Thabelo Sikhwivhilu
Social Worker And Immigration Consultant
Germiston
Summary
I am an experienced professional Social Worker with a Bachelors degree and passion for making a positive impact to diverse communities. I am a dedicated and compassionate Social Worker with extensive experience in HIV/AIDS support, diversion programs, and general social work interventions. Proficient in providing comprehensive psychosocial support to individuals and communities affected by HIV/AIDS, including counseling, advocacy, and education. Skilled in designing and implementing effective diversion programs for at-risk populations, fostering rehabilitation and reintegration. Possesses a strong background in general social work practice, including assessment, case management, and community engagement. I also gained extensive knowledge as an Immigration Consultant who assist individuals with their immigration needs for both Outbound and Inbound immigration. Demonstrated understanding of immigration and work authorization laws and regulations. Flourishes in fast-paced high-stress environments with sensitive information that requires high degree of confidentiality.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Immigration Consultant
Open Boarders Immigration Consultants
5 2023
- First respond effectively/appropriately to immigration enquiries, and within specified timelines
- Logging of all new enquiries and pre - Assessing of quality of enquiry
- Drafting of supporting letters specifically speaking to the Immigration Act and detailing the context of the candidates’ application
- Vetting of documentation pertaining to visa applications
- Contacting foreign embassies to ascertain any additional visa requirements, fees, submission process
- Effectively manage our immigration co-councils for any outbound visas, in terms of invoicing and compiling applications
- Quality check and compiling of visa applications
- Preparing and sending updates to clients on the status of their visa applications
- Train, motivate, coach and assessing employee performance and providing helpful feedback and training opportunities
- Attend conferences, exhibition, networking and identifying feasible business opportunities
- Prepare bi-weekly reports on all cases
- Keeping up to date with any changes to the Immigration Act
- Prepare and organize documentation to facilitate the evaluation of the candidate’s foreign qualification by SAQA and facilitate professional body registrations on behalf of our client
- Attend client meetings as and when required
- Verifying the authenticity of paperwork and supporting documents
- Assisting the Director of Open Boarders Immigration Consultant, with any business request, as and when required.
Psychosocial Mentor
WitsRHI - Gophelega Project
01.2022 - 04.2023
- Provide psycho-social services to patients within supported facilities, with a focus on patients requiring more in-depth counselling or social support
- Conduct a comprehensive individual assessment and develop a care plan for the client’s social, psychological and emotional needs
- Collaborate with healthcare providers including nurses, doctors, psychologists and NGO’s to intergrate social work principles into the overall care plan
- Educate patients with their treatment and ensure they have the right information about their conditions
- Advocate for patients whose treatment are misinterpret or for those who needs to be switched to another regimen
- Provide a crisis response to patients who have defaulted and whose viral load is unsuppressed
- Train, coach, mentor, and support internal and external stakeholders to implement psychosocial support groups, mental health and GBV to people living with HIV
- Identify gaps in counselling, mental health, GBV and adherence guideline implementation at the facility level and develop plans to address the gaps
- Participate in on-going mentorship programs initiated by other WitsRHI stakeholders
- Mentor and assess counsellors to support completion of HIV testing and ensure they produce quality work
- Refer patients to relevant institutions for rehabilitation, treatment and care
- Support the development and implementation of QI projects in collaboration with DoH to address identified gaps
- Maintain a positive attitude and respond openly to feedback
- Consolidate cluster reports (15 clinics and 2 hospitals) of the relevant program activities conducted by Psychosocial Counsellor
- Submit monthly and quarterly reports on work activities
- Regularly review facility and sub-district data to identify gaps in programs implementation.
Case Facilitator
The Aurum Institute (Wannenburg Clinic)
03.2020 - 12.2021
- Provide telephone counselling and support to Covid-19 patients
- Trace contacts of Covid-19 patients throughout quarantine
- Report to the head nurse when patients/contacts develop symptoms
- Provide basic patient level support, counselling and debriefing to patients and their families
- Track and support patients who missed their appointments and assist them to reschedule
- Educate patients around treatment and care of HIV and TB as needed
- Ensure that patients receive the needed support to adhere to an effective HIV management journey to be virally suppressed
- Plan and execute HIV prevention and health promotion programs
- Plan, organise and facilitate therapeutic groups with patients
- Coordinate with healthcare workers and linking clients to care
- Assist in the Redcap and Bulk SMSs Research
- Establish rapport with all patients in order to get them open up about their circumstances
- Record and report all data obtained in the field
- Remain up to date with relevant market trends.
Social Worker (Volunteer)
National Institute for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO)
09.2019 - 03.2020
- Prepare, organize, and store information in hardcopy and digital systems
- Attend to queries telephonically and on email
- Manage diaries and booking clients for assessment
- Ensure that ques are manageable at the reception area
- Print, photocopy, and order office supplies
- Assess Children, Youths and Adults in conflict with the law and place them in an appropriate diversion program
- Create a suitable client directed treatment plans to render quality services
- Facilitate diversion programs and compile Compliance/ Non-Compliance reports for courts
- Market NICRO’S various services to stakeholders (probation officers and advocates, prosecutors, and police), schools and the community, and conduct campaigns
- Plan and implementing diversion programs such as Youth Empowerment Scheme, Gender Based-Violence and Adult Life Skills Programs
- Typing of reports and letters to court
- Participate in training, team building and supervision sessions
- Type stats for Department of Social Development.
