Kofi Simpson Resume
Canberra,Australia
Summary
Seasoned social work professional with nearly 20 years of experience supporting diverse populations, including children and adults. Demonstrated expertise in individual case management and group facilitation, successfully implementing solutions through effective teamwork. Strong interpersonal and communication skills foster productive relationships, ensuring equitable opportunities for all. Committed to utilizing extensive knowledge to drive meaningful community change.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
EAP Clinician
Telus Health (formerly Benestar)
Canberra, Australia
09.2022 - Current
- Delivering short-term counseling and crisis intervention services to employees and their families, addressing issues such as workplace stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges.
- Providing remote and in-person counseling and support to individuals, couples, and groups dealing with emotional distress, crisis situations, and mental health concerns.
- Utilizing active listening techniques to establish trust and rapport with clients
- Utilizing evidence-based therapeutic techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness, to support client progress.
- Conducting personal health and workplace assessments to understand clients' needs, and provide appropriate guidance or referrals.
- Maintaining concise, detailed, and confidential case notes, ensuring compliance with organizational policies.
- Assisting individuals with coping strategies, stress management, and emotional regulation techniques
- Developing personalized support plans, and providing resources to support client goals.
- Engaging in peer and individual supervision by discussing cases, sharing challenges, and developing strategies for improvement.
Social Worker Children With Disabilities
Surrey County Council
, United Kingdom
07.2022 - 08.2022
- Managed a caseload of disabled children with severe and profound disabilities, assessing their needs, working in partnership with their families and professionals involved with their welfare in multi-agency meetings
- Assessed the needs of the disabled children and their families and advocating for their service provision
- Ensured that children are safeguarded from harm as part of the Child Protection procedure
- Initiating and being part of the Strategy Meetings to discuss concerns raised around safeguarding issues and how to jointly address the concerns raised
- Worked closely with our colleagues in Education and Health including mental health services in supporting disabled children and their families
- Visited and completed Care Plans for Children Looked After within statutory timescales
- Arranged and attended Child In Need Review Meetings to review care packages in place for children accessed to require additional support and new or ongoing issues such as parenting capacity or issues directly related to the child
- Made Deprivation Of Liberty Safeguards Applications to the Law Courts for children in care who need further support from staff in ensuring that the wellbeing and safety needs are met
- Contributed to the duty system working in a team having an ability to redirect families where appropriate to receive other services
- Kept accurate, relevant and up to date records on all work undertaken in accordance with the Department’s Policy on Client Access to Records
- Carried out any other appropriate duties that may be required and worked outside normal office hours on occasion
Social Work Senior Practitioner Children With Disabilities
Thurrock Council
, United Kingdom
08.2021 - 03.2022
- Assessed the needs of disabled children and their families, and advocated for their service provision.
- Managed a caseload of disabled children with severe and profound disabilities, assessing their needs, working in partnership with their families and professionals involved with their welfare in multi-agency meetings
- Worked closely with our colleagues in Education and Health including mental health services in supporting disabled children and their families
- Ensured that children are safeguarded from harm as part of the Child Protection procedure
- Initiating and being part of the Strategy Meetings to discuss concerns raised around safeguarding issues and how to jointly address the concerns raised
- Visited and completed Care Plans for Children Looked After within statutory timescales
- Arranged and attending Child In Need Review Meetings to review care packages in place for children accessed to require additional support and new or ongoing issues such as parenting capacity or issues directly related to the child
- Made Deprivation Of Liberty Safeguards Applications to the Law Courts for children in care who need further support from staff in ensuring that the wellbeing and safety needs are met
- Contributed to the duty system working in a team having an ability to redirect families where appropriate to receive other services
- Kept accurate, relevant and up to date records on all work undertaken in accordance with the Department’s Policy on Client Access to Records
- Carried out any other appropriate duties that may be required, and I am willing to work outside normal office hours on occasion.
Social Worker Disabilities Transitions Team
London Borough of Waltham Forest
, United Kingdom
03.2021 - 06.2021
- Assessed the needs of disabled young people and their families using the matrix assessments, Child and Family Assessment tool, and Pathway Plans to ascertain the needs of young people.
- Advocated for the provision of services by local council support or non-profit organizations involves presenting cases in funding panels to request support for young people with their identified needs, such as accommodation, receiving practical hands-on support from a worker, and joining social groups to help the service users develop independent living skills.
- Managed a caseload of young people with moderate to severe and profound disabilities, assessing their needs, and working in partnership with their families and professionals involved in their welfare in multi-agency meetings.
