Destined for social work
JON HOUZET
A Q&A with TotT's Family Matters columnist, social worker Rose Downer.
Rose Downer |
Downer: I was born in Grahamstown in 1980. I attended Port Alfred High School until the end of 1994, when I was in Grade 8, and then completed my schooling at Clarendon High School for Girls in East London (I was at boarding school).
TotT: What made you decide to become a social worker?
Downer: I always knew that I wanted to work in one of the "helping professions”, like doctor, psychologist, social worker, etc, but it was only after completing a career aptitude test where it became clear that I was destined to study social work.
TotT: Where did you study?
Downer: I studied at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (formerly UPE) for four years and completed an honors degree in social work.
TotT: What was your first job?
Downer: My first social work post was with Child Welfare Port Alfred where I worked under Shelmaine Terblanche – my mentor – who has since left the country and his currently living with her family in New Zealand. Later on I accepted a managerial post at Child Welfare in Kenton-on-Sea. I have now been working in Kenton for approximately four years so have been in the Child Welfare family for almost five years.
TotT: What areas did you work in?
Downer: I have worked extensively in the surrounding Port Alfred, Bathurst, Kenton and Bushman's River communities, including Nemato, Station Hill, Ekuphumleni, Klipfontein and Marselle.
TotT: Is there a lot of work for a social worker in our community?
Downer: There is currently a massive shortage of qualified social workers in South Africa. Most social workers are overloaded in terms of individual casework – the average social worker should be rendering services to a maximum of 60 families on a monthly basis – which is already steep – but in reality NGO social workers are expected to render services to anywhere from 150 to 550 families on a monthly basis. This is just not humanly possible.
TotT: Why did you decide to go into private practice?
Downer: The therapy process has always fascinated me. It is definitely one of my strong points and something that I enjoy doing a great deal. While my work at Child Welfare is incredibly important to me, I look forward to experiencing another side to being a social worker – family therapy, couple counseling, individual therapy, etc. I have opened a practice from home in Port Alfred and will be seeing clients mainly after hours and on a Saturday.
TotT: Do you ever feel like you're taking your work home with you as far as the cases you work with?
Downer: I remember my very first home visit to one of the township communities. The case we were working on was particularly difficult and it was almost as though I was being thrown in the deep end on my first day. Once we entered the home, I became extremely emotional. It was a shocking situation to witness and it was a day I will never forget.
It was impossible to keep my emotions in check and it really did take its toll on me – not very professional I must add. That evening I worried that I wasn't going to be strong enough to handle the work that was given to me, but I realised over time that things were becoming easier.
I'm not sure if it is a case of becoming emotionally "desensitised” from having to deal with the harsh reality of life on a daily basis or if I have just become stronger and more efficient in dealing with my emotions. All I can say though is that it does get better over time.
TotT: What do you do to relax (hobbies and interests)?
Downer: I am a mother to gorgeous twin boys, Matthew and Bradley, aged 8. They are currently in Grade 2 at Kingswood College and really do keep my husband Simon and I on our toes.
My husband is a designer and works for a company based in Johannesburg. They specialize in 3D renderings and animations of structures as well as illustrations and movies for various architects and developers. So there is not much time for us to relax, I am afraid.
I do however really enjoy planning and preparing for my therapy clients. I spend a great deal of time researching various issues and enjoying finding new and interesting ways of connecting with my clients.
