Health Services

SHEPERD MUGANDI

Flat No. *, Block * Nurses Home, Opuwo Hospital, P. Bag 3003, Opuwo, Namibia

Work: +264********, Cell: +264*********, Email: ***********@*****.***

SOCIAL WORKER

Motivated, action focused and multi skilled Social Worker with a penchant for delivering results seeks an opportunity in a dynamic mental health/ alcohol & drug abuse rehabilitation organization. Ability to design & implement programmes for rehabilitation of persons addicted to alcohol and drugs in a multi-professional setting. Have vast experience in individual counselling & group therapy for persons addicted to and dependent on alcohol and other drugs. Community awareness raising experience on harmful effects of alcohol and drugs. Possess sound managerial skills from years of heading a government department at district level.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Counselling. Group therapy for substance abuse rehabilitation.Community development. Social research. Training. Networking. Communication. Planning

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

MINISTRY OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES- Namibia (May 2012 to date)

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (Namibia) is the largest employer of Social Workers in the country. The Directorate of Developmental Social Welfare Services within the Ministry provides holistic quality social services to all citizens from preventative to rehabilitative social services. It also offers preventative programmes on substance abuse and rehabilitation for people with alcohol and drug abuse & runs a rehabilitation and resource centre for individuals with drug abuse problems.

SOCIAL WORKER

Provided social services to identified individuals, families and communities. Conducted counselling sessions with clients that had mental health and drug abuse problems. Assessed clients for mental and drug abuse rehabilitation, networking with doctors for detoxification and psychiatrists for psychological assessment. Provided family therapy for clients with alcohol & drug abuse problems and group therapy at the drug abuse rehabilitation centre. Facilitated aftercare group therapy sessions with individuals discharged from rehabilitation centre. Spearheaded awareness campaigns against alcohol and drug abuse within communities, schools and workplaces. Organized & conducted annual commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Key Achievements

Established community based committees that identified social needs within their communities. The Coalition on the Reduction of Harmful Drinking (CORD) was established & it conducted awareness community meetings and campaigns against alcohol and drug abuse. Trained the CORD members to conduct basic counselling for alcohol/ drug addicted individuals.

SHEPERD MUGANDI

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (CONTINUED)

Formed a support group for people living with HIV/ AIDS. Mobilized people living with HIV/ AIDS to form their support group. Empowered the support group members to overcome stigma & discrimination through psychosocial support training which empowered them to disclose their status and also to advocate rights of people living with HIV/ AIDS

Established Teenagers Against Drug Abuse (TADA) clubs in schools comprising learners/ young people. Organised and conducted life skills trainings for adolescents to become assertive and resist negative peer pressure on drug abuse. Coordinated sporting and recreational activities for young persons to keep them out of alcohol & drugs

Coordinated commemorations for the International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking

SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES ZIMBABWE (2007- 2012)

SOS Children’s Villages is an independent non-governmental international organisation that works to meet children’s needs and to protect their rights and interests. The Family Strengthening Programme (FSP) is one of the organisation’s projects and its purpose is to prevent child abandonment and to strengthen families to care for their children.

FIELD OFFICER

Registered vulnerable children into the programme (FSP) according to the set criteria and provided them with access to essential services (food, education, health care, legal and psychosocial support). Conducted scheduled home visits to beneficiary households to assess their needs. Drew up family development plans with beneficiary families to prioritise their needs and to spell out responsibilities of the family and FSP in addressing those needs. Facilitated trainings in basic counselling, effective parenting and entrepreneurship skills for caregivers to empower them to protect children’s rights and to raise household disposable income for self-sustainability. Networked with relevant stakeholders that provided services to vulnerable children and their families

Key Achievements

Initiated and supported vibrant school based projects and community income generating activities that supported vulnerable children and their families (greenhouse crop production, piggery & small livestock production)

Raised pass rate among children in schools by supporting schools with textbooks and decreased school dropout rate by providing school fees for vulnerable children.

Signed memoranda of agreement with hospital, clinic and pharmacy to provide health care services to children and their families. Beneficiaries were able to access medical attention by using ID cards any time.

MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE- Zimbabwe (2005- 2007)

The Department of Social Services (Zimbabwe) provides social services to marginalized individuals, families, groups and communities. It offers psychosocial and material support to marginalized individuals and families, and coordinates all child welfare programmes and rehabilitates children in conflict with the law.

SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER/ PROBATION OFFICER

Managed human, material and financial resources committed to the department as the district manager. Came up with annual, quarterly and monthly plans for the department and monitored their implementation on daily basis. Drew up and signed performance agreement plans with all district staff members and conducted performance agreement appraisals with all staff members every quarter. Carried out assessments and home visits (means testing) for material support to vulnerable families, and approved/ disapproved applications for public assistance. Conducted investigations on children in need of care and of children in conflict with the law and compiled Probation Officer’s reports to the Children’s and Juvenile courts in respect of children in need of care and children in conflict with the law. Removed children in need of care to places of safety. Placed children in need of care to places of safety & institutions and committed children in conflict with the law to training institutes for rehabilitation. Supervised children placed under the Probation Officer’s supervision. Monitored children’s institutions in the district by conducting regular visits.

SHEPERD MUGANDI

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (CONTINUED

Key Achievements

Created district database for all orphaned and vulnerable children in the district. The database was created from scratch with the assistance of all relevant stakeholders. Also came up with district directory of all social services providers within the district.

Formed the District Child Welfare Forum to which the department was the secretariat. The forum coordinated all child welfare activities in the district and involved all relevant government departments and nongovernmental organisations in the district.

Formulated a referral system for use by all child welfare organisations in the district. The simple form showed the needs identified concerning particular child/ children and services required.

CERTIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Palliative Care in Social Work (University of Namibia)

Basic Counselling Skills (Change Agent)

Suicide Prevention Counselling Model (Childline/ Lifeline Namibia)

Migration, Health & Human Trafficking (International Organisation for Migration)

Nutrition Assessment & Counselling (UNICEF)

Positive Parenting (Childline/ Lifeline Namibia

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