- Contributed to the duty system, working in a team, and having the ability to redirect families, where appropriate, to receive other services.
- Kept accurate, relevant, and up-to-date records on all work undertaken in accordance with the Department’s Policy on Client Access to Records.
- Contributed to the team in terms of being part of a multi-disciplinary practice and approach with the clients and professionals, such as mental health nurses, doctors, and education staff.
- Carried out any other appropriate duties that may be required, and being willing to work outside normal office hours on occasion.
Social Worker Adolescent Support Team
Kent County Council
, United Kingdom
10.2020 - 01.2021
- Managed a caseload of teenagers who are at risk of homelessness or displaying challenging behaviour by engaging in anti-social behaviour, assessing their needs and working in partnership with their families and other professionals involved with their welfare in multi-agency meetings
- Assessed the needs of young people and their families using the Child and Family Assessment tool to ascertain their needs
- Advocated for the provision of service i.e local council support or non-for-profit organizations by submitting cases for funding panels to request support for young people with accommodation needs
- Contributing to the duty system, working in a team, and having the ability to redirect families, where appropriate, to receive other services.
- Kept accurate, relevant and up to date records on all work undertaken in accordance with the Department’s Policy on Client Access to Records
- Contributed to the team in terms of being part of a multi-disciplinary practice and approach with the clients and professionals, such as mental health nurses, doctors, and education staff.
- Carried out any other appropriate duties that may be required, and being willing to work outside normal office hours on occasion.
Social Worker - Young Peoples Team 16-25 Year Olds (Physical & Learning Disabilities)
Kent County Council
, United Kingdom
05.2017 - 06.2020
- Assessing the needs for the disabled young people and their families using the matrix assessments, Child and Family Assessment tool and Pathway Plans to ascertain the needs of young people
- Advocating for the provision of service being local council support or non-for-profit organisations by presenting cases in funding panels to request support for young people with their identified needs such as accommodation, receiving practical hands on support of a worker and joining social groups to help the service users to develop independent living skills
- Managing a caseload of disabled young people from moderate to severe and profound disabilities, assessing their needs working in partnership with their families and professionals involved with their welfare in multi-agency meetings
- Contributing to duty system working in a team having an ability to redirect families where appropriate to receive other services
- Keeping accurate relevant and up to date records on all work undertaken in accordance with the Department’s Policy on Client Access to Records
- Contributing to the team in terms of being part of a multi-disciplinary practice and approach with the clients and professionals such as mental health nurses, doctors and education staff
- Carrying out any other appropriate duties that may be required and willing to work outside normal office hours on occasion
Bishop/Clergy (Voluntary)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - Day Saints
, England
08.2011 - 06.2017
- Company Overview: Stratford, England
- Working with children and young people to establish goals and work towards achieving these goals with the support of their families
- Organising meetings with people from various backgrounds in coordinating efforts among 6 auxiliary heads (managers) to achieve organizational goals in working to address the needs of 250 people of all ages
- Addressing social, emotional/mental health and financial problems of the members and helping them to find ways to cope through one to one counsel and or signposting to external agencies
- Planning and organising programs to enhance cohesion among the members of the congregation and meeting with various leaders to assess progress in the groups, their needs and ways to improve self
- Reporting to immediate leaders through emails and telephone on plans for the unit to improve growth and feedback on achievements
- Stratford, England
Social Worker - Disabled Children’s Service
Kent County Council
, United Kingdom
05.2016 - 03.2017
- Managed a caseload of disabled children with severe and profound disabilities, assessing their needs, working in partnership with their families and professionals involved with their welfare in multi-agency meetings.
- Ensured that children with disabilities are safeguarded from harm as part of the Child Protection procedure.
- Assessed the needs for the disabled children and their families and advocating for their service provision
- Contributed to the duty system by working in a team, having the ability to redirect families, where appropriate, to receive other services.
- Kept accurate, relevant, and up-to-date records on all work undertaken in accordance with the Department’s Policy on Client Access to Records.
- Contributed to the development of the team with a commitment to multi-disciplinary practice.
- Carried out any other appropriate duties that may be required, and was willing to work outside normal office hours on occasion.
Social Worker – Child With Disabilities Team
London Borough of Lambeth
, United Kingdom
12.2014 - 10.2015
- Providing a specialist service that supports children who have profound, severe, complex, and long-term needs, and their families, by helping them access a wide range of support for children and young people from ages 0 to 19 years.
- Ensured that children were safeguarded, following child protection procedures on managed cases and initial referrals.
