Rethabile Leanya
Social Worker
Cape Town
Summary
Motivated Social Worker dedicated to forming trusting relationships and advocating for best interest of clients. Respectful and compassionate professional offering 8 year background serving community by providing guidance for clients in need.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Social Worker
Department of Student Affairs- University of Cape Town
10.2017 - Current
- Provides clinical and psychosocial services to both the universityʼs undergraduate and postgraduate students, including assessments, individual and peer counselling, case management, crisis management, client referrals and student-family interventions
- Manages casework treatment programs for average of 70 students each month
- Facilitates trauma debriefings and crisis support to individual students/groups subjected to sexual and/or gender-based violence, discrimination, bereavement etc
- Manages and coordinates the Peer Intervention Programme; supervises ten peer counsellors
- Collaborates and liaises with key UCT internal student service providers such as Office of Inclusivity and Change (OIC), Career services, Student Housing, Food Security Programme
- Facilitates mental health psychoeducational groups- building a resilient health professional workshop series on Saturdays
- Routinely collaborates with multidisciplinary teams of clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, medical officers, psychiatric nurses to create and implement holistic student support plans.
Research Assistant
Perinatal Mental Health Project, PMHP
04.2017 - 10.2017
- Drafted publication summaries/synthesis; conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with vulnerable pregnant girls and women onsite at Hanover Park Midwife Obstetric Unit
- Liaison with external non-profit organizations rendering psychosocial support to pregnant women experiencing domestic and sexual violence
- Transcribed qualitative data; completed qualitative thematic analyses reports; completed peer-reviewed scholarly literature searches
- Administered telephonic post-natal inter-rater reliability interviews with women
- Completed ad hoc office administrative responsibilities as delegated
- Translated research questionnaires, and maternal mental health screening tools.
Trainee Social Worker
Norma Road Primary School
02.2015 - 11.2015
- Assessed and provided short- and long-term counselling for high-risk learners of neglect, abuse, substance use, sexual violence
- Conducted weekly psycho-educational and growth groups over a six-week block on various subjects namely substance abuse, self-esteem, bullying, resilience, puberty and sexual health, bereavement support groups
- Designed and implemented a comprehensive school peer education programme with grade 6 and 7 learners to address substance abuse experimentation and other psychosocial issues like bullying, teenage pregnancy, sexual violence
- Conducted brief crisis interventions; facilitated learner-family counselling sessions
- Completion of referral reports and form 33 to organizations as per the needs of a learner
- Liaised with educators, principal, external social workers and contacting collaterals
- Completed daily process reports and participating in staff meetings and supervision.
Trainee Social Worker
South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (SANCA)
02.2014 - 11.2014
- Conducted drug screening and psychosocial functional assessments
- Provided early intervention individual drug counselling; facilitated support and psycho-educational groups with adults and school-going youth battling with substance abuse
- Presented in regular case discussions in a multi-disciplinary team
- Assisted with the coordination of annual substance abuse awareness initiatives; completed daily process reports; contacted collaterals and liaison with external organizations as per client needs.
Trainee Social Worker
Nazareth House, Elderly Care Unit
01.2013 - 08.2013
- Conducted risk assessments and individual counselling namely grief counselling and debriefing for the residents
- Assisted residents to manage difficult family dynamics and situations
- Conducted therapeutic group sessions to residents to improve quality of life and foster positive relationships
- Implementation of Older Persons Act 13 of 2006
- Liaison with local social welfare organizations rendering specialized palliative care and oncology services
- Participated in weekly supervision and multi-disciplinary engagements.
Education
Bachelor of Social Work -
University of Cape Town
02.2012 - 12.2015
Research Masters specializing in Social Work - undefined
University of Cape Town
02.2024 - Current
Skills
Multilingual (English, Xhosa, Sotho, Zulu, Afrikaans)
Ms Office User
Driving Skills (Code EB with own vehicle
Crisis Intervention
Assessment and counseling services
Grief counseling
Multidisciplinary team collaboration
Risk Assessments
Student Advocacy
Life Skills Development
Solution-based interventions
Verbal and written communication
Family Support
Accomplishments
- Member of Golden Key International Honour Society, 2014
- Humanities Faculty Deanʼs Merit List UCT, 2013/2015
- Awarded St Legers Prize
- UCT Exceeds Performance Award, Student Wellness Services UCT, 2021/2022
References
- Dr Fatima Williams, 021 650 3485, fatima.williams@uct.ac.za, University of Cape Town
- Ms Vuyiswa Mvumvu, 021 638 5116, vuyiswa@sancawc.co.za, South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (SANCA)
- Professor Simone Honikman, 0216504091, simone.honikman@uct.ac.za, Perinatal Mental Health Project
Personal Information
- Place of Birth: Cape Town
- Date of Birth: 02/17/1993
- Gender: Female
- Nationality: South African
- Driving License: Code EB, Own vehicle.
Certification
Police Clearance
Timeline
Research Masters specializing in Social Work - undefined
University of Cape Town
02.2024 - Current
Social Worker
Department of Student Affairs- University of Cape Town
10.2017 - Current
Research Assistant
Perinatal Mental Health Project, PMHP
04.2017 - 10.2017
Trainee Social Worker
Norma Road Primary School
02.2015 - 11.2015
Trainee Social Worker
South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (SANCA)
02.2014 - 11.2014
Trainee Social Worker
Nazareth House, Elderly Care Unit
01.2013 - 08.2013
Bachelor of Social Work -
University of Cape Town
02.2012 - 12.2015
Police Clearance
Similar Profiles
Bokang MetholaBokang Methola
Research Assistant at Khula Brain Development Study (University of Cape Town, Department of Peadiatrics and Child Health)Research Assistant at Khula Brain Development Study (University of Cape Town, Department of Peadiatrics and Child Health)
Cameron-Grant RoyineCameron-Grant Royine
Information Systems Tutor at Department of Information Systems, University of Cape TownInformation Systems Tutor at Department of Information Systems, University of Cape Town
Kyle Williams CA(SA)Kyle Williams CA(SA)
Lecturer at University Of Cape TownLecturer at University Of Cape Town