My name is Clare and I am a qualified mental health social worker based in Melbourne, my pronouns are she/her. I have twenty eight years experience as a mental health social worker, having worked in a variety of settings in Australia and in Glasgow, Scotland. I am very passionate about the important role social workers play in the mental health service system and keen to promote strengths based, human rights and social justice based practice. I am an AASW member and have completed individual and group supervision training facilitated via the Bouverie Centre, with Jane Wexler and Dr Fiona Gardener from La Trobe University. I believe supervision is an essential component of excellent social work practice. I draw upon single session thinking to support supervisees to make the most of the time we have together.

My social work experience has been in mental health, homeless and forensic settings including:

Alfred Hospital Mental Health Inpatient Unit

Royal Melbourne Hospital - Inner West Community Care Team

Royal Melbourne Hospital - Inner West Homeless Outreach Team

Glasgow Homeless Partnership - Managing Complex Care Needs Team and Homeless Young Persons Team

Forensicare - Community Integration Program Co-ordinator (supporting people during and post incarceration)

Forensicare - Community Based Co-Design Project Lead

Northern Area Mental Health Service - Prevention and Recovery Care Service (PARC) Clinical Co-ordinator (strong partnership with Neami National)

Northern Area Mental Health Service - Chief Social Worker

North Western Mental Health - Social Work Graduate Program Lead

I have also worked for La Trobe University in the past as a tutor and guest lecturer in community work.

My current role (0.7) is at the Royal Melbourne Hospital Mental Health Service where I am employed as Social Work Clinical Educator - Graduate Program and whole of Social Work Workforce.

I have a small private practice providing individual and group supervision to social workers working in mental health, homeless or forensic mental health settings.

I hold a BA, BSW and MSW and completed my thesis on homelessness and the privatisation of public space.

I am an AASW member and have completed individual and group supervision training facilitated via the Bouverie Centre, with Jane Wexler and Dr Fiona Gardener from La Trobe University.

I also have experience of mental illness in my family so my work is also informed by that experience.

I believe that a positive and trusting relationship is at the core of the supervisory relationship. I spend time learning about a person's journey into social work, understanding the roles and responsibilities a person holds in their position and the values they bring to the work. It is also important for me to understand the other things people may be juggling in their lives, things that may support them as well as the things that might be challenging. I hold a position of curiosity and use a single session approach to ensure that we focus on what the person feels they most need at the time. I am also fond of the seven eyed supervision model and in group supervision, the bells that ring approach.