- Assessed, identified levels of need, and delivered specialist supportive and/or protective services for children in need or at risk of significant harm.
- Organized, invited family members, and professionals to Child in Need meetings to address concerns regarding children who are at risk of harm.
- Promoted the welfare of children in need (severe disabilities), with regard for their age, sex, health, race, religion, culture, and life experience.
- Assessed and submitted a recommendation for funding to support children in the form of overnight respite and day care.
- Initiated care proceedings when appropriate.
- Implemented care plans, including arrangements for funding, and ensuring that the cost of provision remained within agreed budgets.
- Worked with children on Child Protection Plans, Children in Need Plans, and Children in Care.
- Provided verbal and written reports to Child Protection conferences, Looked After Children, and Children In and Leaving Care Planning Meetings and Reviews.
- Participated in the duty rota and dealt with queries from service users, internal staff, and the general public.
Social Worker – Child in Need Team
London Borough of Greenwich
, United Kingdom
02.2014 - 11.2014
- Company Overview: United Kingdom
- Assess, identify levels of risk and need and deliver protective or supportive services for children at risk or in need
- Promote the welfare of children in need with regard for their age, sex, health, race, religion, culture and life experience
- Implement care plans, including arrangements for funding and ensuring that the cost of provision remains within agreed budgets
- Being part of the duty rota and responding to queries from service users and the general public
- Joint investigations with police on allegations of child abuse such as physical and sexual abuse
- Monitor and review the implementation of, and to provide continuing advice, support and social work services to children and young people, their families and their carers
- Initiate care proceedings when appropriate following legal planning meetings and pre-proceedings meetings as per the Public Law Outline
- Produce court statements and when required, give evidence in court on behalf of the Local Authority in Family Proceedings Court and any other court within the Family Division as required
- Provide verbal and written reports to Child Protection conferences, attending strategy meetings and organizing core group planning meetings and reviews
- Responsible for managing an individual caseload, having regard to the relative needs of all service users and ensuring an effective use of time and resources
- United Kingdom
Social Worker - Family Support Team
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
, United Kingdom
09.2012 - 12.2013
- Leading on all multiple needs casework, particularly complex cases with the involvement of other professionals like health workers, education and the police for the centre
- Acting as the lead professional in undertaking and writing up assessments often with medical staff, which meet specified standards and timescales
- Building and maintaining relationships with a range of statutory, voluntary and independent agencies and positively represent
- Participating in multidisciplinary teams and meetings regarding, for example, child protection or mental health related support for children and their families
- Maintaining accurate records and preparing reports in relation to the needs of service users
- Lead the reviewing of current centre activities and the researching, planning and implementation of the centre’s services to ensure that the needs of the local community are being met and are always at the forefront of service development planning
Social Worker (Schools Social Work Team)
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
, United Kingdom
01.2009 - 06.2011
- Participating in the duty team in providing and advice to the public and screening calls coming in to Children’s Social Care
- Completing parenting assessments and carrying out home visits of children in care
- Supervising and mentoring social work students and newly qualified social workers of various backgrounds
- Providing pre and post statutory support to children and families in both school and office environments
- Liaising with other professionals as part of the TAC (Team Around Child) process to identify, assess and address concerns regarding children and young people
- Developing a localized action-based plan founded upon needs analysis with schools to address concerns with children and their families
- Planning, organizing and participating in group sessions for parents and children with social problems
- Participating in Child-in-Need review meetings and identifying exit strategies for children who were in the care of Social Services
- Completing Common Assessment Framework (CAF) processes in schools and in the community
- Interacting and forging a sturdy partnership with Children’s Social Care teams for possible referral of cases with other local authorities
Schools Social Worker
Essex County Council
, United Kingdom
02.2008 - 01.2009
- Company Overview: Chelmsford - Team Around School, Children and the Community
- Carrying out initial assessments and investigations of service users’ needs
- Liaising through the Common Assessment Framework process with other professionals, agencies and with service users’ families to ensure appropriate help is received
- Contributing in multi-disciplinary meetings to assure service users are being helped effectively
