Ratu Kasami

Governance

• I have a passion for good governance, leadership in public sectors, and the community. I am part of a cohort that is training toward good governance and leadership. This training is free and is facilitated by Caren Rangi.
• After completing the training, I would like to be part of governance groups or boards in the areas that I'm interested in.

Leadership

• OT Makahiki Pasifika Leadership Program (Inaugural for Pasifika Leaders in OT)- completed in October 2023

• Lead and manage a social work team, including support staff, by providing an environment within which service delivery excellence can be achieved.
• Ensure that Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), casework, and quality indicators and standards are managed and met.
• Promote and maintain effective relationships with partner agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), Iwi, Indigenous communities, Pacific people, community groups, and contracted service providers as they relate to casework.
• Ensure that the Professional Supervision Policy operates effectively, as per the policy guidelines.
• Identify and manage risks, including casework risks, and escalate where appropriate.
• Support the management, implementation, monitoring, and report evaluation of service delivery for social workers.

Specialized Role

• Currently, I am the OT representative for the Te Kahui Whiti Ora, MDCAT for Fast Track purposes, and the SAM Table, both in the central Auckland area. I work in a multidisciplinary team that consists of key OT stakeholders, iwi, and community providers.

Specialist Team - Engaging Challenging Youth Team (ECY)

• In 2016, I worked as a social worker for the ECY team for four weeks. This was a team that had a small caseload and specialized in working with high needs, and complex cases.

I

• Not-for-profit organization that focuses on Fijian iTaukei families in the areas of health and well-being.
• Provide leadership to the board
• Guide strategic decision-making
• Ensuring the organization adheres to its mission and values,
• Maintain a focus on ethical governance and accountability.
• Chairs the meetings, help prepare agendas, guide conduct of meetings

• Create content for the training, recruit participants, and facilitate face-to-face training across New Zealand. The trainings are targeted to the three key populations: 1) community, 2) professionals (government and non-government), and 3) youths (ages 16 to 30).
• There are eight Pacific ethnic family violence frameworks. I am confident and competent in using all the Pacific frameworks and facilitating the training sessions with participants.

• A cultural resource for social workers and a site for Fijian iTaukei families living in Aotearoa, NZ: support and advice, genealogy research, meeting attendance facilitation, and connecting social workers and families to community supports.
• Compiled data related to cultural values, practices, and protocols.
• Maintained accurate records and documented client data.
• Work within NZ, and out of NZ. Worked with the OT Adoption team and the Fiji government to establish the domestic and intercountry adoption process.
• Provide advice and support with other child protection countries to support Fijian iTaukei families in the UK, Australia, and Fiji.

• The role is part of an interagency team that responds to family and sexual violence. The partners are made up of Family Violence and Sexual Violence specialists from government organizations, non-government organizations, community services, ethnic community services, housing services, iwi services, the corrections department, OT, and health and mental health services.
• With the partners at the table, we collectively work toward a safe, effective risk assessment plan, safety planning, and triaging. My role is to undertake comprehensive assessments, ensuring that the assessments are child- and family-centered. This includes reviewing police, corrections, and agency referrals to determine the nature of OT's involvement. Preparing a summary of information to present at the interagency SAM table. Participate in planning for the safety and well-being of families, ensuring the planning is child- and family-focused. This includes participating in the daily interagency SAM table, completing any assigned tasks from the SAM table, and participating in the intensive case management planning for families at high risk of harm from family violence, sexual violence, and cases of high complexity. Strengthen understanding and capability in family violence and youth suicide by keeping up to date with family violence and suicide best practices, and sharing family violence expertise across Oranga Tamariki-Ministry for Children, providing assistance in complex or high-risk situations where youth suicide is an important dynamic. Act as an expert and consultant for sites in relation to family violence, sexual violence, and youth suicide matters, and act as an educator to help increase knowledge in relation to family violence, sexual violence, and youth suicide.

• Lead professional practice, doing practice forums once a week
• Lead and influence and support social workers, supervisors to excerise professional expertise, decision making and judgement.
• Provide professional supervision.
• Identify areas needing practice improvement and work with site/manager to implement plans to strengthen practice.
• Consult complex and care cases
• Facilitated team meetings to discuss challenges and successes within the practice.

• Assess children and young people for neglect, abusive situations, and youth offending, to compile documentation for court hearings and reports.
• Advocate for young people, their families, and victims at the family group conferences to discuss case plans in detail and to discuss goals.
• Assisted and advocated for clients obtaining financial resources and government entitlements.
• Visited children and young people at residences and community placements to assist courts with custody decisions.
• Conducted assessments of client needs, strengths, and resources to develop treatment plans.
• Worked collaboratively with other professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, youth advocates, lawyers for children, and police, to coordinate care for children and young people.
• Administered conflict resolution strategies to help families resolve disputes.

Youth Justice Supervisor / Youth Court Supervisor

• I was seconded as a YJ supervisor for four months and covered for Youth Court Supervisor duties as well.

• Information gathering and analysis of cases from intake to care.
• Planning, implementation, and review of appropriate interventions.
• Maintained accurate records of client progress and interactions according to agency standards. Composed or prepared correspondence, case notes and narratives with computer-based applications.
• Coordinated care with interdisciplinary teams and community contacts to promote continuity of care.
• Preparing reports as required, based on extensive and accurate information gathering and analysis.
• Coordinated referrals to outside agencies for additional services, such as parenting, substance abuse programs, or vocational training.
• Actively advocated for systemic change within organizations that serve vulnerable populations.
• Administered conflict resolution strategies to help families resolve disputes.
• Interviewed clients individually and in family groups to determine services to best address specific needs.
• Participate in court proceedings related to cases involving children or young persons by way of providing court reports.

• Assisted with job readiness training programs aimed at helping young people find employment opportunities.
• Created educational material tailored to the needs of the group or individuals being served.
• Developed professional relationships with youth, co-workers and fellow volunteers.
• Participated in professional development workshops related to youth development initiatives.
• Assisted in developing life skills such as problem solving, decision making and communication strategies for youth participants.
• Facilitated activities and discussions to promote self-reflection and personal growth.
• Set up and cleaned up after activities.
• Built partnerships with related organizations to develop support and gain greater attention for important issues.
• Organized team building activities that foster a sense of community among participants.
• Assisted with teaching children life skills.
• Coached mentees on how to handle difficult situations or emotions.