Marion Thomas is a social worker specialized in homeless work . a social worker working with homeless needs a very broad base of skills. Combining the skills of many fields of socal work.
Marion is employed by The Kalk Bay St James Special Rating Area (KBSJ SRA aka Improvement District) and the Muizenberg Improvement District who have dedicated Social Development Portfolios.
We have referred people and continue to from Fish Hoek St James Kalk Bay Muizenburg . People travel on the street all the time and one cannot really say a person living on street is from here or there
We do encourage FID also to establish a similar program to MIDs program with Marion Thomas though. There is a limit to the funding provided on shoulders of the other participating SRAs Muizenburg ,Kalk Bay and St James.
Social workers need funding to afford ID books to give tickets home and all manner of things . an office space too etc we interact with on the street, encouraging them to to find the support they need through these services as much as possible and we are grateful they exist.
Here is marion Thomas wording of what she provides with SRAs:
The Kalk Bay St James Special Rating Area (KBSJ SRA aka Improvement District) and the Muizenberg Improvement District have dedicated Social Development Portfolios, which address the needs of the community in a holistic manner. Both Improvement Districts have contracted the services of a social development practitioner to address the issues of street people and street children, with much success.
Social Work Connect is headed up by Marion Thomas, a registered social worker. The team is made up of three fieldworkers who are in the field 2-3 days per week in the respective areas. The fieldworkers make the initial contact with the person on the street in order to build a relationship of trust. Through these interactions, the fieldworkers feedback to the social worker, who will be able to assess the needs and guide intervention and/or referral.
Part of the service offered in the Improvement Districts is a weekly social support Open Door, a safe, private space where anyone is able to access the social worker or fieldworker for further assistance.
The fieldworkers are trained to understand the needs of the person and refer to the Open Door where necessary. Marion has identified the fact that the South Peninsula is under resourced in terms of organisations who address the needs of the homeless. As a result, she has built up a network of professionals and community members in the areas, without whom many of the success stories would not be possible.
Social Work Connect aims to collaborate with community members and organisations who are willing to assist those in need. Through the services rendered in the Improvement Districts, there have been heartwarming stories of family reunification, substance abuse rehabilitation, family strengthening and many others. We have referred people we interact with on the street to the Open Door service, encouraging them to to find the support they need through these services as much as possible and we are grateful they exist.
Besides the services offered in the Improvement Districts, Marion goes well beyond the call of duty, talking at churches and various events trying to enhance collaboration and awareness of how communities can be involved and show they care in a responsible manner.
The KBSJ SRA Open Door service is available on a Tuesday at the KBSJ SRA Office in the Kalk Bay Community Centre, Main Road, Kalk Bay. The MID Open Door Service is available on a Thursday at the MID Office in the Clinic Building, Atlantic Road, Muizenberg. The times available are 09h00 to 13h00. No appointment is necessary and it is a first come, first serve basis.
If you would like to contact Marion Thomas at Social Work Connect, email swkassist@gmail.com
READ MORE
Marion is employed by The Kalk Bay St James Special Rating Area (KBSJ SRA aka Improvement District) and the Muizenberg Improvement District who have dedicated Social Development Portfolios.
We have referred people and continue to from Fish Hoek St James Kalk Bay Muizenburg . People travel on the street all the time and one cannot really say a person living on street is from here or there
We do encourage FID also to establish a similar program to MIDs program with Marion Thomas though. There is a limit to the funding provided on shoulders of the other participating SRAs Muizenburg ,Kalk Bay and St James.
Social workers need funding to afford ID books to give tickets home and all manner of things . an office space too etc we interact with on the street, encouraging them to to find the support they need through these services as much as possible and we are grateful they exist.
Here is marion Thomas wording of what she provides with SRAs:
The Kalk Bay St James Special Rating Area (KBSJ SRA aka Improvement District) and the Muizenberg Improvement District have dedicated Social Development Portfolios, which address the needs of the community in a holistic manner. Both Improvement Districts have contracted the services of a social development practitioner to address the issues of street people and street children, with much success.
Social Work Connect is headed up by Marion Thomas, a registered social worker. The team is made up of three fieldworkers who are in the field 2-3 days per week in the respective areas. The fieldworkers make the initial contact with the person on the street in order to build a relationship of trust. Through these interactions, the fieldworkers feedback to the social worker, who will be able to assess the needs and guide intervention and/or referral.
Part of the service offered in the Improvement Districts is a weekly social support Open Door, a safe, private space where anyone is able to access the social worker or fieldworker for further assistance.
The fieldworkers are trained to understand the needs of the person and refer to the Open Door where necessary. Marion has identified the fact that the South Peninsula is under resourced in terms of organisations who address the needs of the homeless. As a result, she has built up a network of professionals and community members in the areas, without whom many of the success stories would not be possible.
Social Work Connect aims to collaborate with community members and organisations who are willing to assist those in need. Through the services rendered in the Improvement Districts, there have been heartwarming stories of family reunification, substance abuse rehabilitation, family strengthening and many others. We have referred people we interact with on the street to the Open Door service, encouraging them to to find the support they need through these services as much as possible and we are grateful they exist.
Besides the services offered in the Improvement Districts, Marion goes well beyond the call of duty, talking at churches and various events trying to enhance collaboration and awareness of how communities can be involved and show they care in a responsible manner.
The KBSJ SRA Open Door service is available on a Tuesday at the KBSJ SRA Office in the Kalk Bay Community Centre, Main Road, Kalk Bay. The MID Open Door Service is available on a Thursday at the MID Office in the Clinic Building, Atlantic Road, Muizenberg. The times available are 09h00 to 13h00. No appointment is necessary and it is a first come, first serve basis.
If you would like to contact Marion Thomas at Social Work Connect, email swkassist@gmail.com
READ MORE