Deb Carter and Bev Kelly – Staff Appreciation Post

We have a vast range of disciplines here at the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust, and today we would like to recognise the work of Deb Carter and Bev Kelly.  Deb has worked with LFBIT for the past 10 years.  Bev joined the team initially as a Social Work student and then became full-time 2 years ago.

When Deb began work with LFBIT, there was no dedicated role for social work. At the time, she worked part-time as a rehab assistant, and part-time as a social worker.  It didn’t take long before more referrals began to come through and Deb shifted into full-time social work.   Deb comes with 10 years’ experience as a Social Worker in Brain Injury and 53 years living with a family member with brain injury.

Bev has worked for LFBIT for 13 years all up.  Bev has worked as a rehab coach, residential support worker, team leader for Small Group Living, then took on the role of filling in as a manager for residential services and is now a fully qualified Social Worker.

As with many roles at LFBIT, no two days of work are the same. Deb and Bev do a lot of work in the community identifying areas of need. Through this, they can then connect clients with the appropriate resources. This can include things such as secure housing, financial support, family or drug and alcohol services and counselling or psychology services. This work involves a lot of communication between parties, often communication that clients may find difficult or frustrating after a brain injury.

“We work with lawyers, courts, police, WINZ, MSD housing, drug and alcohol, homecare agencies, a huge amount outside agencies,” says Deb. “We know that our brain injury clients can’t always manage to get across what they want to say, so you’re there to help bridge that gap. Deb’s passions include working with the legal system which includes working with the courts, police, lawyers etc and I really enjoy the challenge this brings with it.  The legal system is not set up for disabilities, especially when it comes to brain injury.   Working closely with Oranga Tamariki, Drug and Alcohol input”

Bev’s passions include working with Alcohol and Drug supports, Older Persons with TBI.

As well as this work, Deb and Bev do single discipline assessments through our assessment team.  Additionally, Deb supervises Bev, Social Work university students on placement with LFBIT and Brain Injury Association Liaison Officer Jane Cawood along with being LFBIT’s care and protection officer.

“You’ve got to be able to adapt quickly. You could have a day where you come in and you work trying to help people get into housing, or you’re going to WINZ with someone, but then the next thing you get a phone call and that could be around care and protection. The job keeps you on your toes, and you need to be able to think on your feet. We have both got some complex clients, but they’re great.  It is about working towards gaining the trust of a client and their whānau, once you get it, that is rewarding.”

The LFBIT team, as well as rewarding experiences with clients, is something that Deb and Bev appreciate in their work.

“The teams that we’ve got here are amazing. Our managers are so approachable, Kathryn Jones as CEO is just fantastic, and everyone is very down to earth. If you’ve got things going on in your personal life, they’re very supportive and adaptable for you. It’s just a brilliant place to work.”