Specialist in working with Deaf people

Interest

Sara developed an interest in working with Deaf people in 1998 whilst learning British Sign Language (BSL) and worked in a specialist Deaf Services team for eight years, as a Social Worker and then Manager. This team provided social care services (including social work, home care, equipment services) to Deaf children, hearing children of Deaf parents and Deaf adults.

Experience

Sara was responsible for undertaking child protection investigations and working to child protection plans, court work (Care Proceedings, Adoption Proceedings and private law proceedings). In addition, Sara worked with children who were ‘looked after’ by the Local Authority, in residential care and foster care and also Deaf children attending residential schools. Sara also worked with Deaf adults who were in need of safeguarding or who had additional needs such as physical or learning disabilities.

Over the past four years Sara has worked with a number of Deaf children and adults in her role as medico-legal Case Manager. This work has included undertaking Immediate Needs Assessments and providing ongoing case management to these Deaf clients.

Deaf Issues

Sara has a thorough appreciation of issues that Deaf people face such as discrimination and oppression. Sara had the opportunity to work with the full range of statutory and voluntary agencies to promote the importance of universal services and resources being accessible and appropriate for Deaf people. Ensuring that all agencies take responsibility for children and adult’s safety and wellbeing is something that Sara feels very passionately about. Sara’s professional objective was to promote enablement and empowerment through providing opportunities to maximise life chances and reduce dependency. All of her social work practice is underpinned by these values.

Resource management

Sara also has experience as a member of a Children’s Health and Disability Resource Panel where resource applications from social care staff were considered (including requests for respite care and befriending services) and made recommendations as to the appropriateness of services. A good knowledge of resources and a thorough understanding of the service threshold criteria was required, to ensure that public services resources were used appropriately and were targeted to those most in need.

Presenting

Sara’s knowledge and presentation abilities lead to her being asked to deliver a presentation to a national conference on ‘Deafness & Mental Health’. Sara is particularly passionate about the importance of effective communication between hearing parents and Deaf children, to ensure positive outcomes, including those relating to mental health.