What type of job are you looking for?
Assisting marginalized persons overcome barriers to full participation in society. Examples: addictions, mental illness, prodomal or negative symptoms of long term scizophrenia, those in conflict with the law, homelessness and poverty, victims of violence, poor problem solving skills, faulty logic, anger management problems and difficulty with goal planning.
Supervision of staff, mentoring staff, Implementation of programs, Program evaluation, Research and preparation of materials
Canadian
What languages do you speak (and at what level)?
English, fluent Excellent communication written and verbal, graduated magne cum laude in a program that relied heavily on writing skills
What country or area are you looking to work in and why?
Any, provided renumeration is adequate and my life is not in danger
What countries have you worked in?
Canada and India (many years ago)
What countries do you have a visa to work in?
None presently, though I see no problemm as I have no criminal record nor anything that should prevent me obtaining a visa. Of course I can legally work in Canada
What field do you currently work in?
I am presently unemployed. I have been an RN, with post graduate studies in psychiatry but I am not currently licenced to practice nursing. I have approximately twenty years experience delivering health and social services in a community setting.
What fields have you worked in before?
Battered women, the mentally ill, Director of a Homeless Shelter, Director of a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre. Counsellor for women involved with men in Federal Penitentiaries, Teaching Social skills, anger mgmt etc to Young Offenders. Working with parolees. Vocational Teaching and job placement with people in "recovery" from substance abuse. RN is a hospital setting for those adjusting to spinal cord injuries rendering them quadraplegics and quadraplegics. Working with the City Municipality, The University Medical School and other community partners to establish a new program to deliver health services to the most marginalized of the community -- a program that was nominated by the World Health Organization as one of the most innovative programs dealing with poverty and health. This program is called The Ottawa Inner City Health Project
RN, Cegep d' l/Outauoias , Bachelors degree in Sociology/Psychology,, University of Ottawa, Certificate in Family Mediation, Certificate in Principled Negotiation, both from University of Windsor
R.N. Cegep d'l'Outauouais Bachelors Degree, Sociology/Psychology, U of Ottawa Certificate in Family Mediation, U of Windsor Certificate in Principled Negotiation, U of Windsor Certificate in Trauma Intervention, U of Florida
Which do you consider more valuable? Formal education or skills and why?
Is one better than the other? I would say that the two complement each other. I am in a good position to witness the inadequacy of theory without experience having returned to University after many years of practical experience. During an urban studies class a brilliant and sensitive Professor told a student beside me who was expressing the NIMBY syndrome, "not to worry they don't put methadone clinics where people live". As I did not wish to embarrass him I did not point out to him that they do not put methadone clinics where HE and those like him live. If he had experience working in the field of harm reduction and serviced on the advisory board of methadone users as I have done he would never surmise that "no-one" lives in the inner city. In effect he just dismissed the poor of our community as people who do not count.
There are many examples where Professors might have benefited by my experience working in the field but I learned a great deal that makes me more effective in my job. Learning to be more critical when examining research and understanding samples, causal links and statistical analysis is an example.
I might suggest that the results of academic research be made available to the disciplines to which they apply and that the Faculties make themselves aware of current practices related to their field. I was dismayed at how poor this communication was.
Describe the benefits of working with others
Although there can be interruptions I believe that the stimulation of working with others increases creativity and output. Though there is the phenomena of "Group Think", the right kind of leader encourages novel ideas by being willing to consider anomalous thinking and occasionally changes her mind.
Working with others also reduces stress in the workplace. Stressful decisions can be "checked" with a colleaque and stressful events shared with a co-worker and therefore stay at work
Describe the benefits of working alone
Occasionally one has a project that requires quiet time and uninterrupted concentration. Times like this is pays to come in on a Saturday or stay late to get the job done. I do not believe there are any benefits to one's mental ill in working alone all the time.
What was your worst working experience?
I have been so fortunate that I would have to go back decades to find a bad working experience. I only toughed it out a week and I was still a teenager and it was a Mom and Pop Drycleaner and Pop liked me very much -- way too much. Enough said.
What is the most important lesson you have learnt throughout your career?
Your boss doesn't always want or need to know if he made a grammatical error in his report. He doesn't care how smart you are and you won't get any points for making him feel stupid.
What unique skills do you have?
I am able to work well with lawyers and judges during a planning meeting but I can also turn around and teach a workshop with material that I have geared toward convicts and develop a trusting relationship with them. This may be because my father was a University Professor while my mothers family, while not actually convicts, had several members who came close. The life view of these groups of people differ but I have been familiar with these two solitudes all my life.
I also have a unique combination of medical knowledge realted to my nursing education combined with my continuing education and experience in social work.
What would you consider as your 'dream job'?
There isn't just one, here are some:
Mgr of a Program for Women who are Victims of Violence Mgr. of a Women's Shelter Case Manager, persons suffering mental illness Mgr, Adolescent Girls with Eating Disorder Case Mgr, LIfeskills Instructor: working with people in Conflict witht he law
Program Coordintor: Harm Reduction Program: Safe Injection, or similar program
Parenting Classes and Support: For parents experiencing difficulty or involved with children's protective services
Wjat are the least interesting aspects of your field?
I have difficulty with this question. I have not held a position with excessive paper work or any aspect that I could say was not interesting. I work with people who are interesting. My field is intersting if you are interested in people and I am.
Please replace this with a question of your own
I would welcome the opportunity to forward my resume
How can potential employers contact you?
email: lwingert@rogers.com
Writers Wanted
