Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Volunteer Experience
Timeline
Generic

Tessa Luxton

Banksia Beach,Australia

Summary

Registered Social Worker with extensive experience at Oranga Tamariki, adept at client documentation and emergency intervention. Proven ability to engage effectively with clients and professionals, demonstrating strong communication and problem-solving skills. Committed to promoting child welfare and delivering patient-centered care, ensuring the best outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Overview

6
6
years of professional experience

Work History

Social Worker

Oranga Tamariki –Ministry for Children
10.2023 - Current
  • Collected and assessed information for initial investigations.
  • 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 that may, from time to time, be introduced by the Ministry.
  • Providing appropriate information to clients, professionals, colleagues and others in order to maximise good decision making processes
  • Participating in the processes of the Family Group Conference (FGC), and those tasks that follow an FGC.
  • Completing tasks associated with the Family and Youth Court, including preparing and presenting a range of reports for the Court.
  • Providing case management in conjunction with the supervisor and other relevant parties
  • Keeping factual and timely formal records through the use of computer-based and other information systems.
  • Cooperating with any agreed-upon quality assurance process operated.
  • The purpose of this role was to provide statutory social work services that promote the protection, well-being, and best management of children and young persons in safe families.
  • As a child protection Social Worker the aim was to work toward the goal through the delivery of a range of intervention strategies designed to meet desired outcomes, specified by the Minister for Children
  • Maintained accurate records of client progress and interactions according to agency standards.
  • Collaborated with family members to provide comprehensive support services to clients.
  • Coordinated mental health assessments for children, adolescents and adults receiving child welfare and prevention services.
  • Participated in court proceedings related to cases involving children or vulnerable adults.
  • Conducted assessments of client needs, strengths, and resources to develop treatment plans.
  • Assisted clients in accessing community resources such as housing, food pantries, and transportation options.
  • Participated in multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss complex cases.
  • Developed individualized service plans with clients to address their identified goals.
  • Implemented social service interventions to achieve treatment goals and address client needs.
  • Educated clients about the impact of trauma on mental health and well-being.
  • Attended team meetings and provided feedback on case updates and treatment recommendations.
  • Encouraged and motivated clients to develop new coping mechanisms and techniques to drive behavior modification.
  • Provided supportive counseling services for victims of abuse or neglect.
  • Interviewed clients individually and in family groups to determine services to best address specific needs.
  • Maintained thorough case history records and wrote detailed reports.
  • Composed or prepared correspondence, case notes and narratives with computer-based applications.
  • Facilitated frequent family conferences to discuss case plans in detail and discuss goals.
  • Led family therapy sessions between children and siblings to remediate conflict and build healthy relationships.

Allied Worker

Oranga Tamariki
04.2020 - 10.2023
  • Support Social workers in their daily case management
  • Support Tamariki and Rangatahi whilst in care with their daily needs
  • Support with Family Group Conferences
  • Be available for afterhours for CHB/Tararua
  • The ability to prepare without support, an accurate, understandable and usable report/case notes
  • A sound knowledge and ability to apply the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989, Vulnerable Children Act 2014, Guardianship Act 1968, Privacy Act 1992, and Official Information Act 1981
  • Provide assistance for social workers during Child focused interviews, and record accurately
  • Maintain demeanour in emotionally complex situations
  • The purpose of this role was to support social workers in their daily activities whilst understaffed
  • To be able to engage with professionals and clients in an appropriate manor whilst managing complex behaviors and situations

Medical Researcher

Queensland University, Lives well Lived Research Group
01.2020 - 04.2020
  • Conduct community-based counselling, support and case management
  • Good communication skills with youth and adult outreach
  • Residential care, delivering programs in six-week cycles
  • Management and coordination of individual residents’ treatment and recovery processes, including assessment, intake, admission, counselling support and discharge planning processes
  • Facilitate and deliver group work on a daily basis and contribute to the development of programs
  • My role involved getting Emergency department discharge referrals for alcohol and drug admittance and mental health admitted patients to the Rockhampton Hospital, Gladstone Hospital, Biloela Hospital and Emerald Hospital to discuss entering one of our research endeavors aimed to support alcohol and drug addiction and or our mental health research
  • This involved explaining what would be required of them, our research aims and goals, and also what they would get out of participating in the study
  • Along with conducting opening interviews, follow up interviews, closing interviews and data entry

Social Worker

Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital
04.2019 - 12.2019
  • Help facilitate proper care during and after hospitalisation for patients
  • Helped to educate medical staff about how to work effectively with different kinds of patients and how to assist families in dealing with the stressors of illness and injury
  • Assess a patient needs and facilitate the action
  • Completed EPOA and PPPR paperwork for court hearings
  • Completed needs assessment to determine cognition and the medical care needed
  • Skills required: Communication skills – I believe I have excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Along with possessing strong active listening skills
  • Organisational skills – During my work in the hospital I coordinated a lot of a patient’s care during and after hospitalisation
  • Critical thinking skills – As a hospital Social Worker I learnt vast amounts about different illnesses and how they affect people differently too
  • That meant I had to be able to think critically and creatively
  • Emotional intelligence – I have a strong connection to my own feelings and the feelings of others, I am self-aware and sensitive to the needs of other people
  • Understanding of medical conditions – an in-depth understanding of many common medical conditions
  • Therapeutic skills – A large part of my job was providing counseling and therapy to people under a lot of emotional stress, which allowed me to develop a strong ability to provide comfort and guidance in a therapeutic setting
  • Ability to work as part of a team – I was also a go-between for patients, their families, and hospital staff
  • As a result, I could work well with others to achieve common goals

Education

Masters in community and social work -

Massey University
03.2025

Bachelor of arts - Psychology, Criminology

University of Otago
01.2017

Skills

  • Good understanding of community resources
  • Strong problem solving skills
  • Violence prevention
  • Registered social worker
  • Child welfare and protective services
  • Emergency intervention
  • Conflict resolution
  • Court hearings
  • Effective communication
  • Diligent and committed
  • Good Organisational Skills
  • Communication Skills
  • Motivation
  • Report writing
  • Case management
  • Client advocacy
  • Crisis intervention

References

  • Lily Adams, Supervisor HBDHB, 0275388640
  • Suzanne Nixon, Oranga Tamariki Social Worker/Mentor, 0273047194

Volunteer Experience

  • Volunteer, Rhythm and Vines music festival, Provided help to those struggling mentally, spiritually, physically, and sexually., 01/01/19, 12/31/20
  • Researcher, Dunedin Council & Blue Skin Resilient Communities Trust, Conducted research around climate change and community perceptions., 01/01/18, 12/31/18
  • Volunteer, Women’s Refuge and Youth Line, Applied to volunteer., 01/01/16, 12/31/17
  • Volunteer, Otago SPCA, Provided support and care., 01/01/16, 12/31/16
  • Volunteer, Students Against Drink Driving, Participated in forum for Havelock North High School., 01/01/15, 12/31/15

Timeline

Social Worker

Oranga Tamariki –Ministry for Children
10.2023 - Current

Allied Worker

Oranga Tamariki
04.2020 - 10.2023

Medical Researcher

Queensland University, Lives well Lived Research Group
01.2020 - 04.2020

Social Worker

Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital
04.2019 - 12.2019

Masters in community and social work -

Massey University

Bachelor of arts - Psychology, Criminology

University of Otago

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Tessa Luxton