Sarah Welch
Fairfield,Hamilton
Summary
Dynamic leader with a proven track record at Mana Services, adept in crisis management and fostering strong community relationships. Excels in developing innovative care strategies, achieving significant improvements in youth welfare. Skilled in analytical thinking and team management, consistently delivering results under pressure.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Practice Manager
Mana Services
06.2022 - Current
- Offered guidance and knowledge to caregivers of rangatahi.
- Ensured adherence to high standards in all aspects of care and support provided.
- Collaborated with leadership to refine services through tailored solutions.
- Executed practice-focused initiatives, tools, and systems with precision.
- Facilitated communication between Mana Services and external organizations.
- Promote well-being of both child and family.
- Created comprehensive documents such as induction booklets, risk management plans, and operational care plans.
- Participated in court hearings, family group conferences, and provider meetings to offer support to rangatahi.
- Guided transition plans for incoming and outgoing clients in Mana Services care.
- Organized and tracked schedules for rangatahi, including visits, appointments, and meetings.
- Applied in-depth knowledge of legal frameworks to aid rangatahi and whanau comprehension.
- Delivered real-time updates to whānau and external providers.
- Managed organizational tasks in areas of well-being, learning and recreation.
- Evaluated incidents and dispatched reports to authorized personnel.
- Completed wellbeing checks following incidents.
Care and Protection Social Worker
Oranga Tamariki
Kirikiriroa
08.2019 - 06.2022
- Facilitated multidisciplinary coordination in securing critical case information.
- Frontline assessment of the report of concerns. Supporting whanau to engage with community resources, gather whanau for whanau hui's, to develop whanau safety and connectedness.
- Collaborated with whānau, children, and third-party services to plan appropriate interventions.
- Execute tasks linked to Family and Youth Court, involving preparation of diverse reports.
- Collaborated with social work colleagues, professional advisors, managers, employees, and external agencies to enhance interagency services.
- Assisted rangatahi experiencing intellectual delays, FASD, BPD, and various mental health challenges.
- Familiarized with different phases of work conducted by Oranga Tamariki.
- Working alongside young people who are experiencing homelessness, unhealthy relationships, criminal activity, drug /alcohol abuse, violent tendencies, lack of education and/or employment, poverty, and unstable living situations, to assist them to develop positive coping strategies
- Developed comprehensive strategies addressing suicidal thoughts, self-injury tendencies, and aggressive behaviors.
Transition From Care to Independence (TCI) Worker
Youth Horizons
New Lynn
11.2018 - 06.2019
- Assisting clients to prepare to live independently
- Assisted young people affected by poverty, unstable living situations, lack of education or employment in creating effective coping mechanisms.
Tracker/Minder
Reconnect
Greater Auckland area
06.2016 - 11.2018
- Monitored young individuals identified as at risk in Oranga Tamariki system.
- Supervised access
- Transported children and young people between caregivers and appointments.
Youth Worker
Te Maioha O Parekarangi
Rotorua
08.2013 - 06.2016
- Adapted to rotating shifts to cater to full-time resident youth requirements.
- Guided rangatahi in building structured habits for day-to-day tasks.
- Handle complex scenarios involving youths' needs and actions.
Clinical Support Worker
Te Maioha O Parekarangi
Rotorua
06.2013 - 08.2013
- Complete strengths and difficulties questionnaires and liife skills checklists
- Development of operational plans and individual care plans
- Attend family group conferences with rangatahi
- Completed evaluations and assembled information to deliver an integrated overview of the youth's needs, capabilities, and anticipated next measures.
Case Leader
Te Maioha O Parekarangi
Rotorua
11.2012 - 06.2013
- Created operational strategies, care plans, and strengths-need evaluations.
- Delivered comprehensive information to care team staff and management to address young person's needs effectively.
- Coordinated with whanau and social workers before and during youth's stay at Te Maioha O Parekarangi.
- Facilitated collaborative engagement with young persons and whanau in decision-making processes.
- Conducted weekly interdisciplinary meetings with health, education, and mental health teams.
- Engaged in meetings to guarantee youth comprehension and involvement in the process.
Social Worker
Family Focus
Rotorua
03.2011 - 11.2012
- Supervised access
- Documented and recorded visit details including parent-child interactions, conversations, and observations.
- Contacted women post-incidents to assess need for Family Focus services.
- Created the Safety First for Kids initiative to promote child safety.
- Guided youth groups.
Education
Bachelor of Health Science - Psychology
Auckland University of Technology
Auckland, NZ06.2019
Bachelor of Applied Social Sciences -
Waiariki Institute of Technology
Rotorua, NZ01.2012
Skills
- Behavioral and Crisis Management – Expertise in managing high-risk oppositional behaviors, crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and emergency response
- Child Welfare and Protection – Strong knowledge of child safety, development, trauma-informed care, protection orders, and mandatory reporting
- Case and Risk Management – Skilled in risk assessment, case documentation, referral management, safety planning, and best practice support
- Leadership and Team Management – Experienced in staff management, workload prioritization, policy development, and supporting best practices
- Communication and Relationship Building – Proficient in interpersonal understanding, advocacy, networking, and collaborating with community agencies
- Analytical and Organizational Skills – Strong conceptual thinking, multitasking, information seeking, and ability to perform under pressure
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Practice Manager
Mana Services
06.2022 - Current
Care and Protection Social Worker
Oranga Tamariki
08.2019 - 06.2022
Transition From Care to Independence (TCI) Worker
Youth Horizons
11.2018 - 06.2019
Tracker/Minder
Reconnect
06.2016 - 11.2018
Youth Worker
Te Maioha O Parekarangi
08.2013 - 06.2016
Clinical Support Worker
Te Maioha O Parekarangi
06.2013 - 08.2013
Case Leader
Te Maioha O Parekarangi
11.2012 - 06.2013
Social Worker
Family Focus
03.2011 - 11.2012
Bachelor of Health Science - Psychology
Auckland University of Technology
Bachelor of Applied Social Sciences -
Waiariki Institute of Technology
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