social Practice – Social work major - Unitec.
- Post Graduate Certificate in Mental Health and Addictions at AUT, Akoranga campus.
- National Certificate in Mental Health support work at Unitec.
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy training (DBT) – 6 weeks training
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – 6 weeks training.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – 6 weeks training.
Currentpracticingcertificate - Expirydate
06/30/24
Awards
- 2019, CEO Recognition Award – Waitemata District Health Board now known as Te Whatu Ora
- Completed my internship program (for my MAB programme) with the Pacific Centre, Unitec, New Zealand. My project was to develop a Human Resource strategy, focussing on recruitment and retention of Pacific Island staff at Unitec.
- Served as the Pacific Lead for Te whatu Ora, representing the Fijian community in West Auckland; making sure that every Fijian residing in West Auckland received adequate help during the pandemic and was aware of the resources available to them.
Volunteer Experience
- Drodrolagi Health Group, West Auckland, a Pacific Island group funded by WDHB promoting healthy living, healthy lifestyle targeting Fijians living in West Auckland.
- Fijian Catholic Community, West Auckland.
References
Available on Request
Timeline
Mind Health Practitioner Lead
The Fono
Current
Alcohol and Drug Clinician
CADS Henderson
11.2021 - 04.2023
Social Worker/Case Manager
Isalei - Pacific Adult Mental Health/Service
11.2018 - 01.2021
Care and Protection Social Worker
Child Youth and Family
01.2016 - 01.2017
Intern Social Worker
Tupu Services - Pacific Island Drug and Alcohol Service
01.2013
Casual Psychiatric Assistant
Mason Clinic
01.2004 - 01.2019
Post Grad Cert in Mental Health And Addiction. - Social Work
Unitec, Henderson.
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