Japhet Kipkeny Lagat
Morwell,VIC
Summary
Qualified Social Worker committed to providing holistic support and positive behavioral interventions for individuals, families, and communities. Passionate about empowering clients to navigate social crises and achieve optimal mental health and recovery goals through a multifaceted approach that leverages extensive psychosocial skills and knowledge. Dedicated to fostering an environment of respect and diversity while upholding professional integrity, teamwork, and evidence-based practices. Proven ability to create meaningful connections that facilitate lasting change and promote overall well-being.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Night Residential Care Supervisor
Berry Street
08.2024 - Current
- Ensure a home-like setting both inside and outside that provides a sense of normality and community and ensure the physical and emotional safety of each child or young person where they are protected from re-traumatising experiences.
- Establish and develop relationships with other agencies as appropriate such as DFFH, Police, Mental Health, Education Providers etc. to ensure resident’s needs are met.
- Working with staff to ensure the therapeutic needs of each child or young person based on the specialised assessment process are met on a day-to-day basis.
- Update systems to ensure that client record systems are kept up to date and contain all information required.
- In conjunction with House Supervisors, assist in the overall monitoring, development and identification of service delivery gaps of the Regions Residential Services.
- Supervise staff to provide a high standard of care to children and young people with the key focus of assisting children and young people to settle for bedtime.
- Communicate with all night staff throughout the shift to ensure staff and young people are safe.
- Respond promptly to telephone calls from staff seeking assistance or clarification.
- Respond to incidents in person, providing on-site support as required to assist night staff to manage incidents or attend to the needs of the young people.
- Assist in the management of de-escalating young people.
- Support and facilitate young people to feel connected and safe in the residential care unit.
- Support young people to keep themselves safe by discussing strategies with young people through incidental learning on a case-by-case basis and by following crisis management plans and the Overnight Safety Plan.
Mental Health Clinician
Neami National
12.2022 - 11.2024
- Engage consumers to build trusting relationships and develop collaborative care plans focused on minimizing relapse risk post-discharge.
- Utilize a strengths-based approach for mental health assessments and needs evaluations.
- Provide support through outreach and center-based activities while considering the holistic needs of consumers, families, and the community.
- Ensure a person-centered approach throughout the consumer journey and actively participate in integrated mental health service delivery to promote recovery.
- Foster consumer and carer participation, implement feedback processes, and ensure high-quality service delivery at all stages, including pre-admission, assessments, and exit planning.
- Support continuous service improvement, adhere to incident reporting guidelines, and demonstrate professional autonomy in decision-making, knowing when to seek guidance from senior staff.
Therapeutic Residential Care Worker
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
05.2022 - 07.2023
- Provide an effective and timely casework and case management service to Aboriginal children living in Residential Care, within VACCA’s service delivery framework.
- Work with the child, parents, extended family, and Residential Care team to develop, monitor and review Cultural Support Plans, Best Interest Case Plans, LAC Care Plans (for the immediate and long-term safety, stability, and development of the child) & Life Story work.
- Provide an Aboriginal professional practice approach that includes empowering and strengthening children and families, building resilience through culture, taking a holistic approach and using narrative for assessment and planning.
- Take a lead role in Looking After Children care planning and review meetings, attend Care Team meetings, between clients and stakeholders, to ensure collaborative planning.
- Maintain up-to-date case notes and looking after Children records, using the Client Relationship Information System (CRIS) for recording, analysis, and review of client information.
- Build partnerships and work collaboratively with children, their families, carers, and other service providers, including the Department of Health & Human Services, to deliver culturally appropriate and coordinated service delivery to children and their families.
- Operate as part of a therapeutic team, which includes working co-operatively, and openly with colleagues, a willingness to share information, being receptive to the ideas of others, and being emotionally robust and respectfully honest.
- Utilise daily activities to assist each child to deal with their trauma-based responses to life in a way that promotes healing, emotional growth and development of positive attitudes and life skills including effectively communicating with the children regarding their individual needs and presenting behaviours within the agreed therapeutic approach to assist the children in their social and emotional development.
Mental Health Wellbeing Worker
Wellways Australia
04.2021 - 04.2022
- Conducting initial assessment, following intake screening for participants wanting to access the mental health program using the relevant assessment forms and documents.
- Liaising with Team Leader to manage appropriate caseload allocations.
- Providing information and referral to external services when appropriate.
- Maintaining adherence to therapy materials and resources.
- Providing strong links and professional partnerships between Wellways and other services in order to provide an efficient and coordinated approach to service delivery and referral.
- Supporting marketing of the mental health program as directed.
- Engaging participants in the planning, delivery, development, monitoring and evaluation of services.
- Regularly reviewing the ways in which services are provided to ensure the program is service aligned with individual needs.
- Providing services in a culturally competent manner for participants and families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
- Working closely with the organisation’s consumer participation team.
- Ensure accurate recording, maintenance and security of all client records generated.
- Ensure adherence to Wellways policies and procedures and all relevant legislation and accreditation standards.
- Participate in service review and development activities, including audits.
- Completing weekly and monthly KPI reports.
Education
Master of Arts - Social Work
Federation University Australia
VIC06-2020
Certificate IV in Disability - undefined
The Spectrum Organisation Association Inc.
01.2019
Skills
- Critical thinking
- Multilingual
- Computer Skills
- Attentive Listening
- Solution focused
- Team player
- Communication Skills
- Time Management
- Attention to details
Accomplishments
- Played a key role in rolling out the mental health in aged care program from 5 to 25 facilities.
- Participate in assessing children and young people who need protection.
- Respond and conduct risk assessment and investigation to reported child safety concerns.
- Work collaboratively with families, community services organisations and other professionals to develop and implement effective safety plans for children.
- Participate in managing complex cases, problem-solving and presenting matters to the Children’s Court of Victoria as required.
Affiliations
Australia Association of Social Workers
Certification
- Dec 2023 CBT Training
- Jan 2024 ACT Training
- Aug 2021: Solution Focused Therapy Training.
- June 2021: Elder Abuse Prevention Training
- April 2021: NDIS Scree Check
- April 2021: Applied Mental Health in Residential Care: Practical Program for Clinicians.
- July 2021: WWCC
Languages
Swahili
Full Professional
English
Professional Working
Timeline
Night Residential Care Supervisor
Berry Street
08.2024 - Current
Mental Health Clinician
Neami National
12.2022 - 11.2024
Therapeutic Residential Care Worker
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
05.2022 - 07.2023
Mental Health Wellbeing Worker
Wellways Australia
04.2021 - 04.2022
Certificate IV in Disability - undefined
The Spectrum Organisation Association Inc.
Master of Arts - Social Work
Federation University Australia
Interests
Behaviour Therapy, Disability, Mental Health, Child Protection, Housing support, Family Services, Family Violence
Publications
Lagat, K. (2017). Squatters’ Farm. Dolmanscott