Leanne Hausknecht
Ormeau,Queensland
Summary
Dedicated Social Worker with comprehensive knowledge of social justice issues and systems affecting the most vulnerable in our community. Highly skilled in Bio-Psychosocial Assessments and formulation for intervention with expert knowledge in child protection and domestic and family violence. Practice delivered within a framework of cultural competency. Visionary leadership style that mobilises a team towards innovation that supports the exceptional delivery of services and drives quality improvement activities. Committed to multidisciplinary collaboration and the development of strategic partnerships.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Social Work Team Leader
Mater Mothers' Hospitals
South Brisbane
03.2021 - Current
- Operationally managing a team of 3 Senior Social Workers, 6 Social Workers and 2 Social Work Assistants for Mater Mothers Hospitals.
- Operationally managing the Mater Patient Travel Service with 1 additional Social Work Assistant.
- Responsible for the management of the After Hours Social Work Service for all Mater Hospitals in South Brisbane.
- Providing supervision, debriefing, direction and guidance on complex cases.
- Coordinating and implementing recruitment processes and the completion of Probationary Reviews and yearly Performance Development Plans.
- Evaluated program effectiveness using data-driven measures, leading to continuous improvements in service delivery.
- Streamlined referral processes by creating a centralized system that increased efficiency and accessibility of services for clients.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with community resources for successful referrals.
- Developed protocols and routines for daily work huddles, individual and peer supervision, team meetings and quality improvement activities.
- Redeigned the caseload allocation to ensure that all work areas receive a dedicated Social Work service.
Child Protection Liaison Officer - Snr Social Wker
Mater Health
Brisbane, QLD
07.2019 - 03.2021
- Provided advice and support to staff who have identified child protection risk factors on their responsibilities under the Child Protection Act 1999 and referral pathways for early intervention.
- Liaised with the wider child protection network including Child Safety and Health Liaisons, SCAN team, and other hospitals Child Protection Units.
- Completed Psychosocial Assessments and Case Manage families with current Child Safety involvement to support their engagement with the statutory authority and refer to community services to address identified needs.
- Completed requests for information under Section 159 Child Protection Act 1999.
- Completed requests for information under Part 5 of the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012.
- Documented on the patient health record plans according to organisational procedures includes Child Protection Management Plans and Safety Plans to ensure that all staff are aware of how to manage cases.
- Wrote and provided professional development training to Mater Staff on the role of the Child Protection Unit and identifying and managing risk.
- Documented work flows and procedures for all actions performed by the Unit.
- Provided mentoring and supervision of other Social Workers who identified child protection as an area for professional development.
- Member of the Mater Domestic and Family Violence Working Party and an external working party to develop best practice for notifications on unborns.
Social Worker - First Nations Models of Care
Mater Mothers Hospital
South Brisbane
01.2013 - 07.2019
- Improved client well-being by conducting highly complex comprehensive assessments and developing tailored intervention plans for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander patients accessing antenatal care under Murri Clinic or Birthing In Our Community.
- Demonstrated a strong early intervention framework for assessed child protection risks completed through strength based and narrative counselling framework.
- Completed referrals to support services to address identified needs and support positive parenting journey including Professional Reports to the Statutory authority.
- Worked alongside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officers to ensure cultural safety.
- Developed strong connections to First Nations community and health services.
- During this tenure also completed backfill positions with the Adults Social Work team in the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit and Surgical Ward.
- During this tenure also completed numerous backfill opportunities as an Acting Child Protection Liaison Officer in Mater Child Protection Unit.
Social Worker - Womens Health & Bereavement
Mater Mothers Hospital
South Brisbane
11.2007 - 01.2013
- Improved patient and family wellbeing by conducting comprehensive psychosocial assessments and developing tailored intervention plans.
- Maintained accurate case documentation on the health record ensuring compliant with organisational standards.
- Provided personal counselling with a focus on grief and loss, adjustment.
- Worked alongside a complex multidisciplinary team ensuring a deep knowledge base of the roles for effective collaboration.
- Referral to a range of community services to provide ongoing support to patients and their families.
- Allocated as the lead on numerous adoption cases providing specialised counselling to relinquishing parents; liaising with Adoption Services; and follow complex and stringent policy and procedures.
- Numerous opportunities during this time to act in the role of Team Leader for the Cross Complex Social Work Service.
Conciliator
Residential Tenancies Authority
Brisbane, QLD
10.2000 - 11.2007
- Provided alternative dispute resolution services to lessors and tenants as prescribed under the Qld Residential Tenancies and Rooming Act 2008.
- Provided advice on processes for matters that remained unresolved.
- Provided feedback on legislative reviews.
- Conducted and facilitated community education sessions with Landlords, Real Estate Agents and Tenants on their rights and responsibilities under the legislation.
- Regularly performed higher duties Acting as Team Leader.
- Participated in numerous selection panels for the recruitment of staff throughout the organisation.
- Provided mentoring under a peer support staff supervision model.
- Workplace Health & Safety Representative including formal training in the legislation.
- This position was my return to work from Maternity Leave.
