1. Brenda Gear
Clinical Social Worker (Contract)
Bridgewater, NS
oopik401@gmail.com - 902 456 9547
I am a versatile, conscientious and respectful social worker with more than 20 years of delivering mental health
and addictions services, women centred programming and child protection services in the Atlantic provinces.
• Performance: Highly skilled in mental health and addictions screening and assessment tools; can develop
clinical and psycho-social evidence-based treatment plans for children, youth and families using several theory
based treatment modalities; research and design oriented
• Client Services: Ability to draw on evidence-based theory to provide individual, couples and family services;
excellent verbal and written communication skills to develop and communicate complex treatment plans
• Team Work: Respectful of collaboration, boundaries and confidentiality within inter-disciplinary team settings;
advocacy oriented; extensive knowledge of culturally specific sensitivities in First Nations and Inuit populations
and communities
• Facilitator: Experienced in public and workplace presentation; experienced in developing professional
presentation materials; sound knowledge of computer software and ability to troubleshoot
Willing to relocate: Anywhere
WORK EXPERIENCE
Clinical Social Worker (Contract)
Department of National Defence - Greenwood, NS - 2013 to 2015
• Conducted screenings and mental health assessments with members of the Canadian Armed Forces
• Developed individual therapy plans and treatment goals
• Collaborated with inter-disciplinary team members to develop complex mental health treatment plans for
major depression, bi-polar and gender dysphoria
• Conducted comprehensive psycho-social family needs and assessments to determine employment
limitations
• Authored clinical documentation and case formulation as per policy and procedures
Community Services Social Worker
Department of National Defence - February 2013 to June 2013
• Collaborated with community agencies in response to reports of child and youth neglect and maltreatment
• Conducted child and family assessments from a culturally appropriate context to develop safety plans, reduce
risk and reduce incidences of harm
• Collaborated with family and extended family to increase support and reduce isolation
• Collaborated with community agencies in support of community participation activities
• Provided assessments and treatment options for addictions, inter-personal violence, depression and anxiety
• Collaborated with inter-agencies to provide psycho-education on harm reduction strategies
• Co-ordinated removal, foster care and parental access services as per Territory policy and procedures
• Authored formal documentation as per Territory guidelines
• Represented Director in Family Court in child protection matters
Case Manager
Labrador Grenfell Regional Health Authority - June 2012 to October 2012

2. • Utilized mental health screening and assessment tools with adults and youth to identify therapy needs and
develop treatment goals for reducing symptoms of severe and persistent mental illness
• Provided clinical consultation to mental health service providers in remote coastal communities
• Co-ordinated access between local, district and regional mental health services for mental health consumers
• Co-ordinated district mental health consumer and caregiver groups
• Oriented Health Centre medical staff to the Mental Health Care and Treatment Act
• Collaborated with social, educational and legal agencies to enhance community mental health emergency
protocols
• Services were adjusted to meet culturally differing and diverging mental health needs of First Nations and
Inuit populations
Child Protection Social Worker
Child Youth and Family Services - 2008 to 2012
• Conducted child and youth risk assessment services in First Nations communities; developed culturally
appropriate safety and risk management plans
• Developed supervision plans, volunteer care agreements, temporary and permanent plans of care to reduce
and monitor risk
• Collaborated with family, extended family and community agencies to secure community-based foster care
• Collaborated with community and provincial agencies to co-ordinate out-of-province placements
• Documentation was authored in a timely manner and maintained clinical standards
• Performed formal witness duties before family court
Social Worker III
Child Youth and Family Services - February 2007 to October 2008
• Implemented regional guidelines for housing children and youth in-care under the umbrella of Child, Youth
and Family Services
• Provided clinical supervision services to allied health professionals in a residential child and youth setting
• Administered child and youth in-care policy and procedures with district social workers
• Co-ordinated out-of-province placements between Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Alberta and
Manitoba
Mental Health Therapist
Department of Health and Social Development - Hopedale, NL - April 2005 to February 2007
• Collaborated with community and regional agencies and stakeholders to develop a culturally relevant
addictions day treatment program
• Provided mental health and addictions screenings and assessment services with children, youth and adults
• Developed individual and culturally appropriate treatment plans for children, youth and adults
• Provided consultation services to mental health service providers and para-professionals throughout the land
claims agreement area
• Co-ordinated and facilitated access to mental health services between community and regional hospital
services
• Developed and presented mental health and addictions and inter-personal violence psycho-education
material using local radio medium
• Collaborated with medical, educational, and justice agencies to develop culturally relevant protocols to
address community mental health needs
• Maintained clinical documentation standards

3. EDUCATION
Master of Social Work in Social Work
University of British Columbia
2015 to Present
Bachelor of Social Work in Social Work
Dalhousie University - Halifax, NS
2005