Where Social Work and the Law Meet, Developing a Social Work Service in a Private Law Firm with Olga Gountras.

Hear about how Slater and Gordon’s free Social Work service exists to support their clients Australia-wide who are facing a wide range of emotional and practical concerns as they move through the process of claiming compensation. We discuss a range of issues relating to social workers and their understanding of the law and the ongoing training and workshops the social work service runs to educate social workers on a range of topics.About your guest Olga has been a social worker for more than 30 years and is the National Manager of Social Work Services at Slater and Gordon. Slater and Gordon’s free Social Work service exists to support our clients Australia-wide who are facing a wide range of emotional and practical concerns as they move through the process of claiming compensation. Olga provides short-term telephone counselling, casework and referral to local or specialised services, assisting clients to build their network of support in the community.Before joining Slater and Gordon in 2009 Olga worked across public and private hospitals in Melbourne for 21 years, counselling and supporting people with traumatic injuries and serious illness. This experience showed her firsthand how devastating injury or illness can be on all aspects of a person’s life. That's why she has focused on growing our Social Work team and developing our service to assist clients to access appropriate care and treatment, build their own support network and move on with their lives.Key Topics Discussed:Olga’s Career Journey:Transition from psychology to social work.Early career in hospitals, focusing on traumatic injuries.Social Work Services at Slater and Gordon Lawyers:Establishing a free social work service.Expanding the service nationally.Common Client Issues:Financial distress, housing, homelessness, and mental health.Linking clients with appropriate services.Legal Education for Social Workers:Developing a program to help social workers understand clients' entitlements.Topics include privacy, capacity, and court documentation.Professional Development and Support:Importance of peer supervision and ongoing learning.Olga’s involvement in various social work committees.Addressing Capacity:Understanding capacity as a legal construct.Navigating conflicts between legal definitions and clients’ best interests.Vicarious Trauma and Self-Care:Impact of working with traumatic material.Importance of self-care and mental health support within legal teams.Books and Resources Mentioned:Social Work in the Shadow of the LawHealth Law: Frameworks and ContextGet the transcript and full show notes here connect with Marie https://thetherapyhub.com.au/ https://marievakakis.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/Mentioned in this episode:5 Days to Career Clarity in Social WorkReflect, plan, and take your next step with confidence. Feeling stuck or unsure about your next move? https://mailchi.mp/marievakakis/days-to-career-clarity-in-social-work 5 Days to Career Clarity in Social WorkReflect, plan, and take your next step with confidence. Feeling stuck or unsure about your next move? https://mailchi.mp/marievakakis/days-to-career-clarity-in-social-work