Hiking
ABYGAIL WADZANAYI HLOMAYI
Social Worker
Summary
A highly skilled and passionate Social Worker with over 5 years of work experience with proven success in helping individuals (children, youth and adults), their families and communities improve their quality of lives through counselling (individual and group), advocacy and reporting. She is highly collaborative and greatly commended for working holistically, effectively communicating, actively listening and meeting deadlines.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education
4
4
Certifications
Work History
School Social Worker
School of Hope, Thembalitsha Foundation
Cape Town
01.2018 - 12.2022
- Administered assessments and developed academic goals based on specific barriers to learning.
- Formulated treatment plan strategies with multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive and continuous care plan.
- Conducting interviews with educators and parents for collateral information concerning a client or learner.
- Collaborated with schools, family services and health care providers to determine services and aid with psychosocial assessments.
- Maintained compliance with standards relating to child protection, client confidentiality, risk assessment and reporting.
- Conducting home visits for collateral information and transport subsidy applications.
- Organizing HIV testing visits and family planning day for the students.
- Observed student behavior and developed behavioral interventions.
- Helped clients develop new coping mechanisms and techniques to drive behavior modification.
- Provided case management services, counseling, education and life-skills training to diverse, at-risk student population.
- Worked with teachers to implement behavioral improvement plans based on established assessments.
- Completed psychosocial histories of students under evaluation.
- Supported students, teachers and families during crisis situations.
- Trained and guided teachers on how to identify and support students.
- Monitored students for signs of trauma, abuse and neglect.
- Facilitated family therapy sessions between children, caregivers, and siblings to remediate conflict and build healthy relationships.
- Assessed clients for abuse and neglect to compile documentation for court reports.
- Developed and facilitated goal-oriented psycho-education and therapy groups to improve students' quality of life.
- Monitored student attendance, documented truancy and submitted referrals per requirements.
- Collaborated with students, teachers, administrators, parents and outside agencies (e.g., The Cape Town Drug Counseling Centre (CTDCC), The Department of Social Development (DSD), Residential Homes, Cape Town Rape Crisis Centre, Trauma Counseling Centre and Cape Mental Health).
- Created intervention and treatment plans for students in need of assistance. Used various intervention methods such as: crisis intervention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), modelling strength-based therapy, grief counseling, task-centered approach, trauma counseling, brief solution focused therapy, art or creative therapy, mediation and conflict resolution, person-centered therapy, narrative therapy, and anger Management etc.
- Provided group and individual counseling to address problems.
- Organizing diabetes testing day for students and staff.
- Planning, organizing, and running workshops for parents, educators (staff) and learners.
- Monitoring and supervising student social workers and non-South African interns and volunteers.
- Organizing career days and running a study skills week for the learners Scribing for learners during tests or exams.
- Running the mentor-mentee programme for 12th graders/senior students)
- Networking and partnering with organizations for referral and professional guidance.
School Social Worker (Field Practicum Intern)
Belgravia High School, BHS
Cape Town
02.2016 - 06.2017
- Completed the field practicum for third and fourth year placement.
- Conducted individual and group counseling sessions with 8th grade to 12th grade students. Used various intervention methods such as crisis intervention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), strength-based Therapy, Grief Counseling, trauma counseling, art or creative therapy, Modelling, Anger Management etc.
- Organized a community project for the 8th graders.
- Conducted interviews with teachers and parents for collateral information concerning a student.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Used strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective solutions for challenging situations.
- Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.
- Demonstrated creativity and resourcefulness through the development of innovative solutions.
School Social Worker (Field Practicum Intern)
Zonnebloem N.E.S.T Senior School
Cape Town
07.2015 - 10.2015
- Completed field practicum for second year placement for second semester.
- Conducted individual casework sessions with the students primarily using strength-based therapy, brief solution-focused therapy, goal-oriented therapy and task-centered therapy.
- Contacted parents, guardians and educators or guardians for collateral information about students.
- Conducted a sex education talk/ workshop with the 10th graders to 12th graders.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
- Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.
Social Worker (Field Practicum Intern)
Nazareth House
Cape Town
02.2015 - 05.2015
- Completed field practicum for first semester of second year.
- Rapport building with the client
- Learn skills to build a social worker‑client relationship by seeing them weekly for 12 weeks
- Develop a mini psycho‑social file using the genogram and ecomap as tools (client assessment was the focus).
- Applies systems theory to casework.
Education
Master's in Child And Family Studies - Social Work
University of The Western Cape (UWC)
Cape Town, South Africa 05.2019 - 05.2022
Bachelor of Social Sciences Honours - Probation and Correctional Practice
University of Cape Town (UCT)
Cape Town, South Africa 01.2018 - 06.2018
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) - Social Work And Psychology
University of Cape Town (UCT)
Cape Town, South Africa 01.2014 - 12.2017
Skills
Microsoft WordReport WritingMicrosoft ExcelPresentationMicrosoft PowerpointTrainingCollaborationLeadershipCounselingCommunication
IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS))
ATLASTI 9 and Data Analysis
Additional Information
- A registered and compliant member the South African Council of Social Service Professions (SACSSP) [2015 - 2022]
- Holder of Code B (Class 1, motor vehicle) license
Certification
The Western Cape, Department of Education, Abuse No More
Interests
Watching documentaries
Explore new cuisines
Traveling
Extra Curricular Activities
Involved in Church ministries such as:
- Ushering
- Children's ministry
- Bible School
- Bereavement Counseling
- Connect Groups
- Experiencing victory [a programme that helps believers to walk in freedom]
Timeline
The Western Cape, Department of Education, Abuse No More
08-2022
Trauma & Bereavement Counseling
06-2019
Master's in Child And Family Studies - Social Work
University of The Western Cape (UWC)
05.2019 - 05.2022
School Social Worker
School of Hope, Thembalitsha Foundation
01.2018 - 12.2022
Bachelor of Social Sciences Honours - Probation and Correctional Practice
University of Cape Town (UCT)
01.2018 - 06.2018
Bible School (Two-year programme)
11-2017
Every Nation Church Read and Lead Course
05-2017
School Social Worker (Field Practicum Intern)
Belgravia High School, BHS
02.2016 - 06.2017
School Social Worker (Field Practicum Intern)
Zonnebloem N.E.S.T Senior School
07.2015 - 10.2015
Social Worker (Field Practicum Intern)
Nazareth House
02.2015 - 05.2015
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) - Social Work And Psychology
University of Cape Town (UCT)
01.2014 - 12.2017