Emily Head

• Built foundational skills in hospital-based social work through psychosocial assessments, multidisciplinary meetings, and collaborative discharge planning.
• Gained practical experience in aged care systems, including Transitional Care Program (TCP), Respite Pilot, Time to Think, and permanent residential placements, strengthening understanding of pathways and barriers.
• Progressed from observation to independent responsibilities, including completing initial assessments alongside supervision, liaising with families, and conducting follow-up phone calls/emails with TCP and aged care providers to complete EOIs and check placement availability.
• Developed professional communication skills through family engagement, stakeholder liaison, and clinical documentation, with supervisor feedback recognising clarity, accuracy, and strong rationale in case note writing.
• Applied theoretical knowledge (biopsychosocial model, person-centred approaches, and ISOBAR framework) to practice, ensuring assessments considered medical, psychosocial, and social contexts.
• Produced educational resources such as an NDIS admission and discharge flowchart, used to support social work staff and students.
• Demonstrated initiative and professionalism, independently actioning follow-ups, drafting documentation, and contributing meaningfully to patient care planning under supervision.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide person-centred support to individuals with physical, intellectual, or psychosocial disabilities.
• Assist with activities of daily living (ADLs) including personal care, meal preparation, and household tasks.
• Support clients to build independence, social inclusion, and community participation.
• Implement behaviour support strategies and de-escalation techniques to promote safety and wellbeing.
• Maintain accurate progress notes, incident reports, and care documentation.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (OTs, psychologists, support coordinators, guardians, etc.) to ensure holistic care.
• Advocate for client rights, choice, and dignity in line with NDIS and organisational frameworks.
• Provide emotional support and promote mental health, resilience, and wellbeing.
• Ensure a safe and respectful environment through compliance with WHS, privacy, and safeguarding policies.

• Company Overview: Swan View transitional accommodation FH2H service.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Meeting Facilitation
• Organise and lead stakeholder meetings involving clients within the house, ensuring all necessary participants are informed. Responsible for recording and preparing minutes, maintaining detailed records, and distributing them promptly to keep all stakeholders aligned.
• Collaboration with the Department of Health
• Participate in the 'Hospital to Home' mental health program in partnership with the Department of Health, supporting clients transitioning from hospital to home. This role includes coordinating with healthcare professionals to ensure continuity of care and effective integration back into the community.
• Complex Mental Health & Disability Support
• Provide direct, tailored support to clients with complex mental health conditions and disabilities. Working with clients with primary and secondary diagnoses; Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Affective Disorder, Depression, Anxiety disorders, PTSD, Personality disorders, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Alcohol Fetal Syndrome and cognitive impairment. I have developed individualised care plans to enhance client autonomy, community inclusion, and daily living skills, adhering to the Disability Services Act and Standards.
• Risk Assessment & Safety Planning
• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments and create client-specific safety plans, ensuring the team has clear, actionable guidance for daily support. Regularly review and update these plans to adapt to client progress and emerging risks.
• NDIS Progress Reporting & Cross-disciplinary Collaboration
• Compile and submit detailed progress reports for NDIS applications, collaborating with occupational therapists, behavioral support practitioners, support coordinators, and legal guardians. Partner with public trustees to ensure comprehensive, accurate documentation and advocate for clients' needs and interests.
• Leadership & Team Development
• Lead a team of support workers by providing mentorship, training, and guidance to uphold Life Without Barriers’ standards. Encourage cooperative communication, facilitate peer support for newly hired staff, and promote a supportive and inclusive work culture.
• Client Empowerment & Community Inclusion
• Champion client empowerment by facilitating opportunities for clients to participate in community activities and build personal networks. Support clients in decision-making processes that influence their care and daily activities, promoting independence and self-advocacy.
• Culturally Sensitive Support for First Nations Clients
• Work closely with First Nations clients, prioritising cultural understanding and competency and respectful communication. Engaging with families, elders, and Aboriginal Liaison Officers to ensure that support aligns with cultural values, promoting the best outcomes for clients within their communities.
• Crisis Response & WHS Compliance
• Trained to respond effectively in crisis situations, ensuring client safety and well-being within established protocols. Committed to adhering to Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) policies to foster a safe working environment for both clients and staff.
• Administrative Responsibilities & Policy Compliance
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all client interactions and services provided, ensuring compliance with organisational policies, codes of conduct, and legal regulations. Regularly liaise with team leaders and managers to align on service strategies and client care objectives.
• Accommodation Referrals and Liaison
• Assist clients in exploring and securing suitable accommodation options by completing detailed referrals and facilitating communication between clients and accommodation providers. Work closely with clients to understand their needs and preferences, liaising with housing providers to ensure the selected accommodation supports their well-being and goals.
• Swan View transitional accommodation FH2H service.

