Tlou Sophia HLAKO
Child And Youth Care Worker/ Social Worker
Etwatwa
Summary
Caring Youth Care Worker with 11 years of experience in working with baby and toddler section. With caring nature and strong communication skills, helping children grow and learn comes naturally. Experience in volunteer roles and babysitting has honed my patience, empathy, and problem-solving abilities. Collaborative team player who builds positive relationships with children, parents, and colleagues. Always eager to create safe, nurturing environment for young ones. Compassionate child care professional skilled in building positive relationships with children and families. Committed to developing educational, emotional and social skills with learning through play. Maintains secure, hygienic environments for exceptional health and safety standards.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
4022
4022
years of post-secondary education
3
3
Certifications
Work History
Child and Youth Care Worker
Department of Social Development Igugulethu child and care centre
11.2007 - 12.2018
- Assisted children with showering, cleaning and toileting duties.
- Administered personal care and assisted with daily living activities to enhance client well-being.
- Closely monitored children physical and mental health, reporting changes or concerns to managers immediately.
- Maintained confidentiality and privacy of client information, adhering to professional standards.
- Participated in training and development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge in care provision.
- Communicated with family members, carers and multidisciplinary professionals to elevate level of care.
- Responded appropriately to safeguarding incidents and emergencies.
- Encouraged service users to be independent and active members of society.
- Facilitated social interactions and recreational activities to promote mental and emotional health.
Acting Social Work Supervisor
Department of Social Developmeny
04.2024 - 06.2024
- Facilitated interagency communication to ensure seamless coordination of care across multiple Care workers.
- Mentored junior social workers, providing guidance on best practices and professional development opportunities.
- Provided leadership, guidance and support to staff members.
- Implemented data-driven decision-making to identify areas for improvement and drive programmatic changes.
- Served as an accessible and knowledgeable resource for staff members, addressing questions and concerns related to client care or organizational policies.
Acting Child and Youth Care Supervisor
Department Of Social Development
03.2017 - 04.2018
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to create individualized support plans for each child in the place of safety.
- Managed daily operations of the facility, ensuring adherence to policies, procedures, and safety regulations.
- Oversaw crisis intervention efforts as needed, maintaining a calm demeanor while effectively addressing challenging situations.
- Developed and implemented training programs for staff.
- Administration duties
Social Worker
Department Of Social Development
01.2019 - Current
- Conducted individual and family interviews to assess situations and determine situations required.
- Prepared detailed reports and case notes, ensuring accurate documentation of client interactions.
- Conducted home visits to assess living conditions and provide in-situ support.
- Organized community events to raise awareness about social issues affecting clients.
- Established support networks for clients, connecting them with peer groups and services.
- Managed case loads efficiently, prioritizing urgent needs while maintaining high standards.
- Liaised with schools to support children with behavioral issues, promoting educational inclusion.
- Delivered crisis intervention services, offering immediate support in emergency situations.
- Managed patient caseloads to address social work assessments, crisis intervention and care planning.
- Investigated alleged or suspected cases of abuse and neglect and organized responses to protect at-risk persons.
- Advocated for clients'' rights, navigating complex systems to secure necessary resources and benefits.
Education
Honors Degree - Social Worker
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa05-2016
Diploma - Child and Youth Development
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa 04.2001 - 01.2007
High School Education - Grade 12
Motjere High School
Limpopo12-2000
Skills
- Confidentiality understanding
- Client Advocacy
- Communication skills
- Respecting boundaries
- Child development understanding
- Interpersonal skills
- Case assessment and Planning
- Administrative duties
- Child protection proceedings
- Non-Judgmental approach
- Case Management
- Multidisciplinary teamwork
- Crisis Intervention and assessment
- Report-writing
- Active listening
Certification
Intermediary Training Course
References
E. Somdadakazi, CYYC Supervisor, +27 11 916 4120 , +27 79 891 5877, Department of Social Development, Boksburg, Igugulethu CYCC
N. Mphuthi , SW Supervisor, +27 66 291 4973, Department of Social Development , Benoni Office
Timeline
Acting Social Work Supervisor
Department of Social Developmeny
04.2024 - 06.2024
Social Worker
Department Of Social Development
01.2019 - Current
Intermediary Training Course
09-2017
Acting Child and Youth Care Supervisor
Department Of Social Development
03.2017 - 04.2018
Personal Growth Course
03-2017
Emerging Management Developmental Programme
08-2013
Child and Youth Care Worker
Department of Social Development Igugulethu child and care centre
11.2007 - 12.2018
Diploma - Child and Youth Development
University of South Africa
04.2001 - 01.2007
Honors Degree - Social Worker
University of South Africa
High School Education - Grade 12
Motjere High School
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