Fiona Mc Donnell
Newry,Newry Mourne and Down
Summary
I have worked as a qualified social worker for twenty five years. I am also very creative and have excellent interpersonal skills. I love music. I promoted and ran a nite club for seven years in Dublin. I enjoy attending concerts and at present I am learning the guitar.
I am also very spiritual and love to travel and spend time in nature and with animals.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
2000
2000
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Residential Social Worker
The Southern Health and Social Services Trust
Portadown, Armagh
03.2000 - Current
- Shift Co-ordinator.
- Use of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Theory and Techniques.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with multi agencies.
- Assessing and planning skills working towards positive outcomes.
- Recording and report writing. My therapeutic assessment of one client was used as template example for social workers in Southern Trust.
- Being an assertive advocate for young people in care. In 2018 I applied to ‘Journey of a Lifetime’ for a client and accompanied her to interviews in London. She gained a place on expedition to S. America for a month. This changed her life.
- Day to day parenting skills looking after teenagers including navigating complex behaviour, encouraging them to attend education and appointments in regard to health and development of social skills and hobbies.
- Ability to stay calm in a crisis, and react quickly with safety the optimum goal.
- Good use of communication skills especially listening and appropriate use of humour.
Care Worker
The Simon Community
Newry, Down
09.1994 - 12.1997
- Assessment of clients and formulation of care plans.
- Teaching clients skills such as cooking, budgeting and self care.
- Maintaining a safe and clean house for residents to live in.
- Supervision of clients.
- Work sessions with clients e.g in relation to addiction or helping a client apply for a job.
- Advocating for clients and helping them gain the skills and opportunities to live in their own or rented accommodation.
Manager
New haven Trust
Newry, Down
04.1995 - 06.1996
- Worked with clients aligned with the Probation Service of Northern Ireland.
- Provided a space for clients to meet and learn new skills.
- Provided lunch and opportunity for clients to discuss issues and feel supported.
- Encouraged and facilitated clients to make positive change in their lives away from a life of crime.
Education
Diploma of Higher Education - Social Work
University of Ulster
Belfast 01/1998 - 01.2000
Skills
- Excellent communicator; can listen well, analyse and interpret information and react in appropriate manner Cheerful and good humoured
- Good leadership skills and ability to manage different personalities and information
- Like being creative and thinking outside the box and applying where possible successfully
- Very empathetic and compassionate by nature Great advocate as well as facilitator and teacher encouraging clients to be independent and believe in themselves
- Accurate record keeping and focused report writing
- Open to new ideas while also appreciating wisdom from the past and able to apply knowledge to practice
Timeline
Residential Social Worker
The Southern Health and Social Services Trust
03.2000 - Current
Manager
New haven Trust
04.1995 - 06.1996
Care Worker
The Simon Community
09.1994 - 12.1997
Diploma of Higher Education - Social Work
University of Ulster
01/1998 - 01.2000