Hello, my name is Marissa. I am a senior social worker at UK Fostering since December 2021. I completed my bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Stellenbosch University in South Africa in 2016. My practice placements were at a school, a senior residential facility, a children’s home and a government hospital in the emergency ward and the psychiatric ward. After my undergrad I supervised first year students for a year and completed my master’s degree in social work at Stellenbosch University in 2019. My thesis was centred around child protection and family counselling.
Whilst I was still busy with my masters’s degree, I started working in child protection in South Africa in 2017, working in a small team, managing all departments of a few different geographic areas: prevention, early intervention, statutory intervention, safeguarding, foster care monitoring and family reunification services. Short of two years later I started as a social worker at the current only Independent Fostering Agency in South Africa supporting foster families and children, supporting with court appearances, training, doing foster carer screenings and facilitating the placements of children into care until November 2021. I am beyond excited to continue my work with looked after children and foster families at UK Fostering, an excellent and well-run fostering agency that is doing incredible work.
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my husband, family and friends. I like adventures and exploring new places and doing new things. I also enjoy shopping, coffee and dinner dates with people, reading, watching good films, listening to podcasts and music. I love self-growth /-development, leadership, holistic wellness and a lot of the content I consume surrounds these aspects. I enjoy walking and am loving the walking culture of London and surrounds.