Social Worker on Internship program
Department of Social Development
09.2018 - 08.2019
- Render mental health services with regards to the care, support, protection, and development of vulnerable, groups, families and communities that justify relevant interventions
- Identify and make recommendations on the appropriate interventions required to address the identified conditions
- Develop, determine, and plan program to render the recommended interventions efficiently, effectively, and economically
- Implement the recommended interventions by providing continuous support, counselling guidance and advice to the affected individuals, groups, families, and communities
- Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of the recommended interventions, report on progress and identify further/ amended intervention top address the identified conditions
- Study, interpret, apply, and give information on legislation and policies in the identified work field to social auxiliary workers, students, volunteers and other role players or stakeholders
- Perform all the statutory functions applicable to the relevant function, compile court reports and attend to court enquiries and the other task emanating from the courts
- Produce and maintain records of social work interventions and process and outcomes
- Support social auxiliaries, students, and volunteers
- Keep up to date with the new developments in the social work and social work welfare fields
- Liaise or attend meetings with other departments and non-governmental institutions to take cognizance of the latest developments in the relevant fields
- Provide social work service to mental health Care User and their families
- Conduct home visits, case work, group work and community work
- Engage in continuous professional development and in-service training
- Compile report and comprehensive record keeping.
Social Work Experiential Training
Department of Correctional Services (Thohoyandou Management Area) Female and Juvenile Section
06.2017 - 10.2017
- Provide social work services to offenders through individual attention, group work and community work
- Conduct individual assessments
- Market social work services within the institution to offenders
- Monitor and evaluate social work interventions in case work, group work and community work services
- Reunite offenders with their families, victims, and communities through restorative justice
- Assist with progress reports for offenders at Medium B who were eligible to be released
- Support Victim Offender Mediation (VOM)
- Conduct group work and campaigns in Substance abuse, HIV/AIDs, Life skills program and resilience program
- Liaise with stakeholders at the parole board regarding the offender’s sentence and provided reports on the progress of the offender’s behavior
- Assist female offenders with the transferring process of their children who have reached two years old residing in holding cells to an alternative care
- Monitor the institution’s crèche for the best interests of children.
Education
Bachelor of Social Work -
University of Venda
Grade 12 - undefined
Nthetsheleseni Secondary School
Certificate - Organisational Wellness Management
IQ Academy
Gauteng 04.2001 -
Skills
Knowledge of Departmental policies and procedures, relevant public service regulations, Gauteng safety strategy, procedures, information system
Knowledge and understanding of applicable and relevant legislations and policies in the field of Social Work including related legal and ethical practices, PFMA and Public Service Act and Regulations
Knowledge and understanding of human behaviour and social systems and skills to intervene at the points where people interact with their environments to promote social well- being
Theoretical and practical knowledge of all Social Work Methods
Skills: Promote Social Justice and challenge structural sources of poverty, inequality, oppression, discrimination, and exclusion
Ability and competence to assist, develop, advocate for, and empower individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities to enhance their social functioning and their problem-solving capabilities
Ability to promote, restore, maintain, advocate for and enhance the functioning of individuals, families, groups and communities by enabling them to accomplish tasks, prevent and alleviate distress and use resources effectively
The understanding and ability to provide social work services towards protecting people who are vulnerable, at risk and unable to protect themselves
Ability to work independently and in a multi-disciplinary context
Good verbal and written communication skills, Counselling Skills, Planning and time management skills, organizing skills, Interpersonal skills and computer Literacy
Analytic thinking, independent decision-making and problem-solving skills
Report writing skills
Valid driver’s license
Global immigration filings
Personal Information
- ID Number: 9002140811081
- Ethnicity: African
- Date of Birth: 02/14/1990
- Gender: Female
- Driving License: C1
References
- Mr A Mudzimuri, Psycho-social Manager (WITS RHI – Gophelega Project) Ekurhuleni District, 0798392945
- Ms K Dikgale, Mentor (NICRO), 63 Corner Odendaal and Victoria Street, 4th Floor Trust Building, Germiston, 011 873 6977, 067 0734 190
- Ms L Mugware, Supervisor (Department of Social Development) Tshaulu One-Stop Centre, 0785793381
Training
- 2ND Violence Conference (Gender Based Violence on Women and Children) HIVSS
- Basic HIV Counselling Skills GBV and IPV
- National Adherence Guidelines for Chronic illness National Tester Assessor
- Mentoring
- Women and Mental Health
Timeline
Psychosocial Mentor
WitsRHI - Gophelega Project
01.2022 - 04.2023
Case Facilitator
The Aurum Institute (Wannenburg Clinic)
03.2020 - 12.2021
Social Worker (Volunteer)
National Institute for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO)
09.2019 - 03.2020
Social Worker on Internship program
Department of Social Development
09.2018 - 08.2019
Social Work Experiential Training
Department of Correctional Services (Thohoyandou Management Area) Female and Juvenile Section
06.2017 - 10.2017
Certificate - Organisational Wellness Management
IQ Academy
04.2001 -
Immigration Consultant
Open Boarders Immigration Consultants
5 2023
Bachelor of Social Work -
University of Venda
Grade 12 - undefined
Nthetsheleseni Secondary School