Sophie Dent
Summary
Dedicated Social Worker and Behaviour Support Practitioner with experience supporting individuals of all ages across disability services, child protection, foster care, acute child and adolescent mental health, and allied health. Skilled in delivering trauma-informed care, implementing effective social work and behaviour support practices, and advocating for the wellbeing of individuals.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Social Worker/Behaviour Support Practitioner
Challenge Community Services
08.2023 - Current
- Delivered behaviour support services for NDIS participants and foster care clients, including developing, implementing, and reviewing Positive Behaviour Support Plans and Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plans.
- Conducted Functional Behaviour Assessments to identify and address behaviours of concern.
- Provided therapeutic social work support and counselling to children, young people, and families, addressing trauma, disability, mental health, and psychosocial challenges.
- Collaborated with participants, families, carers, support workers, and allied health professionals to ensure person-centred care.
- Trained staff in behaviour strategies and trauma-informed practices, and mentored new clinicians.
- Prepared timely documentation, including case notes, safety plans, progress reports, and regulatory reporting.
- Participated in multidisciplinary team meetings to guide care planning, placements and school recommendations.
- Maintained professional relationships with clients and organisations, contributing to a positive workplace culture and outsourced referrals
- Consistently met/exceeded billable requirements and engaged in professional development to maintain best practice.
Supervised Contact Worker
Challenge Community Services
08.2021 - 08.2023
- Facilitated safe and supportive supervised contact for children and young people (newborn–17 years) with their families.
- Authored detailed post-contact reports contributing to court affidavits.
- Supported parents in meeting children’s needs and provided mentoring to young people
- Applied de-escalation and conflict-resolution strategies to manage challenging behaviours.
- Collaborated with caseworkers on visit planning, concerns, and incident reporting.
- Transported children to appointments and contact visits, providing support throughout.
Student Placement
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
07.2022 - 10.2022
- Supported children and adolescents (6–18 years) with complex mental health needs within a multidisciplinary team.
- Provided stabilisation-focused interventions for conditions including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance misuse, self-harm, and suicidal behaviour.
- Conducted comprehensive mental health assessments, including genograms and psychosocial timelines.
- Completed clinical documentation (mental state assessments, MHOATS, ISBARS, referrals, NDIS applications, discharge letters).
- Presented cases in multidisciplinary team reviews and liaised with external agencies, schools and support services.
Student Placement
Department of Communities and Justice, Child Protection
02.2021 - 06.2021
- Supported vulnerable children, young people, and families within a multidisciplinary team.
- Participated in case planning, home visits, client consultations, and court proceedings.
- Managed triage tasks, referrals, case notes, and minute-taking.
- Assisted with transitions to foster placements and worked across multiple sites, including remote communities.
- Completed comprehensive online and face-to-face training.
Disability Support Worker
Summa Care
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Provided community access, personal care, and overnight respite support for clients across a broad age range, ensuring dignity and individualised care.
- Engaged young people in mentoring
- Completed accurate documentation, incident reports, and shift notes in line with organisational policies.
- Collaborated with team leaders, contributing to client observations, progress updates, and support recommendations.
- Participated in team meetings and professional development to maintain high standards of practice.
Education
Graduate -
Loreto Normanhurst Sydney
01.2017
Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) - undefined
University of Newcastle
01.2023
Certificate - Events Management
Northern Sydney TAFE
01.2017
Skills
- Strong interpersonal skills, engaging effectively with individuals from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
- Collaborative and independent, ensuring coordinated, client-focused care
- Excellent time management, organisation, and prioritisation skills to meet deadlines consistently
- Empathetic, trauma-informed, and adaptable, responding calmly in varied client, team, and service settings
Certification
- Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) – Full Member
- DVA Registration (Registration Provider Number: 9818331X)
- Working with Children Check (WWC Number: WWC2129657E Valid until:17/07/2030)
- Mental Health First Aid (2019)
- Current National Police Check
- Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (completed twice)
- Suicide Prevention Training – Mater Hospital
- Safe Yarn Training (working with Indigenous peoples facing mental illness and suicide risk)
- Youth Mental Health Interventions & Medications
- Psychosocial Assessment & Therapy Training
- Mental Health in Older Persons Interventions
- Consent & Medical Treatment Training
- Youth Health Forum Program
- First Aid & CPR
- Domestic Violence & E-Safety for Women
- Trauma-Informed Care Training
- CBT, DBT, Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing
- Collaborating with Carers & Families
- Prevention & Promotion of Health & Wellbeing
- Mental Health Care for Aboriginal Peoples
- Care education training (2024)
- Creative Child Therapy Workshop (Creative Ways To Help Children Manage Emotions 2024)
Timeline
Social Worker/Behaviour Support Practitioner
Challenge Community Services
08.2023 - Current
Student Placement
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
07.2022 - 10.2022
Supervised Contact Worker
Challenge Community Services
08.2021 - 08.2023
Student Placement
Department of Communities and Justice, Child Protection
02.2021 - 06.2021
Disability Support Worker
Summa Care
01.2020 - 01.2021
Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) - undefined
University of Newcastle
Certificate - Events Management
Northern Sydney TAFE
Graduate -
Loreto Normanhurst Sydney