• Support with building a person’s capacity within the home such as organisation skills and meal planning.
• Supporting community participation and building confidence and independence within the community.
• Support with budgeting help and organisation.
• Supporting employment and volunteering exploration.
• Maintained accurate and detailed records of the support provided, including progress notes, goal achievement and any significant developments or challenges encountered.
• Completed invoices, sent through to NDIS.
• Achievements: Enhanced organisational skills; implementing personalised strategies and routines to enable the individual’s skills to reach independence.
• Confidence building and community integration; assistance in successfully guiding them through various social situations, gradually expanding their comfort zone and fostering positive interactions with peers and community members.
• Exploration of employment and volunteering opportunities; worked alongside individuals to explore potential opportunities suited to their skills, interests and abilities. Assisted with job searches, prepared resumes and handed out resumes. Discussed and researched relevant training programs to support career goals.
• Progress monitoring and goal setting; assessed individuals’ progress, and communicated effectively to family members, healthcare professionals and community service providers.

• Supporting young people in care aged 10 to 17 years of age with trauma-based behaviours.
• One-on-one support due to their anti-social behaviours.
• Building a rapport with the child and providing emotional support.
• Providing the child with consistent messages in relation to the desired behaviours.
• Focusing on the child’s positive behaviours through praise and encouragement.
• Working to develop therapeutic interventions that will assist the child with complex issues such as grief and loss, making friends, managing their feelings, and keeping safe.
• Encourage children in identifying tools that help them label and manage their emotions, such as art, recreation, journaling, and music.
• Monitoring their own emotional state during the child’s escalations and remaining calm.
• Motivational support with education and prompting youth to engage in learning.
• Team discussions on educational plans for young people who no longer can attend schooling.
• Transporting young people to and from schooling, acknowledging their commitment to attending school.
• Documenting shift reports daily on SharePoint database.
• Editing weekly progress reports, forwarded onto Child Protection Services.
• Achievements: Empowering recovery from trauma; I had the privilege of supporting young people who experienced significant trauma in their past. Through consistent emotional support and therapeutic techniques, we often worked together to help express their feelings and build trust with me to be able to be open about their pasts.
• Navigating grief and loss; the young people struggled with the loss of being apart from their family. Acknowledging their bravery in expressing their feelings and hardship. We worked together to navigate their emotions healthily and positively, such as through therapeutic conversations and engaging frequently in outdoor activities to help them feel supported and understood.
• Supporting their academic journey; the young person struggled with traditional schooling due to behavioural challenges, anxiety and low self-esteem. Through motivational support and personalised educational planning discussing with the team and young person, to tailor her learning experience to their individual’s needs, paving the way to her future education. Additionally, watching educational TV shows and encouraging related questions for the young person to ask.

• Working among a culturally diverse community.
• Working with a range of different ages.
• Personal care assistance (showering, catheter care, hoisting, wound care).
• Emotional assistance (for the client and the client’s family).
• Educating clients on safe and healthy behaviours.
• Monitoring alcohol and drug addictions and educating clients in support groups.
• Managing medical appointments for clients.
• Domestic assistance and encouragement.
• Mediating conflict with clients and their family.
• Support for various complex disabilities and mental health disorders.
• Reporting incidents and concerns, entering this information onto Avivo database; Alaya care and SOLV.
• Working alongside Nursing staff and Support Coordinator.