Tenants Advice & Advocacy Worker
Western Sydney Tenants Service
Parramatta, NSW
01.1996 - 04.2000
- Provision of information and advice to tenants on their rights and responsibilities under the NSW Residential Tenancies Act 2010.
- Advocated to stakeholders for tenants rights.
- Represented tenants at Tribunal hearings.
- Rostered to participate in the NSW Tenants Union Hotline.
- Developed thorough understanding of the legislation including an ability to read, utilise, and apply.
- Provided feedback on legislative reviews.
- Left this position to return home to Queensland.
Emergency Accommodation Worker
Hawkesbury Community Housing Association
Richmond, NSW
01.1994 - 01.1996
- Assessment of clients needs presenting in housing crisis.
- Developed comprehensive housing information resources for professional and consumer use including a NSW Emergency Accommodation Services Manual.
- Provided of crisis accommodation and referral to services.
- Completed a Service Report and successfully gained funding for a Womens Emergency Housing Service for the Hawkesbury area.
- Participated as a Support Worker for the Domestic Violence Court Support Program.
Community Development Worker
Lockyer Information & Neighbourhood Centre
Gatton, QLD
11.1992 - 01.1994
- Enhanced community engagement by organizing and implementing neighbourhood centre inclusion programs.
- Conducted comprehensive needs assessments to identify areas of improvement and develop targeted intervention strategies.
- Managed grant applications and funding proposals, securing financial support for essential community development initiatives eg Youth Week
- Case managed clients with high needs to engage with social or community service support.
Education
Bachelor Social Work
University of Queensland
Brisbane, QLD11.1992
Skills
- Psychosocial Assessments
- Cultural Competency
- Multidisciplinary Collaboration
- Documentation and Report Writing
- Clinical Supervision
- Leading Change
- Child Protection Expertise
- Domestic & Family Violence Expertise
Certification
Australian Association of Social Workers Member
Positive Notice Blue Card - Professional
Queensland Drivers Licence - Open
Immunised
CASUAL WORK HISTORY
Chief Community Representative - Qld Core Skills Test
Qld Curriculum Assessment Authority 2010-2019
- Observe administration of the QCS process to maintain the integrity, security and conduct
- Perform administrative and custodian duties for the secure test materials
- Follow strict procedures and provide advice and direction on these procedures in consultation with the Chief Supervisor
- Identify concerns with the test administration and respond accordingly
- Report on the administration of the entire process
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Designed and Implemented a Strangulation After Care Pathway for Mater Health to address physical and mental health concerns of a victim-survivor following the perpetration of non-lethal strangulation.
- Developed a direct referral pathway and co-case management model with the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Intensive Family Support Service for First Nations mothers birthing at Mater.
- Leader for Journal Club to research and gather evidence on the question "What interventions does Social Work need to use to enhance attachment to a subsequent pregnancy after a previous perinatal loss" and "The effect of Hyperemesis on bonding and attachments to an unborn and Social Work interventions". Completed new practice intervention procedure and logged on the organisation practice improvement database.
- Supervised Social Work Students each year of my Social Work role at Mater and also developed and presented training on "Psychosocial Assessments" and " Counselling and Interviewing Skills".
- Developed and presented lectures to Social Work students undertaking studies in the Families Stream on "Working with Vulnerable Families" and " Trauma Informed Practice".
- Co-designed and presented training on Working with Women Who Have Experience Birth Trauma to Obstetric Consultants and Registrars.
Accredited Training
Narrative Therapy - Lighthouse Resources
Complicated Grief - Australian Centre for Grief & Bereavement
Administering Mental State Examination - Qld Centre for Mental Health Learning
High Risk High Harm Domestic Violence - Red Rose Foundation
Life Line DV Alert Training Indigenous Workshop - Recognise & Respond Appropriately to Domestic & Family Violence
Trauma Informed Practice with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Interests
Level 3 Accredited Softball Statistician
Renovation
Restoring and collecting antiques
Turtles and whales
Self Care: ocean, music, walking, sunshine, exploring nature, killer sudoku, essential oils
REFEREES
Dr Jennifer Lancaster
Director Social Work & Psychology
Mater Health
Jennifer.Lancaster@mater.org.au
0479 171 539
Jody Ebenezer
Social Work Team Leader
Mater Hospital Brisbane
Jody.Ebenezer@mater.org.au
0497 146 472
Mrs Gwen Ibarra
Aboriginal Elder
0449 876 392
Timeline
Social Work Team Leader
Mater Mothers' Hospitals
03.2021 - Current
Child Protection Liaison Officer - Snr Social Wker
Mater Health
07.2019 - 03.2021
Social Worker - First Nations Models of Care
Mater Mothers Hospital
01.2013 - 07.2019
Social Worker - Womens Health & Bereavement
Mater Mothers Hospital
11.2007 - 01.2013
Conciliator
Residential Tenancies Authority
10.2000 - 11.2007
Tenants Advice & Advocacy Worker
Western Sydney Tenants Service
01.1996 - 04.2000
Emergency Accommodation Worker
Hawkesbury Community Housing Association
01.1994 - 01.1996
Community Development Worker
Lockyer Information & Neighbourhood Centre
11.1992 - 01.1994
Bachelor Social Work
University of Queensland