- Worked as part of a multi-agency team and liaise directly with Educational Psychologists, Education Welfare Officers and Family Support Workers in supporting children and their families to address issues affecting them
- Providing emotional and practical support and advice to parents and carers with various social and emotional concerns
- Working with Looked After Children and other children who were known to Children’s Social Care to enhance their wellbeing in schools and in the community
- Planning and initiating group and one to one session with parents to address parenting and child behavioural issues
- Offering drop in sessions at the local library to advise parents and guardians on concerns they might have regarding social care issues such as truanting
- Chelmsford - Team Around School, Children and the Community
Career Break
08.2007 - 02.2008
- Completed Master’s Degree Dissertation
Case Worker (Voluntary Student Placement)
Newham NHS Trust
, United Kingdom
06.2007 - 08.2007
- Company Overview: Forest Gate
- Receiving referrals from job centres to ascertain the fitness of clients ability to go back to work
- Ascertaining the vocational, education and employment needs of clients referred to the service and triaging what level of input may be needed
- Providing individual support and advice to placement providers and employers on the needs of prospective clients and how they can assimilate to their pending work environment
- Developing a plan through a solution focused approach to enhance success through a mental health assessment tool provided by the agency
- Measuring client success through regular reviews then adjusting the plan to meet needs and goals
- Organising training and work placements for clients with mental health needs
- Handling administrative duties including maintaining internal NHS documentation and liaising with therapists and other professionals as appropriate
- Forest Gate
Career Break
11.2006 - 06.2007
- Started my Master’s Degree (fulltime)
Qualified Social Worker - Child Protection (First Contact Team)
Southend Social Services
, United Kingdom
10.2006 - 11.2006
- Company Overview: Southend, England
- Fulfilling responsibilities under the Children’s Act 1989 (UK)
- Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children under Section 17 of the Children’s Act
- Carrying out initial and core assessments of children as per Section 47 of the Children’s Act
- Holding Strategy Meetings with other agencies regarding children at risk of suffering significant harm in case the case needed to be transferred to them
- Consulting with other agencies to obtain a fuller picture of a child’s circumstances including risk factors, the home environment, and parenting abilities
- Recording and tracking every proceeding involving any client as required under the Children’s Act
- Southend, England
Education
Social Work Post Qualification Consolidation Module -
Middlesex University
UK01.2011
MA International Social Work and Community Development -
University of East London
UK08.2008
BA Hons - Social Work Major, Sociology Minor
University of Ghana
Ghana05.2003
Skills
- Individual and Family Support and Intervention
- Confidentiality and Ethical Practice
- Case Management and Referrals
- Workplace Stress Management
- Building Positive Relationships
- Personal Health and Workplace Assessments
- Facilitating Group Sessions
- Knowledge of EAP policies and procedures
- Short-Term Counseling
Technical Skills
- Telehealth Platforms: Microsoft Teams
- Electronic Records Systems: Provider Hub & Penelope
- Microsoft Office Suite: Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel & PowerPoint.
Professional Registration
Australian Association of Social Workers, 512844
Interests and hobbies
- I speak and write fluent English and 3 Ghanaian dialects with good listening skills in these languages.
- I participate in table tennis, football, basketball during my leisure time I enjoy learning about other people and cultures.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
EAP Clinician
Telus Health (formerly Benestar)
09.2022 - Current
Social Worker Children With Disabilities
Surrey County Council
07.2022 - 08.2022
Social Work Senior Practitioner Children With Disabilities
Thurrock Council
08.2021 - 03.2022
Social Worker Disabilities Transitions Team
London Borough of Waltham Forest
03.2021 - 06.2021
Social Worker Adolescent Support Team
Kent County Council
10.2020 - 01.2021
Social Worker - Young Peoples Team 16-25 Year Olds (Physical & Learning Disabilities)
Kent County Council
05.2017 - 06.2020
Social Worker - Disabled Children’s Service
Kent County Council
05.2016 - 03.2017
Social Worker – Child With Disabilities Team
London Borough of Lambeth
12.2014 - 10.2015
Social Worker – Child in Need Team
London Borough of Greenwich
02.2014 - 11.2014
Social Worker - Family Support Team
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
09.2012 - 12.2013
Bishop/Clergy (Voluntary)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - Day Saints
08.2011 - 06.2017
Social Worker (Schools Social Work Team)
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
01.2009 - 06.2011
Schools Social Worker
Essex County Council
02.2008 - 01.2009
Career Break
08.2007 - 02.2008
Case Worker (Voluntary Student Placement)
Newham NHS Trust
06.2007 - 08.2007
Career Break
11.2006 - 06.2007
Qualified Social Worker - Child Protection (First Contact Team)
Southend Social Services
10.2006 - 11.2006
Social Work Post Qualification Consolidation Module -
Middlesex University
MA International Social Work and Community Development -
University of East London
BA Hons - Social Work Major, Sociology Minor
University of Ghana
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