Derry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
As an outgoing and curious person, I started volunteering from 14 years on. Soon I had found my calling as a Social Worker and have since enjoyed working with people in various countries and settings, before and after my degrees. I excell at communicating, working in a team and applying creative solutions to complex situations through my patient and friendly nature. For just over 10 years, I have worked as as social worker in the field of subsistence and housing.
I supported adults and families at risk of or affected by poverty or homelessness by providing counselling, case management and coaching. I carried out an in-take procedure to assess the individual situation, identify care and support needs, ressources and challenges. After the case planning I would take on the case management for a period of 6 months, which could be extended up to several years.. A core responsibility of mine was the psycho-social support of refugees, which had been given a right to remain in Austria. Through personal meetings and low-threshold communication via Signal Messenger, I provided advice and coaching on finding accommodation, German courses, employment, accessing health services, etc. Also I worked in the low-threshold Drop-in Centre, where I advised service users regarding their financial or housing situation, e.g. housing options, social benefits, employment, visa regulations, etc. I did provide financial subsidies to people in need, e.g. food vouchers. I contributed to improved organisational processes and the development of new services. This included improved practices with regards Anti-Aggression efforts in the Organisation. As a first point of contact for other members of staff, I provided information and a save space to discuss observations or experiences. I contributed on the success of a project on building up and offering an Online Counselling Service in cooperation with Caritas Austria.
My tasks included washing, dressing and feeding care home residents, as well as being a point of social contact for them, whenever time allowed. I was assisting nurses and doctors in their duties and had to record residents state of well-being. Together with my co-workers, I had to keep an eye on residents needs and allow for a smooth running of the day. I acquired more independence and better time-management in a stressful environment.
As part of a team, I was offering twenty-four hour support at Hosford House, an accommodation for the homeless and tenancy support service with a capacity of 26 beds in East Belfast. My tasks included the support of everyday activities in the hostel, record keeping, talking to residents and supporting them with their individual needs. This role enhanced my team work, as well as my ability to adapt to a challenging environment.
I worked part-time as a Customer Service Agent and provided support via E-mail. I answered queries in German and English for an online website. I identified customer needs and responded adequately through an independent, friendly and efficient working style. This improved my communication within a multilingual team and my IT knowledge.
For many years, I volunteered in a peer education project, aimed at alcohol prevention in adolescents in a girls youth centre. I was organising and leading Peer Education Workshops at our alcohol-free cocktail bar. Later I facilitated "train the trainer"- workshops and cooperated with the Amazone Youth Centre on my Bachelors Thesis.